Tag Archives: STEM

In this lesson we show how to program the speed of the Elegoo Smart Car Version 3.0 using the Infrared (IR) remote control. We take you through the process of using the remote step-by-step, and for your convenience we include the code below. If you want to play along at home, you can pick up your gear HERE.

int ENA=5;
int ENB=6;
int IN1=7;
int IN2=8;
int IN3=9;
int IN4=11;
float d;
int degRot;
int left;
int right;
int wv;
float v;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(ENA,OUTPUT);
pinMode(ENB,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN2,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN3,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN4,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(ENA,HIGH);
digitalWrite(ENB,HIGH);
}

void loop() {
v=1.5;
wv=(v-.35)/.0075;
left=wv;
right=wv;
setSpeed(left,right);
forward(8,v);
v=1.5;
wv=(v-.35)/.0075;
left=wv;
right=wv;
setSpeed(left,right);
backward(8,v);
  while(1==1){

  }
}
void setSpeed(int leftVal,int rightVal){
  analogWrite(ENA,leftVal);
  analogWrite(ENB,rightVal);
}
void forward(float d, float v){
float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
t=d/v*1000;
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void backward(float d, float v){
float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
t=d/v*1000;
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void turnRight(int deg){
  float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
t=deg/345.*1000.;
Serial.println(deg);
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void turnLeft(float deg){
  float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
t=deg/345.*1000.;
Serial.println(deg);
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void stopCar(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
}

void calF(){
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calB(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calR(){
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calL(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}

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int ENA=5;

int ENB=6;

int IN1=7;

int IN2=8;

int IN3=9;

int IN4=11;

float d;

int degRot;

int left;

int right;

int wv;

float v;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(ENA,OUTPUT);

pinMode(ENB,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN3,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN4,OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(ENA,HIGH);

digitalWrite(ENB,HIGH);

}

void loop() {

v=1.5;

wv=(v-.35)/.0075;

left=wv;

right=wv;

setSpeed(left,right);

forward(8,v);

v=1.5;

wv=(v-.35)/.0075;

left=wv;

right=wv;

setSpeed(left,right);

backward(8,v);

while(1==1){

}

void setSpeed(int leftVal,int rightVal){

analogWrite(ENA,leftVal);

analogWrite(ENB,rightVal);

}

void forward(float d, float v){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

t=d/v*1000;

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void backward(float d, float v){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

t=d/v*1000;

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void turnRight(int deg){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

t=deg/345.*1000.;

Serial.println(deg);

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void turnLeft(float deg){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

t=deg/345.*1000.;

Serial.println(deg);

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void stopCar(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

}

void calF(){

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calB(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calR(){

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calL(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

Elegoo Smart Car Tutorial

Robotics Training LESSON 7: Calibrating the Smart Car for Distance and Speed

July 23, 2020 admin

In this lesson we show how to program the Elegoo Smart car to operate with user defined speed and distance. This allows programming by simply stacking simple pre-defined functions. If you want to play along at home, you can get the hardware I am using in this series HERE.

int ENA=5;
int ENB=6;
int IN1=7;
int IN2=8;
int IN3=9;
int IN4=11;
float d;
int degRot;
int left;
int right;
int wv;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(ENA,OUTPUT);
pinMode(ENB,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN2,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN3,OUTPUT);
pinMode(IN4,OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(ENA,HIGH);
digitalWrite(ENB,HIGH);
}

void loop() {
wv=255;
left=wv;
right=wv;
setSpeed(left,right);
forward(4,wv);
  while(1==1){

  }
}
void setSpeed(int leftVal,int rightVal){
  analogWrite(ENA,leftVal);
  analogWrite(ENB,rightVal);
}
void forward(float d, float wv){
float t;
float v;
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
v=.0075*wv+.35;
t=d/v*1000;
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void backward(float d, float wv){
float t;
float v;
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
v=.0075*wv+.35;
t=d/v*1000;
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void turnRight(int deg){
  float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
t=deg/345.*1000.;
Serial.println(deg);
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void turnLeft(float deg){
  float t;
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
t=deg/345.*1000.;
Serial.println(deg);
delay(t);
stopCar();
}
void stopCar(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
}

void calF(){
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calB(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calR(){
digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}
void calL(){
digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);
digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);
digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);
delay(5000);
stopCar();
}

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int ENA=5;

int ENB=6;

int IN1=7;

int IN2=8;

int IN3=9;

int IN4=11;

float d;

int degRot;

int left;

int right;

int wv;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(ENA,OUTPUT);

pinMode(ENB,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN3,OUTPUT);

pinMode(IN4,OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(ENA,HIGH);

digitalWrite(ENB,HIGH);

}

void loop() {

wv=255;

left=wv;

right=wv;

setSpeed(left,right);

forward(4,wv);

while(1==1){

}

void setSpeed(int leftVal,int rightVal){

analogWrite(ENA,leftVal);

analogWrite(ENB,rightVal);

}

void forward(float d, float wv){

float t;

float v;

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

v=.0075*wv+.35;

t=d/v*1000;

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void backward(float d, float wv){

float t;

float v;

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

v=.0075*wv+.35;

t=d/v*1000;

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void turnRight(int deg){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

t=deg/345.*1000.;

Serial.println(deg);

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void turnLeft(float deg){

float t;

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

t=deg/345.*1000.;

Serial.println(deg);

delay(t);

stopCar();

}

void stopCar(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

}

void calF(){

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calB(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calR(){

digitalWrite(IN1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN2,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN3,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN4,LOW);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

void calL(){

digitalWrite(IN1,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN2,HIGH);

digitalWrite(IN3,LOW);

digitalWrite(IN4,HIGH);

delay(5000);

stopCar();

}

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 55: Measuring Distance With HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor

March 31, 2020 admin

This lesson builds on the work done in Lessons 53 and 55. In this lesson we use the Ultrasonic Sensor to build a distance sensor. The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor can be programmed to send out a ping, and then measure the time it takes to hear the echo of the ping come back, after bouncing off a target. Knowing the speed of sound allows us to calculate distance to the sensor.

The circuit uses the following Schematic:

HC-SR04-Schematic — Schematic for Connecting the HC-SR04 to an Arduino

This is the code we develop in the video

int trigPin=12;
int echoPin=11;
int pingTravelTime;
float pingTravelDistance;
float distanceToTarget;
int dt=50;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(trigPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(echoPin,INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
digitalWrite(trigPin,LOW);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin,HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(trigPin,LOW);
pingTravelTime=pulseIn(echoPin,HIGH);
delay(25);
pingTravelDistance=(pingTravelTime*765.*5280.*12)/(3600.*1000000);
distanceToTarget=pingTravelDistance/2;
Serial.print("Distance to Target is: ");
Serial.print(distanceToTarget);
Serial.println(" in.");
delay(dt);
}

int trigPin=12;

int echoPin=11;

int pingTravelTime;

float pingTravelDistance;

float distanceToTarget;

int dt=50;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(trigPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(echoPin,INPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

digitalWrite(trigPin,LOW);

delayMicroseconds(10);

digitalWrite(trigPin,HIGH);

delayMicroseconds(10);

digitalWrite(trigPin,LOW);

pingTravelTime=pulseIn(echoPin,HIGH);

delay(25);

pingTravelDistance=(pingTravelTime*765.*5280.*12)/(3600.*1000000);

distanceToTarget=pingTravelDistance/2;

Serial.print("Distance to Target is: ");

Serial.print(distanceToTarget);

Serial.println(" in.");

delay(dt);

}

The sensor is part of our Elegoo Kit , so if you get this kit, you will be using the same hardware we are using. This project builds on the work we did in Lesson 53.

For this build we will be using an Arduino Nano, which allows the project to be built on a single breadboard. You can use the Arduino Uno if you do not have a Nano, and things will work out the same. The build neatness is also facilitated by using small straight jumper wires, which you can get HERE.

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 51: DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor with LCD Display

March 3, 2020 admin

In this lesson we work towards a stand alone Temperature and Humidity project using the DHT11 sensor.

This video will take you through the build and coding step-by-step, and the schematics below will help you follow along at home.

Our goal in this lesson is to add an LCD to the project. In lesson 50, we got the sensor working, and here we want to get the LCD connected. We are working with components from the Elegoo kit, which you can get HERE. In addition, your build can be much neater, cleaner and more stable is you use an arduino nano, instead of the standard arduino uno. The nano is small, and has male pins that allow it to be plugged directly into the breadboard, as seen above. I strongly suggest picking up an Arduino Nano, which you can get HERE. This lesson follows on to the work done in lesson 50. To recap, the DHT11 is connected as follows:

DHT11 Sensor — Connection schematic for the DHT11 Temperature Sensor.

You will also need to add the LCD, using the following schematic:

Arduino LCD Schematic — This schematic will allow you to connect the LCD to the

In my photograph at the top of the post, you can see it is important to keep the build neat, as there are lots of connections which must be made. Neat work is facilitated is you use short jumper wires, instead of the big male to male wires. You can get a jumper wire set that will keep your work neat HERE. I am not trying to sell you a bunch of junk, but as projects get more complicated, you really need to use the short straight wires, or your build will become a rat’s nest.

We develop the code in the video in detail, but you can get the finished code down below.

#include "DHT.h"
#define Type DHT11
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
int rs=7;
int en=8;
int d4=9;
int d5=10;
int d6=11;
int d7=12;
LiquidCrystal lcd(rs,en,d4,d5,d6,d7);

int sensePin=2;
DHT HT(sensePin,Type);
float humidity;
float tempC;
float tempF;
int setTime=500;
int dt=1000;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
HT.begin();
delay(setTime);
lcd.begin(16,2);

}

void loop() {
humidity=HT.readHumidity();
tempC=HT.readTemperature();
tempF=HT.readTemperature(true);

lcd.setCursor(0,0);
lcd.print("Temp F= ");
lcd.print(tempF);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print("Humidity= ");
lcd.print(humidity);
lcd.print(" %");
delay(500);
lcd.clear();

Serial.print("Humidity: ");
Serial.print(humidity);
Serial.print("% Temperature ");
Serial.print(tempC);
Serial.print(" C ");
Serial.print(tempF);
Serial.println(" F ");

}

#include "DHT.h"

#define Type DHT11

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

int rs=7;

int en=8;

int d4=9;

int d5=10;

int d6=11;

int d7=12;

LiquidCrystal lcd(rs,en,d4,d5,d6,d7);

int sensePin=2;

DHT HT(sensePin,Type);

float humidity;

float tempC;

float tempF;

int setTime=500;

int dt=1000;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(9600);

HT.begin();

delay(setTime);

lcd.begin(16,2);

}

void loop() {

humidity=HT.readHumidity();

tempC=HT.readTemperature();

tempF=HT.readTemperature(true);

lcd.setCursor(0,0);

lcd.print("Temp F= ");

lcd.print(tempF);

lcd.setCursor(0,1);

lcd.print("Humidity= ");

lcd.print(humidity);

lcd.print(" %");

delay(500);

lcd.clear();

Serial.print("Humidity: ");

Serial.print(humidity);

Serial.print("% Temperature ");

Serial.print(tempC);

Serial.print(" C ");

Serial.print(tempF);

Serial.println(" F ");

}

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 47: Binary and Hexadecimal Bit Flipper

February 4, 2020 admin

In this lesson we explore how to create a Binary or Hexadecimal Bit Flipper. From our earlier lessons you see we can visually represent Hexadecimal or Binary numbers with a series of LED, with an on LED representing a “1” and an off LED representing a “0”. In programming and circuit applications, it is sometimes useful to “flip” or invert the bits. For an 8 bit number, one could do this in a program with 255 IF statements, but there is a simpler way. If you think about it, you can get the flippedByte by simple subtracting the byte from 0xFF, or 0b11111111. If you try some test cases, you can see that this will always work.

Simply stated, flippedByte=0xFF-Byte,

or if you prefer thinking in binary,

flippedByte=0b11111111-Byte

This is the circuit we are using to drive the 8 LED with the 74HX595 chip, and all this was explained in Tutorial 42.

This is the schematic we use in this example to control 8 LEDs from the 74HC595 chip.

This is the code which we developed in the video above.

int latchPin=11;
int clockPin=9;
int dataPin=12;
int dt=1000;

byte myByte=0x18;
byte myByteFlipped;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(latchPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dataPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(clockPin,OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
digitalWrite(latchPin,LOW);
shiftOut(dataPin,clockPin,LSBFIRST,myByte);
digitalWrite(latchPin,HIGH);
delay(dt);
myByteFlipped=255-myByte;
digitalWrite(latchPin,LOW);
shiftOut(dataPin,clockPin,LSBFIRST,myByteFlipped);
digitalWrite(latchPin,HIGH);
delay(dt);
}

int latchPin=11;

int clockPin=9;

int dataPin=12;

int dt=1000;

byte myByte=0x18;

byte myByteFlipped;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(latchPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dataPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(clockPin,OUTPUT);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

digitalWrite(latchPin,LOW);

shiftOut(dataPin,clockPin,LSBFIRST,myByte);

digitalWrite(latchPin,HIGH);

delay(dt);

myByteFlipped=255-myByte;

digitalWrite(latchPin,LOW);

shiftOut(dataPin,clockPin,LSBFIRST,myByteFlipped);

digitalWrite(latchPin,HIGH);

delay(dt);

}

In all these lessons we are using the Arduino Super Starter Kit, which you can pick up HERE.

Technology Tutorials

Tag Archives: STEM

Robotics Training LESSON 8: Setting Speed of the Smart Car

Robotics Training LESSON 7: Calibrating the Smart Car for Distance and Speed

Arduino Tutorial 55: Measuring Distance With HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor

Arduino Tutorial 51: DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor with LCD Display

Arduino Tutorial 47: Binary and Hexadecimal Bit Flipper

Making The World a Better Place One High Tech Project at a Time. Enjoy!