Beginning Arduino

Michael McRoberts
Contents at a Glance

About the Author ............................................................................................................... xix

About the Technical Reviewers ......................................................................................... xxi
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... xxiii
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... xxv

■ Chapter 1: Getting Started .................................................................................................1

■ Chapter 2: Light ‘Em Up ...................................................................................................21
■ Chapter 3: LED Effects .....................................................................................................49
■ Chapter 4: Simple Sounders and Sensors .......................................................................79
■ Chapter 5: Driving a DC Motor .........................................................................................97
■ Chapter 6: Binary Counters and Shift Register I/O ........................................................111
■ Chapter 7: LED Displays.................................................................................................127
■ Chapter 8: Liquid Crystal Displays ................................................................................165
■ Chapter 9: Servos ..........................................................................................................183
■ Chapter 10: Steppers and Robots ..................................................................................199
■ Chapter 11: Pressure Sensors .......................................................................................223
■ Chapter 12: Touch Screens ............................................................................................251
■ Chapter 13: Temperature Sensors .................................................................................271
■ Chapter 14: Ultrasonic Rangefinders.............................................................................285

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■ CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

■ Chapter 15: Reading and Writing to an SD Card ............................................................305

■ Chapter 16: Making an RFID Reader..............................................................................325
■ Chapter 17: Communicating over Ethernet ...................................................................341

Index .................................................................................................................................391

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Contents

About the Author ............................................................................................................... xix

About the Technical Reviewers ......................................................................................... xxi
Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... xxiii
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... xxv

■ Chapter 1: Getting Started .................................................................................................1

How to Use This Book....................................................................................................................1
What You Will Need........................................................................................................................2
What Exactly Is an Arduino? ..........................................................................................................2
Setting Up Your Arduino.................................................................................................................5
Upload Your First Sketch .............................................................................................................13
The Arduino IDE ...........................................................................................................................14
Summary .....................................................................................................................................20

■ Chapter 2: Light ‘Em Up ...................................................................................................21

Project 1 — LED Flasher .............................................................................................................21
Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 21
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 22
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 23
Project 1 — LED Flasher – Code Overview ......................................................................................................... 23
Project 1 — LED Flasher – Hardware Overview .................................................................................................. 27

Project 2 – S.O.S. Morse Code Signaler.......................................................................................31

Enter the code ..................................................................................................................................................... 31
Project 2 – S.O.S. Morse Code Signaler – Code Overview ................................................................................... 32

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■ CONTENTS

Project 3 – Traffic Lights .............................................................................................................34

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 34
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 34
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 35

Project 4 – Interactive Traffic Lights............................................................................................36

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 36
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 37
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
Project 4 – Interactive Traffic Lights - Code Overview......................................................................................... 40
Project 4 – Interactive Traffic Lights - Hardware Overview ................................................................................. 43
Logic States ......................................................................................................................................................... 43
Pull-Down Resistors ............................................................................................................................................ 44
Pull-Up Resistors ................................................................................................................................................. 45
The Arduino’s Internal Pull-Up Resistors ............................................................................................................. 47

Summary .....................................................................................................................................47

■ Chapter 3: LED Effects .....................................................................................................49

Project 5 – LED Chase Effect .......................................................................................................49
Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 49
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 49
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 50
Project 5 – LED Chase Effect – Code Overview ................................................................................................... 51

Project 6 – Interactive LED Chase Effect .....................................................................................52

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 52
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 53
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 53
Project 6 – Interactive LED Chase Effect – Code Overview ................................................................................. 54
Project 6 – Interactive LED Chase Effect – Hardware Overview .......................................................................... 55

Project 7 – Pulsating Lamp .........................................................................................................56

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 56
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 56

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Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 57

Project 7 – Pulsating Lamp – Code Overview...................................................................................................... 57

Project 8 – RGB Mood Lamp........................................................................................................58

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 58
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 59
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 59
Project 8 – RGB Mood Lamp – Code Overview .................................................................................................... 60

Project 9 – LED Fire Effect ..........................................................................................................63

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 64
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 64
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 64
Project 9 – LED Fire Effect – Code Overview ....................................................................................................... 65

Project 10 – Serial Controlled Mood Lamp ..................................................................................66

Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 66
Project 10 – Serial-Controlled Mood Lamp – Code Overview.............................................................................. 68
Pointers in a Nutshell .......................................................................................................................................... 71

Summary .....................................................................................................................................77

■ Chapter 4: Simple Sounders and Sensors .......................................................................79

Project 11 – Piezo Sounder Alarm ...............................................................................................79
Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 79
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 80
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 80
Project 11 – Piezo Sounder Alarm – Code Overview ........................................................................................... 81
Project 11 – Piezo Sounder Alarm – Hardware Overview.................................................................................... 82

Project 12 – Piezo-Sounder Melody Player .................................................................................83

Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 83
Project 12 – Piezo-Sounder Melody Player – Code Overview ............................................................................. 85

Project 13 – Piezo Knock Sensor ................................................................................................88

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 88
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 88

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■ CONTENTS

Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 89

Project 13 – Piezo Knock Sensor – Code Overview ............................................................................................. 90

Project 14 – Light Sensor ............................................................................................................91

Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 91
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 91
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 92
Project 14 – Light Sensor – Hardware Overview ................................................................................................. 93

Summary .....................................................................................................................................95
■ Chapter 5: Driving a DC Motor .........................................................................................97
Project 15 – Simple Motor Control ..............................................................................................97
Parts Required ..................................................................................................................................................... 98
Connect It Up ....................................................................................................................................................... 98
Enter the Code ..................................................................................................................................................... 99
Project 15 – Simple Motor Control – Code Overview ........................................................................................ 100
Project 15 – Simple Motor Control – Hardware Overview ................................................................................. 101
Transistors ......................................................................................................................................................... 101
Motors ............................................................................................................................................................... 102
Diodes................................................................................................................................................................ 102

Project 16 – Using an L293D Motor Driver IC ............................................................................103

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 103
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 103
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 104
Project 16 – Using an L293D Motor Driver IC – Code Overview ........................................................................ 105
Project 16 – Using an L293D Motor Driver IC – Hardware Overview ................................................................. 106

Summary ...................................................................................................................................108

■ Chapter 6: Binary Counters and Shift Register I/O ........................................................111

Project 17 – Shift Register 8-Bit Binary Counter .......................................................................111
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 111
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 111
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 112

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 ■ CONTENTS

The Binary Number System ............................................................................................................................... 113

Project 17 – Shift Register 8-Bit Binary Counter - Hardware Overview ............................................................ 115
Project 17 – Shift Register 8-Bit Binary Counter – Code Overview ................................................................... 117
Bitwise Operators .............................................................................................................................................. 119
Project 17 – Code Overview (continued) ........................................................................................................... 120

Project 18 – Dual 8-Bit Binary Counters ...................................................................................122

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 122
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 123
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 124
Project 18 Code & Hardware Overview.............................................................................................................. 125

Summary ...................................................................................................................................126

■ Chapter 7: LED Displays.................................................................................................127

Project 19 – LED Dot Matrix Display – Basic Animation ............................................................127
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 127
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 128
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 130
Project 19 – LED Dot-Matrix – Basic Animation – Hardware Overview ............................................................. 131
Project 19 – LED Dot-Matrix – Basic Animation – Code Overview .................................................................... 134

Project 20 – LED Dot-Matrix Display – Scrolling Sprite.............................................................137

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 137
Project 20 – LED Dot-Matrix – Scrolling Sprite – Code Overview...................................................................... 138

Project 21 – LED Dot-Matrix Display – Scrolling Message ........................................................141

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 141
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 142
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 143
Project 21 – LED Dot-Matrix – Scrolling Message – Hardware Overview ......................................................... 147
Project 21 – LED Dot-Matrix – Scrolling Message – Code Overview................................................................. 151

Project 22 – LED Dot Matrix Display – Pong Game ...................................................................158

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 158
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 158

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■ CONTENTS

Upload the Code ................................................................................................................................................ 159

Project 22 – LED Dot Matrix – Pong Game ........................................................................................................ 160

Summary ...................................................................................................................................163

■ Chapter 8: Liquid Crystal Displays ................................................................................165

Project 23 – Basic LCD Control .................................................................................................165
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 165
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 166
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 167
Project 23 – Basic LCD Control – Code Overview .............................................................................................. 170
Project 23 – Basic LCD Control – Hardware Overview ...................................................................................... 174

Project 24 – LCD Temperature Display ......................................................................................174

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 175
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 175
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 176
Project 24 – LCD Temperature Display .............................................................................................................. 177

Summary ...................................................................................................................................181

■ Chapter 9: Servos ..........................................................................................................183

Project 25 – Servo Control ........................................................................................................184
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 184
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 185
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 186
Project 25 – Servo Control – Code Overview..................................................................................................... 186
Project 25 – Servo Control – Hardware Overview ............................................................................................. 187

Project 26 – Dual Servo Control ................................................................................................188

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 188
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 189
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 189
Project 26 – Dual Servo Control – Code Overview ............................................................................................ 191

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 ■ CONTENTS

Project 27 – Joystick Servo Control ..........................................................................................193

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 193
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 193
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 195
Project 27 – Joystick Servo Control – Code Overview....................................................................................... 196

Summary ...................................................................................................................................198

■ Chapter 10: Steppers and Robots ..................................................................................199

Project 28 – Basic Stepper Control ...........................................................................................199
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 199
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 200
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 201
Project 28 – Basic Stepper Control – Code Overview........................................................................................ 202
Project 28 – Basic Stepper Control – Hardware Overview ................................................................................ 203

Project 29 – Using a Motor Shield .............................................................................................205

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 205
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 206
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 207
Project 29 – Using a Motor Shield – Code Overview ......................................................................................... 208
Project 29 – Using a Motor Shield – Hardware Overview.................................................................................. 210

Project 30 – Line-Following Robot ............................................................................................211

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 211
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 212
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 215
Project 30 – Line-Following Robot – Code Overview ........................................................................................ 217

Summary ...................................................................................................................................221

■ Chapter 11: Pressure Sensors .......................................................................................223

Project 31 – Digital Pressure Sensor.........................................................................................223
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 223
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 224

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■ CONTENTS

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 225

Project 31 – Digital Pressure Sensor – Code Overview ..................................................................................... 227
I2C Bus .............................................................................................................................................................. 228

Project 32 – Digital Barograph ..................................................................................................236

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 236
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 237
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 239
Project 32 – Digital Barograph – Code Overview .............................................................................................. 243

Summary ...................................................................................................................................249
Subjects and Concepts Covered in Chapter 11.................................................................................................. 249

■ Chapter 12: Touch Screens ............................................................................................251

Project 33 – Basic Touch Screen ...............................................................................................251
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 251
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 252
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 253
Project 33 – Basic Touch Screen – Hardware Overview .................................................................................... 254
Project 33 – Basic Touch Screen – Code Overview ........................................................................................... 256

Project 34 – Touch Screen Keypad ............................................................................................258

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 258
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 259
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 260
Project 34 –Touch Screen Keypad – Code Overview ......................................................................................... 262

Project 35 – Touch Screen Light Controller ...............................................................................264

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 264
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 265
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 266
Project 35 – Touch Screen Controller – Code Overview .................................................................................... 268

Summary ...................................................................................................................................270

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 ■ CONTENTS

■ Chapter 13: Temperature Sensors .................................................................................271

Project 36 – Serial Temperature Sensor ....................................................................................271
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 271
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 272
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 273
Project 36 – Serial Temperature Sensor – Code Overview ................................................................................ 274

Project 37 – One-Wire Digital Temperature Sensor ...................................................................275

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 275
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 276
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 277
Project 37 – 1-Wire Digital Temperature Sensor – Code Overview ................................................................... 281

Summary ...................................................................................................................................284

■ Chapter 14: Ultrasonic Rangefinders.............................................................................285

Project 38 – Simple Ultrasonic Rangefinder .............................................................................285
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 285
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 285
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 286
Project 38 – Simple Ultrasonic Rangefinder – Code Overview .......................................................................... 287
Project 38 – Simple Ultrasonic Rangefinder – Hardware Overview .................................................................. 288
Project 39 – Ultrasonic Distance Display ..................................................................................289
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 289
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 290
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 292
Project 39 – Ultrasonic Distance Display – Code Overview ............................................................................... 293

Project 40 – Ultrasonic Alarm....................................................................................................296

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 296
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 297
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 297
Project 40 – Ultrasonic Alarm – Code Overview ................................................................................................ 299

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■ CONTENTS

Project 41 – Ultrasonic Theremin ..............................................................................................302

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 302
Project 41 – Ultrasonic Theremin – Code Overview .......................................................................................... 303

Summary ...................................................................................................................................304
■ Chapter 15: Reading and Writing to an SD Card ............................................................305
Project 42 – Simple SD Card/Read Write ..................................................................................305
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 305
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 306
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 307
Project 42 – Simple SD Card Read/Write – Code Overview............................................................................... 309

Project 43 – Temperature SD Datalogger ..................................................................................312

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 313
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 313
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 315
Project 43 – Temperature SD Datalogger – Code Overview .............................................................................. 317
Project 43 – Temperature SD Datalogger – Hardware Overview ....................................................................... 322

Summary ...................................................................................................................................323
■ Chapter 16: Making an RFID Reader..............................................................................325
Project 44 – Simple RFID Reader ..............................................................................................325
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 325
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 326
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 327
Project 44 – Simple RFID Reader – CODE Overview .......................................................................................... 327
Project 44 – Simple RFID Reader – Hardware Overview ................................................................................... 328

Project 45—Access Control System .........................................................................................329

Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 329
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 330
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 331
Project 45 – Access Control System – Code Overview ...................................................................................... 334

Summary ...................................................................................................................................339

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 ■ CONTENTS

■ Chapter 17: Communicating over Ethernet ...................................................................341

Project 46 – Ethernet Shield .....................................................................................................341
Parts Required ................................................................................................................................................... 341
Connect It Up ..................................................................................................................................................... 341
Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 342
Things You Need to Know about Networking..................................................................................................... 345
Project 46 – Ethernet Shield – Code Overview .................................................................................................. 346

Project 47 — Internet Weather Display.....................................................................................350

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 353
Project 47 – Internet Weather Display – Code Overview ................................................................................... 357

Project 48 — Email Alert System ..............................................................................................360

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 360
Project 48 – Email Alert System — Code Overview .......................................................................................... 364

Project 49 — Twitterbot ............................................................................................................369

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 369
Project 49 – Twitterbot – Code Overview .......................................................................................................... 372

Project 50 – RSS Weather Reader .............................................................................................377

Enter the Code ................................................................................................................................................... 377
Project 50 – RSS Weather Reader – Code Overview ......................................................................................... 381
Summary ...................................................................................................................................389

Index .................................................................................................................................391

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