ESP8266, a System-on-Chip (SoC) manufactured by ESpressif, is the most popular IoT development platform is a complete and self-contained Wi-Fi networking solution. The SoC consists of a Tensilica L106 32-bit microcontroller and a Wi-Fi transceiver. Therefore, the chip can be used to self-host an IoT or embedded application or offload Wi-Fi networking functions to another…
Arduino-based RFID door lock
Electronic door locks are safer than conventional door locks. There is no possibility of lock picking in such door locks as the entire mechanism is electronic. Such door locks have an underlying embedded access control system which is generally impenetrable. Several access control systems are used in electronic door locks. The most common access control…
What are Arduino force-sensitive resistors?
Arduino force-sensitive resistor is a new family member of Arduino traditional resistive sensors. Resistive sensors respond to any physical quantity change by varying their resistance. A fixed voltage is applied across the sensor upon resistance change voltage drops. This voltage drop can be sampled, and physical quantity change can be measured. Generally, in a resistive…
Arduino compatible coding 09: Interfacing SSD with Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we discussed interfacing RGB LEDs with Arduino. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to interface seven-segment display (SSD) when using Arduino. When interfacing with any kind of display device, Arduino and other controllers use digital output or serial communication. Driving SSDs by Arduino is as simple as driving an LED on it. The seven-segment…
Arduino compatible coding 10: Seven-segment multiplexing using Arduino and MAX7219
In the previous tutorial, we learned how to interface a seven-segment display with Arduino. A seven-segment display is comprised of a unit of eight LEDs and seven of which are bar-shape and one is a dot. These display units are ideal for displaying numbers or letters. For example, they’re often used as a display unit…
Arduino compatible coding 12: Scrolling long text on the character LCD using Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we discussed: The functional blocks of a character LCD How character LCD works and is interfaced with a controller How to display text on a character LCD In this tutorial, we will learn about scrolling long string of text on a character LCD, which can be tricky. A character LCD module has…
Arduino compatible coding 07: Analog input using Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we discussed analog output in the form of PWM signals when using Arduino. We generated a PWM wave from Arduino by employing the analogWrite() function that approximates to a rectified sine wave. It, then, uses that analog output to fade an LED. A controller can interface and interact with external electronic components…
Arduino compatible coding 08: Interfacing an RGB LED using Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we discussed analog input when using Arduino. So far, we have covered four out of the five ways that controllers can interface and interact with other electronic components and devices. This includes digital output, digital input, analog output, and analog input. In this tutorial, we discuss how to interface RGB LEDs using Arduino.…
Arduino compatible coding 11: Interfacing character LCD with Arduino
In the previous tutorial, we discussed multiplexing seven-segment displays (SSDs). Continuing with the display devices, in this tutorial, we will cover how to interface character LCD when using Arduino. Character LCDs are the most common display devices used in embedded systems. These low-cost LCDs are widely used in industrial and consumer applications. Display devices in embedded systems…
Arduino MFRC522 RC522 RFID reader interfacing & access control
RFID is a popular tagging and identification technology. Radio frequency identification involves one RFID tag and the second RFID reader. RFID tags and labels are low-cost and easily available. Compared to barcode tracking systems, RFID solutions have several advantages. One of the apparent advantages of RFID over barcodes is that it does not require a…
How to use MPU6050 6-axis (gyro + accelerometer) MEMS motion tracking sensor with Arduino
Motion tracking sensors are used in applications like robotics, gesture recognition, vehicle stabilization, position control in drones/quadcopters, pointing devices, game controllers, and fitness tracking devices. One of the popular motion tracking sensors is MPU6050. It is a six-axis MEMS motion tracking sensor that includes a MEMS accelerometer and a MEMS gyroscope. The sensor also has…
Online & Offline Circuit Design Software for Beginners and Professionals
The technological advancement and easy access to internet have made everything convenient for the masses, be it a routine activity or a professional task. Previously, we covered the list of apps, tools, and simulators for electronics designers that render great ease in the completion of electronic projects. Likewise, there are various online software that can assist the engineers while dealing with the circuits. These software allow everyone to learn and design circuits for both educational and professional purposes. Here is a compilation of online & offline circuit design software that are quite popular among the designers and hobbyists.
10 Online Circuit Simulators for Dealing with Electronics Projects
There are some web-based simulation tools that aid the professional engineers and hobbyists in learning as well as carrying out various experiments related to the circuits. In this post, we are going to cover a compilation of such online circuit simulators that offer a great help while dealing with the electronics projects. You may also refer to our previous blogs on electronics apps, circuit design software, and PCB design tools.
Arduino compatible coding 05: Interfacing buttons for digital input
In the previous tutorial, we discussed digital output from Arduino to drive an LED. A controller can interface and interact with other devices in five ways: digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input, and serial communication. In this tutorial, we will use digital input from Arduino to read the state of a tactile switch…
Arduino compatible coding 06: Analog output (PWM) on Arduino and LED fading
In the previous tutorial, we discussed the digital input process for using Arduino. We also explained push buttons (momentary type buttons) and how to use them for data or command input via a digital input. Any controller can interface and interact with other electronic devices in five ways: digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input,…
Arduino compatible coding 01: Arduino MCU family
Embedded electronics are in a countless number of devices and appliances, with microcontrollers at the heart of the operation. A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit that controls a specific operation in an embedded system. There was a time when only BASIC stamp microcontrollers, with a simple interpreter, were available for designing, prototyping, and testing…
Arduino compatible coding 02: Getting started with Arduino
Arduino are single-board microcontrollers that are easily programmable through a USB connection. They are used with electronics to design embedded system prototypes, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), and electronic gadgets. Much like other microcontrollers, Arduino provides software-backed computing and embedded control to basic electronics applications. That means getting started with Arduino is no different than with other…
Arduino compatible coding 03: Basics of Arduino sketches and Embedded C
The previous tutorial included a discussion about the tools and components necessary to get started with Arduino. However, before starting with Arduino UNO (or any other Arduino board) — and experimenting with hardware projects on various sensors, actuators, and modules — it’s important to get through the basics of Arduino sketches and the embedded C…
Arduino compatible coding 04: Interfacing and driving LED by digital output
In the previous tutorial, we discussed the basics about Arduino sketches, with a a quick Arduino language reference. Now, it’s time to get our hands dirty. Interfacing LED and driving digital output from a source is the “Hello World” of embedded systems. As discussed in the previous tutorial, a microcontroller interfaces and interacts with other…
How to use an oximeter and heart-rate monitor with Arduino
An oximeter is a device that measures the amount of oxygen carried by a person’s red blood cells. Oxygen provides energy for our bodies, supports the immune system, helps replace cells that degrade, and more. Low blood oxygen levels can indicate certain health issues. These levels can also decrease as we age, so it can…