Typically, a WiFi network has a range that’s above 45 meters. The signals are strongest near the router. The further away you move, the weaker the signal. The same is true of thick walls or additional floors in a home or building. The WiFi signals could be completely lost on other floors of a premise. …
How to make a decorative coconut tree using a digital RGB LED strip
In this project, we’ll demonstrate how to make a colorful, king-sized coconut tree (5 feet) decorative showpiece using a digital RGB LED strip. The RGB LED strip is cut and arranged to form the shape of a coconut tree. The ATMega328 microcontroller is used to control the LED strip, generating several flashing, fading, and blinking…
RGB LED decorative, tabletop coconut tree
In this mini-DIY project, we will make a color-flashing coconut tree. It has two 3W RGB LEDs using, which generate multicolor flashing effects. Also, a tiny 8-pin microcontroller ATtiny85 generates eye-catching colorful LED-chasing effects. It is battery-operated, and the battery is rechargeable so it does not require a power connection through wires. It can be…
How to build a WhatsApp-notifying home security system
A security alarm detects unauthorized entry into a home or building. In the past, these security devices simply triggered a loud siren when an intrusion was detected. As technology advanced, the systems were equipped with GSM modems to send an SMS alert to the home or building owner whenever an intrusion was detected. One drawback…
What are the top tools for developing embedded software?
The embedded software or firmware is the brain of an embedded device. However, this type of software works differently than the conventional ones on PCs or mobile devices — which are generic and work identically on such operating systems. PC software runs without directly accessing the underlying hardware. The purpose of embedded software works in…
What are the top development boards for AI and ML?
Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are no longer limited to high-end servers or cloud platforms. Thanks to new developments in integrated circuits (IC) and software technology, it’s possible to implement ML algorithms and deep learning neural networks on tiny controllers and microcomputers. And these embedded devices installed at edges must no longer rely…
How to build an Arduino lie detector based on electrodermal activity
A polygraph is an instrument that records physiological indicators like pulse rate, blood pressure, and electrodermal activity of a human subject under questioning by an operator. It’s commonly referred to as a lie-detector test because it’s designed to assess whether a person is telling the truth. Industry-standard polygraph equipment is said to be 80 to…
What to expect from microcontrollers in 2023
Microcontrollers are the workhorse behind most embedded systems. They serve as a compact integrated circuit (IC) designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system. The programmable firmware used in these tiny computers is ideal for and fits well into several applications. Microcontrollers are neither too specific, like application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), nor too…
How to build a MicroPython-based sensorless, weather station
Is it possible to update the weather on an embedded device or a wearable without interfacing with any temperature or humidity sensor? With Internet of Things (IoT) access, devices can connect to a variety of web services with the help of APIs and extract several useful insights and information through simple HTTP requests. In response,…
How to use a buck-boost converter to regulate a Li-ion battery
Nearly every electronic device today relies on a battery as a power source. The dc-dc converter plays a significant role in maintaining the working time of the battery. A buck-boost dc-dc converter is an ideal choice for the most efficient and reliable battery range. The buck-boost converter provides the regulated voltage in the Lithium (Li-ion)…
Getting started with ESP8266 and ESP32 on Arduino IDE
ESP8266 and ESP32 are popular WiFi development solutions that can be programmed in several ways using different programming languages. Common languages include MicroPython, C, JavaScript, and LUA script. The choice of embedded firmware and software tools makes it possible to program ESP8266 and ESP32 in different languages. The versatility and flexibility to program ESP boards…
How to play a video on an SSD1306 OLED
Small organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays are commonly used in embedded devices. This is because OLEDs generally cost the same as character LCDs but feature a better user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). Typically, embedded OLED screens are used to display textual messages, but what about videos? For example, is it possible to playback…
How to send messages to WhatsApp or Telegram from ESP32
In many Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications, it’s necessary to send alerts to the user in the form of messages. Typically, text messages are sent via WiFi or SMS. But sometimes text messaging is unavailable between devices. So, what if these messages could be sent via the IoT to a user’s WhatsApp or Telegram account instead? In…
Simple overhead tank water level controller without an MCU
In this project, we will learn to create an automatic water pump system circuit that switches ON and OFF based on the water level in the tank. Basic idea The given project demonstrates a simple circuit built using digital logic gates, IC NE555, transistors, and a few additional components that sense the water level in…
Simple data logger system with I2C memory and RTC using Arduino
Manufacturing or processing industries, like textile, chemical, pharmaceutical, and others, have many continuous processes that require monitoring and keeping a record of different physical parameters like temperature, humidity, pH, moisture, flow, viscosity, etc. So, all such parameters are continuously displayed and stored in mainframe computers. Modern industries have DCS and SCADA systems to monitor, store…
How to schedule embedded tasks in Arduino using FreeRTOS
Microcontrollers are limited to certain tasks and typically lack the ability for multithreading, which would allow for more than one user or task at a time without requiring multiple copies of a program or computer. Generally, microcontrollers cannot break larger or more complex applications into multiple threads. They handle straightforward sequences of code in real-time,…
How to build a Node.js server to control Arduino from a webpage
Node.js is the most popular server at this time. Due to its asynchronous and non-blocking nature, Node is the obvious choice for real-time web applications like chat rooms, single-page applications, video streaming, etc. For the same reasons, Node is attracting IoT engineers. As web applications developed on Node operate in real-time, these are best suitable…
The top home-server software options of 2022
Servers are no longer limited to corporate offices and are common in homes. They can run 24×7 on any low-cost PC or microcomputer. A home server manages online communication, internet browsing, downloading, and file sharing between computers, tablets, mobile phones, printers, and other smart home appliances. They can also serve as centralized media storage for…
How to get input from USB mouse on Arduino
Generally, Arduino boards do not operate as USB hosts; they lack the peripheral as well as RAM to do so . However, it is possible to convert Arduino boards like UNO and Mega2560 to a USB host by using an Arduino USB host shield. With a USB host shield, we can connect almost any USB …
What is LiDAR and how does it work?
LiDAR is an acronym for light detection and ranging, an optical technology for sensing distance. Early attempts to measure distance by light beams were first made in the ’30s, and airborne LiDAR became more commonly used in the ’60s, with geospatial measurements beginning in the ’80s. As the technology evolved, LiDAR’s uses continued to expand.…