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Lesson 3
Lesson 3
In this lesson, you'll learn how to use laser emitters and recievers.
In this lesson, you'll learn how to use laser emitters and recievers.
Before we start, make sure the Arduino is connected to your computer(see homepage is you need help).
Before we start, make sure the Arduino is connected to your computer(see homepage is you need help).
For this part, you'll use the same setup you had last lesson.
For this part, you'll use the same setup you had last lesson.
Replace the LED with your laser emitter and remove the wire on the left side. Swap the wires that go to the laser so that the GND wire and the wire that goes to pin 7 is in the right spot.
Replace the LED with your laser emitter and remove the wire on the left side. Swap the wires that go to the laser so that the GND wire and the wire that goes to pin 7 is in the right spot.
Now, copy and paste this code into the Arduino IDE.
Now, copy and paste this code into the Arduino IDE.
void setup () {
pinMode ( 7 , OUTPUT);
pinMode ( 5 , INPUT);
digitalWrite ( 5 , HIGH);
}
void loop () {
// Decides if the button is being pressed or not.
if ( digitalRead ( 5 ) == LOW){
digitalWrite ( 7 , HIGH);
} else {
digitalWrite ( 7 , LOW);
}
}
Now, click upload. Make sure the Arduino is plugged into your computer!
Now, click upload. Make sure the Arduino is plugged into your computer!
Now, click the button. You should see the laser light up!
Now, click the button. You should see the laser light up!
Make sure you don't point this at anyone, including animals!
Make sure you don't point this at anyone, including animals!
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
If the laser isn't lighting up, try these steps.
If the laser isn't lighting up, try these steps.
- Make sure the laser is connected to pin 7 and ground
- Make sure the button is connected to pin 5 and ground
- Make sure the code uploaded to the Arduino and has no errors
If these tips don't work, try to troubleshoot online or contact us.
If these tips don't work, try to troubleshoot online or contact us.
Challenges:
Challenges:
Can you add an LED that lights up with the laser?
Can you add an LED that lights up with the laser?
Can you make the laser flash?
Can you make the laser flash?
Step 2: Add The LED
Step 2: Add The LED
Before we add the sensor, we need to add an LED onto the breadboard. Connect one of the pins that isn't GND on the LED to A0 on the other side of the breadboard. These pins on the other side of the Arduino are analog pins, and they serve as additional pins. Connect another pin on the LED to A1. Because we connected two colors to the Arduino, the color can change when the laser is detected. Run a wire from GND on the Arduino to the GND pin on the LED.
Before we add the sensor, we need to add an LED onto the breadboard. Connect one of the pins that isn't GND on the LED to A0 on the other side of the breadboard. These pins on the other side of the Arduino are analog pins, and they serve as additional pins. Connect another pin on the LED to A1. Because we connected two colors to the Arduino, the color can change when the laser is detected. Run a wire from GND on the Arduino to the GND pin on the LED.
Step 3: Add The Laser Sensor
Step 3: Add The Laser Sensor
^Your laser sensor should look like this^
^Your laser sensor should look like this^
Grab your laser sensor and stick the sensor part in the socket. Then, put it in the breadboard. You might notice that there are no more available GNDs on the Arduino. To fix this, remove the wire that runs from GND to the laser emitter. Grab another wire and stick one end of it into GND on the Arduino and the other end into the blue "-" row on the edge of the breadboard. Add another wire and connect it to the pin that says GND on the laser emitter. Connect the other end to the blue "-" row (GND). Connect the pin that says OUT on the laser sensor to pin 8 on the Arduino. Finally, connect the pin that says VCC to pin 2 on the Arduino.
Grab your laser sensor and stick the sensor part in the socket. Then, put it in the breadboard. You might notice that there are no more available GNDs on the Arduino. To fix this, remove the wire that runs from GND to the laser emitter. Grab another wire and stick one end of it into GND on the Arduino and the other end into the blue "-" row on the edge of the breadboard. Add another wire and connect it to the pin that says GND on the laser emitter. Connect the other end to the blue "-" row (GND). Connect the pin that says OUT on the laser sensor to pin 8 on the Arduino. Finally, connect the pin that says VCC to pin 2 on the Arduino.
Now, copy and paste this code into the Arduino IDE.
Now, copy and paste this code into the Arduino IDE.
#define DETECT 2 // Pin 2 for sensor, connect to VCC
#define ACTION 8 // Pin 8 for sensor, connect to OUT
void setup(void) {
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(DETECT, INPUT);//define detect input pin
pinMode (A0, OUTPUT); // LED
pinMode (A1, OUTPUT); // LED
pinMode(7, OUTPUT); // Laser
pinMode(4, INPUT); // Button
digitalWrite(4, HIGH); // Turn Button on
pinMode(8, OUTPUT); //Laser sensor
digitalWrite(8, HIGH); //Laser sensor
}
void loop() {
int detected = digitalRead(DETECT);// Read laser sensor
if(detected == HIGH)
{
// Disable Gun
digitalWrite(A0,LOW);
digitalWrite(A1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(7,LOW);
digitalWrite(A1,LOW);
detected = false;
}else{
// Shoot Laser
if (digitalRead(4) == LOW){
digitalWrite(7, HIGH);
}else{
digitalWrite(7, LOW);
}
digitalWrite(A0,HIGH);
}
}
Now, click upload. Make sure the Arduino is plugged into your computer!
Now, click upload. Make sure the Arduino is plugged into your computer!
You should see the small LED on the receiver light up. Now when you shine the laser on the receiver, you should see the LED change colors. Tip: use a mirror.
You should see the small LED on the receiver light up. Now when you shine the laser on the receiver, you should see the LED change colors. Tip: use a mirror.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
If the LED isn't changing colors when you shine the laser on the receiver, try these steps.
If the LED isn't changing colors when you shine the laser on the receiver, try these steps.
- Make sure the receiver is connected to the right pins
- Try messing with the sensor at the top of the component
- Make sure the code uploaded to the Arduino and has no errors
- Try swapping a component for GND and the blue "-" row
If these tips don't work, try to troubleshoot online or contact us.
If these tips don't work, try to troubleshoot online or contact us.
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