Week #8 - Journal

Ideation

Tell us about your assignment's idea for this week. Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

It's a random idea that I did for fun.
When I press 1 on the application the RGB led switch color of red, green and blue 3 times in a row with a delay 0.5 second between each color.

Number 3 starts the buzzer and 4 stops the buzzer.

I was so excited to make the first project ever that could be controlled by a mobile app.

Tool Chain

Which software/machines/materials did you use in the assignment? Why?

I used Tinkercad to simulate the electronic circuit before making it in reality to make sure it's working and prevent burning of any component.

It didn't work the first few times due some errors but eventually I fixed them and it worked at the end.

Design/Preparation Process

Explain the design and/or preparation process of your assignment. How did you use the tool or software to design and/or prepare your assignment before fabrication/implementation?

I joined the RGB led with 3 resistors (one for each color) and the ground on the second leg.
the other leg of the resistors I joined them to the digital pins on Arduino; 3 for red, 4 for green and 5 for blue.

The buzzer's positive leg is joined to digital pin 9 on Arduino and the negative leg to the ground on the breadboard.

Code:

char incomingData = '0';
#define red 3
#define green 4
#define blue 5
#define buzzer 9
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(3, OUTPUT);
pinMode(4, OUTPUT);
pinMode(5, OUTPUT);
pinMode(9, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
while (Serial.available() == 0);
incomingData = Serial.read();
if (incomingData == '1')
{
for (int i = 0; i < 3; i++)
{
digitalWrite(red, HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(red, LOW);
digitalWrite(green, HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(green, LOW);
digitalWrite(blue, HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(blue, LOW);
}
}
if (incomingData == '3')
{
digitalWrite(buzzer, HIGH);
}
else if (incomingData == '4')
{
digitalWrite(buzzer, LOW);
}
else
{
Serial.println("enter a number from 1 to 4");
}
}

Development/Implementation Process

Explain the development/implementation process of your assignment. How did you use the machine/tool to manufacture or implement the design of your assignment?

I did the exact same connection in reality as Tinkercad, I used jumpers for the wires.

I used the 5V adaptor for the power supply instead of the laptop.

I connected the Bluetooth module to send and receive data through the mobile app.

MVI_2136.MOV

Community of Learning

Did you ask for feedback? What are the ideas that others have contributed or suggested? What was someone else’s idea that you built upon? How did you help your peers? How did your peers help you?

I asked for feedback about the project as it wasn't working at the beginning, as the Arduino program didn't want to upload the code.

Also at the lab we all faced problems from the robotic arm so we asked for feedback from the instructors and each others.

Overcoming Challenges

When you got stuck, what/who did you turn to? At what point did you have to pause to research or learn more before moving on? What are some mistakes, pitfalls, or challenges that others can avoid if they were doing this assignment?

After the Arduino didn't want to upload the code, I asked my friends in the diploma and the instructors, and after some trial and error it seems to be that the Arduino needs to be reprogramed so I used my personal Arduino until I get to the lab and change this one.

At the beginning I wanted to implement a servo motor instead of the RGB led but it didn't work as I wanted to; I gave it the order to rotate to 90 degrees when I press 1 and return to 0 when I press 2, the problem is every time it rotates it has to stop in between and make this noisy sound, the solution for this was that I have to help the servo's shaft to rotate every single time which was not practical, so I changed the idea and came up with the RGB led idea until I get to the lab and change my servo motor.

All that not mentioning the code error which is either me typing the code wrong then fix it, or the code uploads properly but make things that I didn't have in mind.

Title of Media

Final Project

How can you use the skills and knowledge that you've acquired this week in your final project?

It's going to give me the opportunity to use the mobile app as an input for the user (which is easier) instead of using buttons

I faced a lot of errors this week so I got more experience dealing with electronic components so I think I will consume less time making the final project with less error (isa).

WOW!

What is the coolest thing that you've learned this week? What is something that you will never forget from this week?

Using the mobile app to control the project ,and using the power supply to power the Arduino instead of the laptop which gave me the feeling of freedom :-)

Weekly Digest [OPTIONAL]

Tell us about any other cool things that you've made this week: in the Hands-on activity, tutorial examples, exercises, or any other cool mini-project that you tried out aside from the assignment.