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)

This week's idea is basically an reiteration of week 7 assignment (Automatic blast gates) but with some changes. It will work wirelessly via Bluetooth. This idea is very interesting, because it allows me to increase the efficiency of my woodworking shop and optimize my workflow. Below are examples of commercially available manual and automatic blast gates

Tool Chain

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

I used the Arduino IDE to write the code for the intended function. I used the Arduino Bluecontrol app to control the device via bluetooth.

The components i used.

As for the materials for this project i used cardboard and a small piece of white PVC pipe.

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?

The idea behind this device is to control (open, close) a gate wirelessly via Bluetooth. Additionally, a green or red bulb lights on according to the state of the gate.

*The Bluetooth module has 4 connections:

VCC connected to 3.3V pin.

Ground connected ti GND pin

RX connected to TX (pin1)

TX connected to RX (pin0)

*The servo motor has 3 connections:

VCC to 5V.

Ground to GND

Signal to digital pin 4.

*Led lights are connected to pins 8 and 9 and grounded through 220ohm resistors.

Below is the circuit on tinkercad software.

Development/Implementation Process

I used the Arduino IDE for the code. Initially i defined my components then i set it up to perform a certain function upon receiving a specific signals. I used the Arduino Bluecontrol app to connect to the bluetooth module on the device.

When sending 1, the gate opens and the green bulb lights up, when sending 2, the gates closes and the red bulb lights up. Below is the code.

Then i used the Arduino Bluecontrol app to send signals to the device.

After testing and troubleshoot, i assembled the circuit for the last time, installed the different components on the cardboard model. It works perfectly.

Overcoming Challenges

What kinds of challenges or problems did you face while doing the assignment, tutorials, or exercises? How did you solve them? Did you ask for help from an instructor or peer? Please provide a link to the tutorial or article that you used to solve your problem (if any)

A major challenge was discovering that i had to remove the TX and RX pins before uploading the code, otherwise the arduino board is sort of locked. Multiple websites and you-tube videos explained the process.

Final Project

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

The option to control anything remotely is always a good option. Maybe not very suitable for a toilet paper dispenser, but definitely for a lot of projects.

WOW!

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

Title of Media

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.