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)

The assignment revolves around Communicating wirelessly with a Smart Circuit via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) on my phone.

ALARM FOR A SLEEPY CHILD

Control a Smart Circuit with an RGB LED and a buzzer via a Bluetooth module. The device simulates a room light and sound alarm to wake a child, inspired by my childhood experience of your mother’s efforts to wake you up. This project merges nostalgia with modern technology, aiming to provide a practical solution for parents facing similar challenges.

Tool Chain

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

Google

was used for research gathering ideas

Tinkercad Software

Simulating the entire circuit before physically building it.

Arduino IDE Software

Rewriting and uploading the code to the Arduino.

Arduino Uno

The microcontroller controls the entire system.

Bluetooth Module: HC-05

For wireless communication between the Smart Circuit and the GUI

RGB LED

simulate a light device that can be controlled remotely

Buzzer

Functions as the sound device

breadboard

to make quick electrical connections between components

Wires

For connecting the Arduino with other components

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?

Connection

Code

Initial Design and Wiring

Software: Tinkercad was used to create a virtual prototype of the circuit. Tinkercad’s Circuits feature allowed me to design the wiring and connections for the RGB LED, buzzer in a simulated environment.
Problem: The Bluetooth module doesn't exist in Tinkercad so I replaced it with RGB LED and named it Bluetooth as shown in the photo.
Connection:

RGB LED: RED to pin 9, Green to pin 10, and BLUE to pin 11
Buzzer: positive to pin 8 and negative to common ground
Bluetooth: VCC to common power, Ground connected common ground through resistor 1k ohm, TXD to RX of Arduino, RXD connects to TX through resistor 500 ohm.

2. Code Integration:

Software: Imported the design from Tinkercad into Arduino IDE for programming. Ensured that the code matched the circuit design.

Explanation:

RGB LED Control:
- The GUI on the phone will send commands to change the RGB LED’s color. For example, sending "LED 255,0,0" will turn the LED red, and "LED 0,255,0" will turn it green.
- The Arduino reads the incoming command from the Bluetooth module, extracts the RGB values, and adjusts the brightness of each color using analogWrite().
Buzzer Control:
- The GUI will also send a command to turn the buzzer on or off. For example, sending "BUZ ON" will turn the buzzer on, and "BUZ OFF" will turn it off.
- The Arduino will read these commands and activate or deactivate the buzzer using digitalWrite() for an active buzzer, or using the tone() function for a passive buzzer.

3. GUI

For a phone interface, I used an Arduino Bluecontrol App
- Use the terminal option

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?

Physical Prototyping:

Breadboard: Once the design and code were theoretically finished, I transferred the circuit to a physical breadboard. Using jumper wires, resistors, and the RGB LED, buzzer, and Bluetooth module, I replicated the virtual design. The breadboard allowed for easy adjustments and testing.

2. Burned the Code:

Arduino IDE: After wiring the physical prototype on the breadboard, I connected my Arduino board to my computer and burned the code onto the Arduino.
While burning the two pins of Bluetooth in 0,1 were off

3. Bluetooth Communication:

Bluetooth Module HC-05: The Bluetooth module was connected to the Arduino to enable wireless communication. Once the physical circuit was assembled, I paired the Bluetooth module with my phone’s GUI.

4. Testing and Refinement:

After assembling the prototype, I tested the entire system to ensure seamless communication between the GUI and the Smart Circuit. Any issues with component response, wiring, or Bluetooth communication were resolved during this phase.

Final Physical assembly

WhatsApp Video 2024-09-12 at 23.47.08_d8d8f7d5.mp4

Video

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)

absence of the Bluetooth module in Tinkercad

Which made it difficult to simulate the full functionality of your project virtually. I overcame this by focusing on wiring and testing the other components and making another RGB LED as Bluetooth in Tinkercad and then transitioning to physical prototyping to implement Bluetooth communication.

Deadline

Handling the deadline became a challenge as the final project led to a delay of about 10 days, Despite these setbacks. Balancing time management and task execution required extra effort to catch up on the project while ensuring all features worked as intended.

Final Project

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

I'm DONE

Wireless Communication: I learned how to integrate a Bluetooth module with an Arduino to wirelessly control devices via a GUI. This expertise will be useful if my final project involves any form of wireless communication or remote control systems.
Time Management: The challenge of a delayed deadline has likely taught me the importance of managing time effectively, especially when juggling multiple projects. Applying better time management and prioritizing tasks will help you stay on track for your final project.

Assignment Design Files

Arduino code

Test video

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