Final project done!

Week 8 - Journal

The assignment for this week is to build a simple smart circuit that contains at least 2 action components that can be controlled wirelessly. Either the Android GUI or the PC GUI should be used to control the action components.

Ideation

Why do you care about this idea? What inspired you? (Please include images or links to sources of inspiration)

Because I am relatively new to coding, and especially new to electronics and Arduino, I have decided to practice during the weeks on my final projects' circuits. This would leave room for me to elevate the outcome of the final project.

For this week, I replaced the sensors input with a bluetooth module:

Azouz runs when user gets closer
- Action: DC motor
- Sensing: Bluetooth module
- User Input: via mobile app

Azouz emits sounds while running
- Action: buzzer
- Sensing: Bluetooth module
- User Input: via mobile app
Azouz obstacles avoidance
- Action: DC motor changes direction
- Sensing: Bluetooth module
- User Input: via mobile app

To do the merge between the three features, I will create a circuit with the bluetooth module (input), DC motor (action), and buzzer (action).

Tool Chain

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

Softwares

I used Fritzing App because the bluetooth module component is not available on Tinkercad.

Arduino Bluecontrol app

SoftwareOpen-source electronic prototyping platform enabling users to create interactive electronic objects.

I used Arduino IDE software to copy the. Arduino CC text from the code blocks, troubleshoot it, then upload it to the Arduino UNO.

Electronic components:

Arduino UNO, the brain of the smart circuit

Bluetooth module (input)

Buzzer (action)

Breadboard to wire the circuit on

Motor driver to provide the DC motor with sufficient voltage

DC motor

Screwdriver

Jumper wires

Terminal

9V power supply

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?

FOR PROTOTYPING the wiring of the components, I used Fritzing because the bluetooth module is not available on Tinkercad.

First, I prepared all the components.
Then I wired the Arduino to the breadboard, by wiring the 5V pin in the Arduino to the positive row in the breadboard and the GND pin in the Arduino to the negative row in the breadboard.
Then I started with wiring the bluetooth module, by wiring the TX in the bluetooth module to the RX in the Arduino, and the RX in the bluetooth module to the TX in the Arduino.
The bluetooth VCC node is connected to the positive row in the breadboard, and the GND node is connected to the negative row in the breadboard, so the bluetooth module is powered with 5v from the Arduino.
On the other hand, the motor needs 9V, which the Arduino is not able to give. This is why I used L293D motor driver and wired it as illustrated in the picture. Mind that the two blue wires going from the motor driver to the Arduino are the digital readings concerned with operating the motor, and the purple wire is connected to the Arduino analogue pin (9) concerned with speed.
Following this, I connected the buzzer; by connecting the positive node to the positive row on the breadboard, and the negative node to the negative row on the breadboard using jumper wires.

FOR THE CODE

First I created char read = 0
In the void setup, each pin's function is specified, given that: pin 12 reads input from the PIR, pin 7-8-9 give output to the motor, and pin 6 gives output to the buzzer.
Then I typed the serial.begin(9600)
In the void l loop, the first two lines are concerned with the bluetooth module, and they indicate continous readings from the bluetooth module.
Following this, the if conditions indicate the following:

if the bluetooth reads 1: pin 7 will give out HIGH and pin 8 will give out LOW; both together will operate the motor, along with pin 9 that will give out 180 as motor speed. Pin 6 will also give out HIGH which will operate the buzzer.

if the bluetooth reads 2: pin 7 will give out LOW and pin 8 will give out HIGH which will change the direction of the motor, and pin 6 will give out LOW which will shut down the buzzer.

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?

First, I prepared all the physical components.
Then I wired the Arduino to the breadboard, by wiring the 5V pin in the Arduino to the positive row in the breadboard and the GND pin in the Arduino to the negative row in the breadboard.
Then I started with wiring the bluetooth module, by wiring the TX in the bluetooth module to the RX in the Arduino, and the RX in the bluetooth module to the TX in the Arduino.
The bluetooth VCC node is connected to the positive row in the breadboard, and the GND node is connected to the negative row in the breadboard, so the bluetooth module is powered with 5v from the Arduino.
On the other hand, the motor needs 9V, which the Arduino is not able to give. This is why I used L298N motor driver and wired it exactly as illustrated in the pictures.
Following this, I connected the buzzer; by connecting the positive node to the positive row on the breadboard, and the negative node to the negative row on the breadboard using jumper wires.

Week08_ass.MOV

Here's the working circuit!

Marina, one of my colleagues, was facing a problem with controlling the bluetooth module via the voice option in the application. And since my circuit was ready at the same time (also I was already controlling the circuit from Marina's phone! Thanks Marina!), Esraa did her instructor's magic as shown in the videos below!

Week08_ass_VoicePrep.mov

Week08_ass_Voice.MOV

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)

I couldn't simulate on Fritzing because the beta features tab was missing! Still working on that challenge.

Another problem that I faced was the comptability of my mobile with the Arduino bluecontrol app. No solutions till now, it has to be an android mobile.

Bluecontroll_app_troubleshooting.MOV

The wireless circuit wasn't working on the first trial, so Esraa helped me troubleshoot it.

At first we made sure the app is giving the input we want it to give, and that corresponds to the code we had written; as shown in the video.

At the end, the problem was with how I connected the bluetooth module to the Arduino. I had connected the TX in the bluetooth module to the TX in the Arduino, and the RX in the bluetooth module to the RX in the Arduino, which shouldn't be. Refer to the circuit above for the correct wiring!

Assignment Design Files

Arduino IDE | Week08 assignment code

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