Week #6 - 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)

To enhance my knowledge of the sensors and components I'll be using in my final project, I decided that this week's assignment should contribute to the project's development. My project will be a card shuffler and dealer, so I built the circuit for the shuffling part.

The goal is that when the IR sensor detects card movement after the switch is turned on, the motor and LED should activate. When the sensor detects no movement, they should stop working.

Tool Chain

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

FOR Simulation Circuit

To simulate the circuit and ensure it works with the correct connections.

Electronics Tools

Breadboard

Dc Motor

Jumpers Wires

Arduino Uno

Slide Switch

Leds

Resisotrs

IR Sensor

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?

Design Circuit on Tinkercad:

Circuit Components:

One LEDs
DC motor
Slide switch (functions as an on/off switch)
IR Sensor

Circuit Input:

Switch
Ir Sensor

Circuit Actions:

Movement
LED illumination

Steps Taken:

Connected the motor to the switch
Connected the LEDs and slide switch
Connected IR sensor
Connected all Component with Arduino
Finally Code blocks

Circuit in Tinkercad

Desktop 2025.02.06 - 01.45.59.02.mp4

Code :

This code controls an LED and a DC motor based on input from a slide switch and an IR sensor. Here's a detailed explanation of how it works:

Reading the Slide Switch (Pin 2):
- The code first checks if the slide switch is turned ON (HIGH) on Pin 2.
- If the switch is OFF (LOW), nothing will turn on, and both the LED and motor will remain OFF.
Reading the IR Sensor (Pin 5):
- If the slide switch is ON, the code then checks the status of the IR sensor connected to Pin 5.
- If the IR sensor detects an object (or meets a certain condition), it will send a HIGH signal.
Turning ON the LED and Motor (Pins 3 and 4):
- If both the slide switch (Pin 2) and the IR sensor (Pin 5) are HIGH, the LED and DC motor (connected to Pin 3 and Pin 4) will turn ON.
Turning OFF the LED and Motor:
- If either the slide switch or the IR sensor is LOW, the LED and motor will turn OFF by setting Pin 3 and Pin 4 to LOW.

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?

Build Circuit on physical Breadboard

I made the connection after ensuring that the wiring was correct on Tinkercad. I first simulated the circuit by connecting the slide switch, IR sensor, LED, and DC motor to the Arduino board in Tinkercad. After verifying that the circuit functioned as expected, I proceeded with the physical implementation.

I uploaded the code as text to the Arduino software (Arduino IDE) by writing the necessary logic to read the switch and sensor inputs and control the LED and motor outputs accordingly. I then compiled and uploaded the code to the Arduino board. After running the circuit, I tested its functionality by toggling the switch and triggering the IR sensor to confirm that the LED and motor responded correctly.

WhatsApp Video 2025-02-06 at 01.47.48_e5a46e8c.mp4

Code :

Arduino.ino code

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?

Title of Media

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?

Problem in making

One of the problems I faced was that the IR sensor's positive and negative terminals in reality were different from those on Tinkercad. I made the wrong connection and noticed the mistake when the sensor didn’t light up. When I touched it, it was extremely hot.
Another problem was that I forgot the breadboard's positive and negative rails are separated in the middle. I connected the resistor to the other side of the negative rail and was confused about why the LED wasn't lighting up. I only discovered this issue when I used the multimeter.

IR sensor in Tinkercad

IR Sensor in real

Final Project

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