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)

Security is something we often take for granted—until an incident reminds us of its importance. That’s why the idea of a smart burglar alarm resonates with me. It’s not just a project; it’s a response to a real need for safety, inspired by personal experiences. (Yup, we were robbed several times).

The Idea: A Smart Burglar Alarm Using an Ultrasonic Sensor

This burglar alarm system uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect movement. If an object or person comes too close to a protected area (like a door or window), the system activates a buzzer and flashes an LED as an alert.

If no motion is detected: The system remains in standby mode.
If an intruder approaches within a set distance (30 cm): The buzzer sounds and the LED blinks in an alternating movement, warning of unauthorized access.

Tool Chain

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

I used TINKERCAD to simulate my circuit and make sure that the circuit I was designing is working well.
Used A breadboard, jumper wires (male male).
Buzzer: Output; to make a sound when the distance is too close.
Red LED: Output; to blink, making sure that it is clear a burglar came in.
Arduino Uno: to code all components.
Arduino IDE software to transfer the code to the Arduino Uno.
Ultrasonic sensor: The input, enabling the Arduino to express its code.
Two 330 Ohm resistors: For the safety of the electronic components (LED and Buzzer).

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?

working circuit week 6.mp4

Designing the circuit on TINKERCAD:

Components Needed on Tinkercad

1️⃣ Arduino UNO – Main microcontroller to process sensor input and control output.
2️⃣ Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04) – Detects intruders by measuring distance.
3️⃣ Buzzer – Sounds the alarm when motion is detected.
4️⃣ LED – Flashes as a visual alert when an intruder is detected.
5️⃣ Resistor (220Ω - 330Ω) – To protect the LED.
6️⃣ Breadboard – For easy wiring connections.
7️⃣ Jumper Wires – To connect all components.

Coding:

I used code blocks as displayed in the screenshot.

If condition was the main code I used to make sure that the ultrasonic sensor will work efficiently.

I then downloaded the code as an *.ino file which is attached in the link at the end of this week's journal.

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?

Connected the circuit components in the same way that I did on tinkercad (taking the pin numbers on the Arduino into consideration)

Generated the text code from tinkercad and then opened it using Arduino IDO.
Uploaded the code to my arduino after connecting it to the PC.

Week 6 actual circuit.mp4

Burglar alarm in action.

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?

While working on Week 6 assignment:

I didn't know what to decide as a project idea for this week's assignment, and all I was thinking was that I wanted to do some sort of alarm. My friend "Ahmed Tallat" was very supportive in this panicky phase and he helped me to organise my ideas and come up with a reasonable output. (The LED fading and the buzzer not continuosly ringing).

During End of week session:

I worked on the waving hand with Aya, and it was such a joy to discuss with her a unique cardboarding strategy to make it look like a "wait" sign instead of just waving. It was my first experience with a servo motor and it was extremely pleasant.

WhatsApp Video 2025-02-07 at 10.24.39 AM.mp4

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?

Challenge week 6.mp4

Challenge 1

After creating the code blocks on TINKERCAD, the code was working fine and did it's intended purpose as long as I was close to the ultrasonic sensor. However, when I was far in the simulation, the buzzer would start acting up and didn't stop working at all.

I reviewed the code and researched the internet and then re-watched the videos that included the buzzer on the protal. Only to find that a simple "if, then" doesn't work with a buzzer and I had to add the control block "if, then, else". Once I adjusted this in the code, it worked as intended.

Final Project

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

Coding and using:

Using code blocks in Tinkercad can play a significant role in making an interactive learning board for blind and deaf students by allowing for the integration of electronic components, sensors, and programmed responses that enhance accessibility. Tinkercad’s block-based coding provides a simple yet powerful way to program Arduino microcontrollers, which can control various features of the board.

And I finally feel like my final project is actually possible.

WOW!

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

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.

Assignment Design Files

Burglar Alarm code.ino

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