Digital Hardware Skills #2:
Simulate or build Electronic Circuits with Sensors & Actuators
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Here, you can learn what electronic sensors and actuators are, and how to build or simulate simple electronic circuits using do-it-yourself sensors and actuator devices.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
1. What is a Sensor?
1. What is a Sensor?
A sensor is an electronic device that measures a physical parameter in its surrounding environment and converts it into an electrical signal.
For e.g.,
A temperature sensor measures the hotness or coldness of the physical object to which it is attached to, and converts the measured value into an electrical signal.
Similarly, a motion sensor is one that detect if there any movement in its vicinity and reports the same in the form of an electrical signal.
2. What is an Actuator?
2. What is an Actuator?
An actuator is an electrical or electronic device that triggers an action in response to an input signal. It takes an electrical input and turns it into physical action or another form of energy.
Here are a few examples of actuators:
An light bulb is an actuator that turns the input electrical signal into light energy.
A motor is also an actuator that turns the input electrical signal into rotary (rotational) movement.
A door-opener is another actuator that turns the input electrical signal into linear (forward & backward) movement.
Check out the slide deck below for a more detailed understanding of sensors & actuators.
3. What are the applications of sensors and actuators?
3. What are the applications of sensors and actuators?
Sensors and actuators have varied applications in diverse fields. View the slides below for a detailed understanding of the application of sensors and actuators in different fields.
4. What kind of applications can I build with Sensors & Actuators?
4. What kind of applications can I build with Sensors & Actuators?
There is no limit to the number and type of practical applications you can build with sensors and actuators. To start with, you can build simple home automation and home security applications using simple Do-it-Yourself (DIY) sensors and actuators. Here are a few examples to get you started:
A home security or surveillance application that uses motion sensor to detect an intruder at your home and raise an alarm.
A garden watering application that measures the moisture-level of the soil in the flower-pot, and turns on a water-pump to water the flower plant.
A rain-detection application that triggers an alarm to alert you when it starts raining so that you can remove all the clothes you have hung for drying in the sun.
A fire-detection application that triggers an alarm to alert you in case there is a fire incident in your house due to an accident, or electrical short-circuit.
A gas-leakage detection application that triggers an alarm to alert you in case the gas-cylinder or gas-stove in the kitchen is leaking LPG gas.
A camera that can take photos or record video to identify who was at the front door of your house when you were away.
ATL Equipment Manual.pdf5. Where can I get Sensors and Actuators?
5. Where can I get Sensors and Actuators?
Many of the sensors and actuators we discussed in this tutorial are available in your ATL. In case you wish to buy them for your personal use, you can do so from Amazon, an eCommerce portal.
6. I don't have Sensors & Actuators with me. What can I do?
6. I don't have Sensors & Actuators with me. What can I do?
If you do not have electronic components, sensors or actuators, worry not. You can use TinkerCAD Circuits, an online tool to simulate electronic circuits without using any physical electronic components, sensors or actuators. To know more about TinkerCAD Circuits, click here. You can just drag-n-drop various sensor & actuator blocks in the tool, and connect them with each other to form a virtual circuit. You can then click "Start Simulation" to simulate the circuit and observe the output.
assignment work:
assignment work:
You have two options:
Option 1: If you have physical electronic components with you, build any one of the circuits shown in the below slide deck using sensors & actuators and demonstrate its working.
Option 2: If you don't have physical sensors and actuators with you, go to TinkerCAD Circuits website and create a simulated electronic circuit involving sensors & actuators. Sign-in with your Google account and select "Circuits -> Create New Circuit" from the menu. Once the tool is open, just drag and drag one or more sensors & actuators and construct an electronic circuit using the below slides as a basis. Once your circuit is ready, click "Simulate" to make your circuit come alive. Observe how the circuit works!
If you have built an electronic circuit using physical electronic resources:
Create a video demo of your Electronic Circuit.
Upload the demo as a "video" as part of the assignment submission.
If you have created a simulated electronic circuit:
Download and install Screen Recorder Pro tool on your Windows 10 computer.
Start recording your computer's screen using Screen Recorder Pro tool.
Minimize the Screen Recorder Pro tool window so that it is not visible.
Run the simulation of the electronic circuit built using TinkerCAD Circuits on your computer. Wait till it finishes.
Open Screen Recorder Pro window and stop recording your computer's screen.
Locate the .MP4 video file created by Screen Recorder Pro tool.
Upload the screen-recorded video (,MP4 file) of your simulation as a "video" while submitting your assignment.
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