A comprehensive collection of Arduino experiments and foundational electronics exercises that formed my pathway into robotics. Structured like a personal lab notebook, this project documents my journey through sensors, actuators, serial communication, and control logic—all essential components for building robots. Each folder represents a focused micro-project or concept demo that helped me understand how robots perceive their environment, process information, and interact with the physical world.
- Lines of Code: 5,000+ lines of C++
- Date Completed: October - December 2023
- Note: This represents only a fraction of the projects completed during this learning phase, as many were lost in transition from laptop to PC
- C++ (Arduino framework)
- Wire Library (I2C communication)
- LiquidCrystal Library (LCD displays)
- Servo Library (servo motor control)
- DHT Library (temperature/humidity sensors)
- IRremote Library (infrared communication)
- Arduino Uno R3
- USB 2.0 A-to-B cable
- Solderless breadboard
- Breadboard power-supply module
- Male to male jumper wires
- Female to male jumper wires
- Female to female jumper wires
- 16×2 LCD module
- I2C interface module for LCD
- 10k ohm potentiometer (LCD contrast adjustment)
- HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor
- Infrared obstacle avoidance sensors (3 modules)
- Infrared receiver module with remote control
- DHT11 temperature & humidity sensor
- LM35 temperature sensor module
- Flame detection sensor module
- Sound detection sensor module
- Photoresistor (LDR) light sensor module
- Tilt-ball switch module
- Joystick control module
- 5V relay module
- SG90 servo motor (180° micro-servo)
- 28BYJ-48 stepper motor
- ULN2003 stepper-motor driver board
- DC geared motor
- 74HC595 shift-register IC
- ULN2003 driver (stepper motor)
- L293D driver (DC motor)
- Assorted single-color LEDs (red, green, yellow, blue, white)
- RGB LEDs (common cathode)
- Active buzzer module
- Resistor assortment kit (170 pcs; 220 Ω to 1 MΩ)
- Ceramic capacitor assortment (20 pcs; 0.1 µF to 10 µF)
- 1N4007 diode kit
- PN2222 transistor kit
- 10 KΩ NTC thermistor
- Tactile push-button switches
- Slide switch module
Full Kit: Arduino Learning Kit on Amazon
- Understanding serial data communication and USB functionality
- Stabilizing noisy sensor inputs through smoothing algorithms
- Synchronizing input and actuator response by tuning timing and signal mapping between sensors and actuators
- Structuring modular codebase by organizing hardware demos into isolated, reusable modules
- Debugging low-level hardware behavior including pin configurations, pull-up/pull-down logic, and timing inconsistencies
- Designing interactive user interfaces using buttons, LEDs, buzzers, and serial input
- Engineering under resource constraints within microcontroller memory, pin count, and processing power limitations
- Bridging hardware and software domains by translating physical sensor data into meaningful digital behaviors
- Embedded Programming: Lower-level C++ programming for microcontroller applications
- Serial Communication: Debugging techniques and USB protocol understanding
- Hardware-Software Integration: Troubleshooting interactions between physical components and code
- System Architecture: Input-computation-output programming paradigms
- Component Integration: Working with diverse electronic sensors and actuators
- I/O Programming: Analog and digital input/output handling
- Memory Management: Optimization for resource-constrained environments
- Electronics Fundamentals: Circuit design principles and electrical engineering concepts
- Real-Time Systems: Timing considerations and interrupt handling
- Event-Driven Programming: Responsive system design
- Signal Processing: Sensor data interpretation and filtering
- Hardware Abstraction: Understanding HAL concepts
- Iterative Development: Prototyping and design methodology
This hands-on approach built the technical foundation needed for more complex robotics projects, providing practical experience in how robots perceive their environment, process information, and interact with the physical world.
Kaden Musard