Week 3 Homework

For homework this week (due on the blog 8pm Tuesday 9/25), please:

        • complete the first half of the Input/Output lesson of the Arduino Class:
        • compose a circuit and Arduino sketch of your own, based on examples you’ve completed so far, to solve one of the following:
          • two buttons control one LED (on and off)
          • pressing button changes fading animation speed
          • pressing button changes number of LEDs used in for loop iteration
          • three buttons control RGB LEDs to make a color mixer
        • post these exercises in the “Arduino Homework Exercises” category on the blog (one post with all exercises). Your original composition should print something useful to the serial monitor. Have fun with this one! Include your code in your post by using the html <pre> </pre> tags. Look at this post for an example.
int ledPin = 13; // choose the pin for the LED
int inputPin1 = 3; // button 1
int inputPin2 = 2; // button 2
 
void setup() {
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); // declare LED as output
  pinMode(inputPin1, INPUT_PULLUP); // make button 1 an input
  pinMode(inputPin2, INPUT_PULLUP); // make button 2 an input
}
 
void loop(){
  if (digitalRead(inputPin1) == LOW) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // turn LED OFF
  } else if (digitalRead(inputPin2) == LOW) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // turn LED ON
  }
}
  • brainstorm and sketch three ideas for your next project: a plush nightlight! Your plush nightlight should:
    • have a story (who is it for? why does it light up like it does?)
    • be made from fabric (sewing preferred but knit/crochet ok)
    • diffuse LED light in an interesting way (no more than 8-10 LEDs)
    • use of Arduino is completely optional, and if used board will most likely be located outside of toy
  • Make a circuit diagram for your plush toy. Phil B’s “Let’s Put LEDs in Things!” guide will come in handy and has additional soldering tips
  • Practice your soldering skills! Wires, LEDs, switches, circuit boards– try them all! a good resource is the Adafruit Guide To Excellent Soldering.
  • Acquire materials for your Plush Nightlight project. For your project you’re going to need some LEDs, a switch, and a battery pack (or a battery pack with a switch already on it). Here are some recommended sources:

    Order early if you are having anything shipped, so you have time to work and play with your materials!

  • fb-monsters-openerOptionally finish sewing your practice monster from today’s sewing workshop, follow along with the Free Range Monsters guide. Take a photo or two and optionally include them at the end of your homework blog post.More plush toy sewing resources:

     

  • Create the first prototype of your Plush Nightlight. The primary objective of this project (and most important evaluation criterion) is an exploration of light diffusion using LEDs and soft materials. All other elements are secondary, including interaction, so feel free to omit your Arduino unless you are 100% satisfied with your light diffusion. Take photos and video of your material experiments, pattern design, and prototype construction, and create a blog post about your prototype (Works in Progress/Proposals category) and be ready to present it at next week’s in progress critique. Blog posts are due 8pm on Tuesday 9/25, and should include photos of your prototype, pattern, and circuit diagram.

Author: Becky Stern

Making and sharing are my two biggest passions! I'm a Content Creator at Autodesk and part-time faculty at SVA. Check out all my Instructables and find me as @bekathwia on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.