This project's purpose was to inform us about robotics and electronic coding. We learned how to calculate current, resistance, and voltage by setting up different circuits from a packet that explained these principals and had experiments for us to try. After we learned about these concepts we moved on to the Arduino boards which is a more complex circuit that plugs into a computer so you can add code and tell the circuit to complete a task like blink a light, display a message, or play a song. For our project in this unit, we were told to design a circuit that looked like robot art. We did are Arduino board with the song Here Comes The Sun, with the lyrics showing,and a small yellow light in the middle.
Concepts:
Circuit: A circuit is defined as a strip of conductive materials that runs from the positive side of a power source to the negative side of a power source. It is crucial to know that you will short-circuit your battery if you don't have any resistance.
Resistance: Resistance is how much a conductive object will slow current. Resistance in a series can be calculated using RTotal=R1+R2+R3. In parallel, the equation is 1/RTotal=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3. Resistance is measured in Ohms, and can also be found using R=V/I
Current: Current is the flow of electricity through a circuit, or a component of a circuit. It represents how much power is passing through a part, and is represented by an I. Current in parallel can be found using ITotal=I1+I2+I3. In parallel, the equation is ITotal=I1=I2=I3. Current is measured in Amps, and can also be found using I=V/R
Voltage: Voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. Voltage is represented by a V. In series, it is calculated using VTotal=V1+V2+V3. In parallel, it is VTotal=V1=V2=V3. Voltage is measured in Volts, and can also be found using R=IV.
Power (P) - rate at which electrical energy is transferred by a circuit
Ohms Law - states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the current across the two points.
Resistance: Resistance is how much a conductive object will slow current. Resistance in a series can be calculated using RTotal=R1+R2+R3. In parallel, the equation is 1/RTotal=1/R1+1/R2+1/R3. Resistance is measured in Ohms, and can also be found using R=V/I
Current: Current is the flow of electricity through a circuit, or a component of a circuit. It represents how much power is passing through a part, and is represented by an I. Current in parallel can be found using ITotal=I1+I2+I3. In parallel, the equation is ITotal=I1=I2=I3. Current is measured in Amps, and can also be found using I=V/R
Voltage: Voltage is the difference in electric potential between two points in a circuit. Voltage is represented by a V. In series, it is calculated using VTotal=V1+V2+V3. In parallel, it is VTotal=V1=V2=V3. Voltage is measured in Volts, and can also be found using R=IV.
Power (P) - rate at which electrical energy is transferred by a circuit
Ohms Law - states that the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the current across the two points.
Code for Here Comes The Sun
Circuit Diagram
Evidence:
Reflection:
In this STEM project we worked on programming . My partner, Rachel, and I created a code that would make our Arduino board play Here Comes the Sun and show the lyrics at the same time (as you can see above).This project was way more difficult and different then the previous ones for many reasons. We worked in partners instead of groups, which made it easier to decide on what we wanted to do. Since there was only two of us, and we had to get a lot done,we struggled with time. The reason why this project was so difficult was because Rachel and I didn't know anything about programming or circuits when we started. So we worked with electrical connections and breadboards. Then, we used Arduino boards and did some examples of the code, and created our own. This process involved a lot of precise steps and one bracket in the wrong place would result in the whole code not working. This became extremely frustrating and it was very hard to determine which bracket was misplaced. Also when we finished everything and was ready to present our entire LCD library broke, which meant are code could not work. It was very hard for me to stay calm during this project. When our code was not working because of the brackets it frustrated me, so I need to work on my patience. Another thing I could improve on is trying to make the most out of the project. I was very dejected during this project, especially when our code wouldn't work. I should have tried to keep my energy and mood up because nothing productive comes out of being down in the dumps . One thing Rachel and I did well was communicating our ideas. After receiving instructions for our project, we instantly agreed on playing a song and showing lyrics for the project. Another thing we did well was we were both motivated to finish the project even when we ran out of time. We worked on the coding at lunch and after school to make it work, so we could finish. Overall, this project was very challenging and our final project worked well.