IDeATe

Outcome

Intention

get to know the sensors in your kits
learn how to integrate sensing into your circuits and read information from the environment around you;
become familiar with how to write code to translate sensors into outputs (cloud connectivity or output like LEDs)
build familiarity with conditional logic and if statements
map sensor readings onto actions and feedback

Process

I built familiarity with several of the sensors, including the operations of:

Button
Potentiometer
Light Sensor
Pressure Sensor

I encountered several difficulties when trying to repeat the design and ultimately did not use the light sensor because it responded poorly and slowly. I adjusted the original code for a 300-4095 range and that worked the first time, but did not respond in subsequent tests.

Move up Delete Move down

int photoCellPin =A0;
int photoCellReading=0;
int ledPin=D2;
int ledBrightness=0;

void setup() {
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);

Particle.variable("light",&photoCellReading, INT);

}

void loop() {
//analogRead reads the photocell, and gives a value from 0 to 4095
photoCellReading =analogRead (photoCellPin);

//We want to map this value into the PWM range of 0-255
ledBrightness =map(photoCellReading, 3000,4095,0,255);

//fade the LED to the desired brightness, sets the value
analogWrite(ledPin, ledBrightness);

//waits and then loops
delay(100);
}

Show Advanced Options

Move up Delete Move down

Show Advanced Options

Move up Delete Move down

Process

I then experimented with the pressure or 'flex sensor' as it's labeled in the code with greater success. I used the cloud readings to adjust the if loop conditions so that the effects in the lights were more distinguished, and turned 'off' the lights to mark the end of the loop.

Move up Delete Move down

int flexSens =A0;
int YellowPin=D2;
int GreenPin=D3;

int ledBrightness;
int flexSensReading;

void setup() {
    pinMode(YellowPin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(GreenPin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(flexSens, INPUT);
    Particle.variable("power",&flexSensReading, INT);

}

void loop() {
    //analogRead reads the sensor, and gives a value from 0 to 4095
    flexSensReading =analogRead (flexSens);

    //We want to map this value into the PWM range of 0-255
    ledBrightness = map(flexSensReading, 0, 4095, 0, 255);
    
    if(flexSensReading<=1000){
        analogWrite(YellowPin, ledBrightness);
    }
    //fade the LED to the desired brightness, sets the value
    else if (flexSensReading >2000){
        analogWrite(YellowPin, ledBrightness);
        analogWrite(GreenPin, ledBrightness);
    }
    //waits and then loops
    delay(100);
    digitalWrite(YellowPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(GreenPin, LOW);
    }

Show Advanced Options

Move up Delete Move down

Show Advanced Options

Move up Delete Move down

Learnings

My learnings from this skill development are to 1) explore different ways to "bug test", such as testing a different sensor and 2) utilize the cloud readings as input to adjust the cloud. I spent a significant amount of time trying to understand the issue with the light sensor that may have been helpful testing something else!

You can upload files of up to 20MB using this form.

Add Rich Text Add Code Block Add Embeddable Content

Outcome

Intention

Process

Attribution

Attribution

Process

Attribution

Attribution

Learnings