Week 3: Arduino Use (Possible Switch to Digital)

An Arduino is a microcontroller that can run on a DC battery or a USB port in a computer. This system allows the user to input certain commands using the Arduino programming language. The commands allow several real life applications. The Arduino can do things like create a light show that controls several LEDs, or gauge water flow. However, initially, this group intended to use the Arduino to control the movement of a motor that would rotate the top of the pet feeder.

This is an Arduino Uno, which is an example of an Arduino the group was going to use

In the past lab session, the group was trying to figure out a ways to incorporate the Arudino in the project properly. The initial issue with the Arduino was trying to learn the language for the Arduino, which was very different from any of the programming that the group has done in the past. However, the group still tried to learn the coding by looking at certain samples. After trying to insert code that the group created and not having it work properly, some of the members found examples that would run a simple DC motor, but they did not work properly either. Even though the group did not receive any results, it still continued to research more on how to make the Arduino work. At the next meeting the group decided that using an Arduino in this situation would not be practical because if a person were to purchase this pet feeder, he or she would need to have a computer, and knowledge about programming. In addition, the group determined that there may be some unpredictability with the Arduino is something went wrong with the code. Finally, the group decided that a timer switch would be best for this project, which the group will write more about in the future.