So you've finished setting up your Arduino Uno and have already tried the classic blink sketch. Congrats! You're now ready to take your electronic skills to the next level and begin your journey into the magical world of sensors and breadboards. Here are ten Arduino Uno project ideas you can do over the weekend to get you started!
1. Traffic Light Controller
LEDs are pretty much a staple when it comes to Arduino projects, not only because they are common components but also because they are easy to work with. In this Arduino Traffic Light Controller, you will make a simple implementation of a traffic lights system using basic components you can easily find in your Arduino kit or at the nearest electronics store.
If you want a more challenging take on this Arduino project, feel free to try upgrading the traffic light controller to a four-way system.
2. DIY Ambilight
Ambilight is basically a series of LED lights embedded on the back of Philips TVs. It extends the content beyond the bezels and onto the surrounding wall, giving you a fully immersive viewing experience.
Unfortunately, this lighting technology is proprietary to Philips TVs. If you want to keep your good ol' TV and have the same viewing experience without shelling out hundreds of dollars, try this DIY Ambilight instead. You only need your PC, Arduino Uno, LED strip, power supply, and double-sided tape, and you'll have your own Ambilight in no time.
3. Robot Car
Experimenting with DC motors and Arduino is always a lot of fun. And when it comes to building something with these two components, the first thing that springs to mind is a motor car.
If you have some wheels and plywood sitting around in your garage, you can build a basic robot car from scratch. This project will show you how to control the robot using an L298N motor driver connected to an Arduino Uno. If you want to step it up a notch, you can make your own autonomous robot instead.
4. Fingerprint Door Lock
Always losing your keys but don't want to spend money on a fingerprint door lock? Well, you're in luck! With this nifty little project, you can easily build your own fingerprint security door lock for less than a hundred dollars.
This is one of the things you can do with Arduino that tackles a practical problem with a DIY solution. Although it might seem complicated at first, it's actually easy to implement, and you don't need to worry about forgetting your precious keys ever again.
5. Handheld Game Console
While mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets is the norm nowadays, nothing beats building your own handheld console and playing on it. If you're up for the challenge, here's a DIY game console project for you.
In this project, you will use an Arduino Uno with ATmega328P and a bi-color dot matrix display to create your own console that features the classic "Nokia Snake Game". Fun, right?
6. Electronic Piano Keyboard
Think using Arduino Uno for robot cars is cool? Just wait until you learn that you can use it to create musical instruments, too! With this quick and easy project, you can build your own DIY electronic keyboard with an Arduino Uno and a magical component called a piezoelectric buzzer.
This keyboard also needs a few buttons to mimic the piano keys. Each of these buttons creates a distinct tone based on the frequency you set in the code. If you want to turn this cool Arduino project into something cooler, try replacing the switches with LDRs. This way, you can play your favorite song without ever touching the board!
7. Laser Tripwire Alarm Security System
If you've ever had a sibling barge into your room unannounced or grab something from your closet without permission again, it may be time to install a security system. Those are often expensive to set up and maintain, though. So instead of buying one, why not build it yourself with an Arduino Uno?
This project will teach you how to make a laser tripwire alarm system that will sound an alarm once the laser beams are interrupted and won't stop until you press a button. You can also do a more secure version using a keypad, so it requires a passcode to stop the alarm.
8. Motion and Time-Triggered Bed Light
Don't you hate it when you get up in the middle of the night and trip over something you forgot to put away the day before? If so, then a motion and time-activated bed lamp is the Arduino project for you. This works with the help of a passive infrared (PIR) sensor and a real-time clock (RTC) module connected to your Arduino Uno.
Whenever the PIR senses motion, it automatically turns on the LED strip under your bed. You can also set a time for it to turn on (say from 7:30 to 8:00 pm), so you have a nice warm glow in your room as you sleep.
9. Lie Detector
Looking to upgrade your game night? With this clever Arduino-based lie detector, you will not only improve your electronic skills but impress your friends, too!
Here, you will use a pulse sensor to measure the players' heart rates. Once they place a finger on the module, you will ask your question, press the button, and wait for an LED to light up. Red means they're lying, and green means they're telling the truth.
10. Automatic Plant Watering System
Keeping some house plants on your desk is all fun and games until you forget to water them and they start dying. No need to fret, though, because this convenient Arduino Uno project has you covered.
Using a soil moisture sensor, the system automatically waters your plants according to the level of moisture in the soil. You can use this to babysit up to four of your plants. How nifty!
Grab Your Arduino Uno and Let's Get Building!
The easiest way to improve your electronic skills is by starting with Arduino Uno and creating circuits like these ten projects. Once you get familiar with the IDE and have finally memorized which leg of the LED is positive, feel free to move on to more complex Arduino Uno projects like building a robot arm! Good luck with your tinkering!
