Nobody denies that we're living through one of the best times to play with hardware. On one hand, we have the entire Raspberry Pi family with excellent projects that are very easy to do, but it would be crazy to ignore the Arduino world, full of tutorials and compatible code. This time, we're going to look at ten of the best projects based on both Arduino hardware and software that you can start building right now.
Starting to develop an Arduino project is a matter of determination. I understand that in some regions of the globe the hardware can be more expensive than usual, but there's always the shortcut of generic compatible hardware (usually from the East) that can run Arduino code without major hiccups. Arduino modules have proven to be quite useful on their own, but when combined with other components, their potential multiplies. Want inspiration? Some portals like Adafruit, Tinkernut and Instructables have lots of reference material, and of course, offer the necessary components in their virtual stores. Let's see...
Weather sensor
The market offers many options when it comes to weather sensors, and to be honest, an old smartphone with the right app can take on that role perfectly, but if we strictly follow the Arduino route, we arrive at the Huzzah ESP8266 module with WiFi connectivity, and since it's directly compatible with the Arduino IDE, you don't need a separate controller. This is an advanced project, which requires a PHP script on a web server, but it's definitely worth it.
MIDI controller
Interested in music? The magic of MIDI represents an excellent first step for many enthusiasts, and if we add a good dose of Arduino, the result is the Mini UNTZ, a solid MIDI controller. The main components are divided between a 16-key Adafruit Trellis keyboard, an Arduino Leonardo (or something compatible with an ATMega32u4), four potentiometers, and a case that can be 3D printed. All the information is available for download, free of charge.
Fingerprint reader
Security is critical these days, and this has led a significant number of users to lean towards biometric solutions. That's how we come across this fingerprint scanner, adapted to control an automatic garage door. The Arduino (whether a Uno or a Duemilanove) is limited to programming a small ATtiny85 and an ATmega328. Although the main goal is to open a garage, nothing prevents you from adapting the same device to other functions.
Motion-detecting spray gun
I remember a story where an electronics enthusiast had to defend his garden from squirrels that came to devour his flowers, and the solution was a gun that shot streams of water when it detected movement. This project shares some elements, with the difference that it uses a sprayer. The information on the Tinkernut page is a bit imprecise, so I recommend everyone interested to follow the video closely.
Automatic lights
Few things are as terrible as stubbing your big toe against a bed leg because you can't see when entering. Several strips of LED lights, an Arduino, a motion sensor, and some PCBs to make the design cleaner allow us to create an LED light for our room that activates as soon as we enter. If the LED lights are going to be on for a long time, it's recommended to install them on an aluminum support for cooling.
Censoring your TV
Watching television is interesting, although one of its fundamental problems is that some 'celebrities' expose themselves too much on it, and repeat their names every five minutes. The logical thing would be to turn off the TV when they are mentioned, but someone decided to connect an Arduino to a shield called Video Experimenter, and created a dynamic filter that mutes the TV when the closed caption system names a certain celebrity. Complicated, but very eye-catching.
Ambient monitor lights
Several TV and monitor manufacturers decided to add lights on the back to "optimize the environment" in which the screen works, but the truth is you can do something similar on any monitor. This project is based on ShiftBrite modules, and although it's recommended to use between six and eight of them, you can make them yourself to lower the cost. Like other projects, its base depends on an Arduino Uno.
Robotic arms
Robotic arms? Yes, we've seen a healthy share in the past, however, they are not exclusive to the professional world. Arduino hardware fans have given rise to things like the MeArm project, available through a kit with all the necessary pieces. As an alternative, you can download the plans and print each part, but beginners will feel much more comfortable with the kit, whose price is quite reasonable (50 dollars plus the Arduino).
A super control panel
The first time I came across this on Reddit I thought 'this guy is crazy.' In essence, he created a huge control panel, which he installed above his head, like a spaceship. Its aesthetics are impeccable, and it allows him to control dozens of functions on his computer through physical switches. Multiple USB controllers, a hub, an Arduino Mega for the lights, and dozens of cables form the soul of this panel. Do you think you can make one? The entire guide is on Imgur.
Your very own Arduino
As I said above, the Arduino can be very expensive in some countries. In that case, why not make one yourself? After all, the Arduino design is open source, and if you have the right components, it's possible to create a compatible clone. Another advantage of making your own Arduino is adapting its size to your needs. This tutorial on Instructables will help you create a truly compact variant, almost without losing functionality.
These are ten projects with very different levels of complexity, but that doesn't change the fact that we've only scratched the surface. Across the web you'll find plenty more to do that fits your budget and the component availability in your region. Keep exploring. Good luck!
Source: Lifehacker
