Week 6 Challenge: Iron Chef; Motors Controlled by Sensors (The Spinning Motor)

 This week was an "Iron Chef Challenge," our professor presented us with some secret ingredients to include in our circuit challenge for this week. The Items were Motors controlled by Sensors.  As I researched for a circuit in the Starter Kit Guide, I found project 10, Spinning a Motor. I set my materials up and connected my Arduino and Microcontroller board; I found a code to use on the Arduino website, but my circuit would not work. After three attempts to fix the code, I decided to research online to see if I could find a working code and possibly a different setup; I found a code that would be beneficial. I completed the Spinning Motor circuit, first setting up with a transistor and then changing that out for a temperature sensor.

1. What the project Does:

 In the spinning motor project, a transistor acts as a digital switch, enabling the Arduino to control loads with higher electrical requirements. If we do not use the transistor, the Arduino may be damaged. In the Project, the circuit and code are successfully configured when the motor spins. I changed the transistor out with a temperature sensor. The motor turned on and was able to spin. However, the sensor became extremely hot and singed my fingers a little. I feared the Arduino would overload and be damaged, so I disconnected the temperature sensor.

2. The Code:

The sketch/code below worked! One thing I did during my circuit testing was playing with the delays. As I decreased the motor speed and prolonged the time of the pause between the spins, the temperature sensor became hot but at a slower rate.

3. Picture of the Circuit (Arduino and Breadboard)

Above is a photo of the breadboard with the temperature sensor connected.

Side view of the Arduino and Microcontroller board. 

An aerial view of the Arduino and Microcontroller board. 

Note: The red and black jumper wires are not in the negative and positive ports. If either was disconnected, the motor would turn off and stop spinning.

4. Electronic Diagrams:

My diagram of the microcontroller board and Arduino. 

Above is the diagram listed in our Starter Kit Guide.

5. How The Spinning Motor Works:

6. My Thinking Through the Challenge: 

This project in itself was a challenge. After I was able to get the motor to spin, I attempted an extension. I tried to connect a Photo Resistor, add some additional transistors, and add/assign the code for the Photo Resistor at PIN A(0), even combine codes, but the motor did not turn on. After a couple of hours of playing with the code and moving the jumper wires around, I decided not to continue with the extension challenge for the time being. 

The initial spinning of the motor was a success, though. To demonstrate that the circuit worked, I placed a propeller on the motor to show the spinning. This circuit was challenging, but I had fun completing the task.

7. Final Reflection/ Process:

Finding a code compatible with my Arduino (setup) is sometimes difficult. Not all of the original codes I found online through Arduino or other websites work with the specific material I have. This is where being to apply the things I have learned thus far comes into play. I can successfully compile my sketches using my prior knowledge, the user guide, and research online.

8. Possible Extensions/Applications in Real Life:  

One real-world example would be a radio-controlled car. Another might be the stop-start engine system of a vehicle.