Automatic Temperature Control System

Using Arduino

Kyi Kyi Khaing, K. Srujan Raju, G. R. Sinha and Wit Yee Swe

Abstract Automatic temperature control system is an important application used

in almost all modern gadgets and smart homes. The system for controlling tem-
perature automatically is achieved by using Arduino Uno-based microcontroller
system. Arduino Uno due to its increased popularity finds its varied range of
applications. Temperature sensor LM35 and Arduino Uno are the hardware used
interfaced with computer, and the temperature is controlled in the room.
Temperature is displayed on LCD display employing A1 pin of hardware with the
help of analog pin utilizing pulse width modulation (PWM). We have designed
temperature control as an automatic system that has been not attempted before the
way it has been implemented.

Keywords Temperature control
Arduino Uno
Temperature sensor
LCD

display

1 Introduction

Temperature control becomes an important task in many of automatic operations.

There are sensors, right from simple to smart sensors that are used for detecting the
temperature. The environmental monitoring application, room temperature control
are few of popular examples of temperature control. Now, with the advent of new
technologies—hardware and software support—temperature can be controlled,
monitored, and recorded more flexibly and with the programmable ways [1–4].
Information and communication technology (ICT) or smart appliances are using

K. K. Khaing (&)
G. R. Sinha
W. Y. Swe

Myanmar Institute of Information Technology (MIIT), Mandalay, Myanmar
e-mail: kyi_kyi_khaing@[Link]
K. Srujan Raju
CMR Technical Campus Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
e-mail: drksrujanraju@[Link]

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020 219

K. S. Raju et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Third International Conference
on Computational Intelligence and Informatics, Advances in Intelligent
Systems and Computing 1090, [Link]
220 K. K. Khaing et al.

some sort of temperature control; this may be artificial intelligence (AI)-based

refrigerator or washing machine.
Microcontroller-based temperature control has become so important that it acts
as benchmark for testing and simulation of particular sensors for detection and
monitoring of temperature automatically. Various types of projects like minor
projects as well as major projects are carried out on suitable hardware and software
platform [4–9].
This paper presents an application of control theory using ICT and
hardware-based temperature control including design of a circuit (hardware) and
implementation and testing on Arduino Uno board. The test results are displayed
with the help of LCD display. The program is written in Arduino IDE and facilitates
the display of temperature in degree centigrade and also in Fahrenheit. The Arduino
Uno board facilitates the temperature measurements input to the fan and cooling
system ON/OFF that is automatically done based on varied values of temperature.

2 Related Research and Problem Identification

In the existing literature, there are many research papers that are temperature control
but very few of them have used Arduino for automatic control of temperature,
especially for monitoring applications. We studied several papers and here few of
important contributions are presented.
Atilla et al. presented a case study that the design of heating system controlled
by Arduino and has studied the technology, software, hardware used in the heating
system, which consists of isolated box, dry resistance, voltage regulator, thermo-
couple, air fan, microcontroller, and computer. Proportional–integral–derivative
(PID), neural network, fuzzy logic is mainly used for the temperature control of
heating systems. The system uses PID controller and exhibits satisfactory value of
stability, good reliability, and sensitivity also. Microcontroller-based temperature
control was designed with comparing theoretical values of temperature. However,
Arduino control and implementation were not done [1].
Abdullah et al. suggested a design of temperature control system and imple-
mented on TudungSaji microcontroller. Hardware implementation, as well as
software simulation, was tested and obtained. The purpose of this work includes
protection against bacteria after certain value of temperature. The application seems
to be very good controlling and rather preventing from bacteria since after certain
temperature, the bacteria can be killed. This could be also tested on Arduino IDE
system [2]. Wayan et al. proposed the development and design of temperature
distribution control for baby incubator application. In this system, it is a very
important to maintain a certain temperature inside the room to take care of proper
health of a baby. Humidity was also included in the study of experiment using
microcontroller-based system for temperature measurement and control. This
proved to be very important application for baby care and health [3].
Automatic Temperature Control System Using Arduino 221

Nagendra et al. presented a design and the implementation of Arduino-based

temperature sensor that was also used to measure humidity level [4]. Kanishak et al.
brought out a case study on temperature control systems using microcontroller,
TRIAC, and bridge rectifiers [5]. Vaibhav et al. implemented speed control system
based on change in temperature; for changing temperature measurement, the tem-
perature control system was used. PWM and a simulation software were used to
design the hardware and simulate on computer [6]. Theophilus et al. presented a
testing of temperature monitoring mechanism with the help of Atmel Atmega 8385
system and LM35 temperature sensor [7].
Kiranmai et al. also proposed a temperature control system, and it was claimed
that it is very useful for Internet of things (IoT)-related applications. However, the
real-time application for any such application was not tested [8]. Singhala et al.
studied a fuzzy-based temperature control system that was completely
simulation-based, and no hardware implementation was achieved. The system
suggested was very simple and effective but hardware implementation and real-
ization remain as future scope of the work [9].
Muhammad [10] designed a PID controller and implemented on virtual labo-
ratory platform, LabVIEW of National Instruments. It was suggested that
Arduino-based hardware realization would produce much relevant and appropriate
results for temperature control. Samil et al. employed the concept of PWM and
displayed the values of temperature using LCD displays [11]. Masstor et al. sug-
gested a case study for alarm system based on sensing temperature and humidity.
Arduino controlled GSM/GPRS module was suggested, but temperature measure-
ment was not accurate in the system [12]. Okpagu et al. suggested the development
of temperature control system for egg incubator system utilizing sensors, PID
controllers, LCD displays, DC motors, and fan control system. This is a very
important type of incubator system because it becomes essential to monitor embryo
and its growth, and therefore, temperature control and monitoring played an
important role in this system [13].
Christina et al. presented a case study of light and humidity control including
temperature control also. Light sensor, temperature sensor, and Arduino hardware
interfaced with computer, and the work was implemented. Basically, the work was
suggested for environmental monitoring for hospital application [14]. Merean et al.
proposed a design and development of remote-controlled temperature monitoring
system. Arduino-based work aims at providing a viable solution to the environ-
mental monitoring and care [15].
Summarizing the current literature, temperature control that too automatic way
of monitoring has not been attempted by the researchers mainly on temperature in
focus of research. We suggest an Arduino control and hardware-based temperature
control system, mainly highlighting temperature monitoring and measurement.
222 K. K. Khaing et al.

3 Hardware Implementation

Hardware implementation was obtained on Arduino IDE interfaced with P-IV

computer. Data flow and block diagram of the hardware implementation are shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.
Figures 1 and 2 are simple and self-explanatory where temperature sensors are
connected with the help of Arduino and LCD display of 16  2 matrix. The fan
was additionally connected for cooling mechanism so that automatic control could
be achieved which is main objective of the proposed work. The hardware design is
very simple without any circuit complexity (Fig. 3).
We used temperature sensor IC LM35 that helps in generating a small voltage
for detecting the change in temperature across the temperature sensor.

Fig. 1 Data flow in hardware implementation

Fig. 2 Block diagram of temperature control hardware

Automatic Temperature Control System Using Arduino 223

Fig. 3 Flowchart of the

control system

The generated voltage was continuous and analog signal generated through analog
pin of Arduino hardware. Arduino (ATmega328) controller was used, and the
voltage is taken as analog input in port 1 (A1) of Arduino Uno. The hardware reads
the analog signal, and it is then converted into suitable digital output with the help
of appropriate analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit that is inbuilt in it. ADC
has maximum capacity of 10-bits output generating from 0 to 1023 (1024
combinations).
Digital data corresponding to analog input received through the port is converted
and multiplied by a coefficient 0.488 just to normalize in centigrade. Similarly,
suitable multipliers such as 1.8 and afterward adding with 32 used to convert the
temperature measurement in Fahrenheit scale. The hardware sends the data to
16  2 LCD display which is connected with controller as shown in Fig. 4. Pin 1
and pin 2 are connected to ground and supply VCC, respectively, through Arduino
for activating or switching ON the LCD. Pin 3 enables through 10 K resister as
adjustment of brightness value of LCD display.
So, the display can be made on both the scales of temperature. A control bit,
either 0 or 1, is also sent by the Arduino to port 6 basically for providing control
224 K. K. Khaing et al.

Fig. 4 Temperature control system

application. Pins 8 and 9 can be seen connected with fans just to adjust, normalize,
and automatically control the temperate. Whenever temperature goes down after
certain value, the fans will be OFF else it will keep running. This is how the control
of temperature becomes automatic. Figure 3 shows the flowchart of the system.

4 Results

However, experimental setup was done and lot of temperature measurement was
recorded with suitable displays. Few of sample displays and the observations are
presented here with brief discussion.
Mainly, we have two outputs in this work: one for displaying the temperature
automatically on LCD display and second was even important that is for automatic
switching ON/OFF of fans so as to monitor the temperatures on automatic basis.
LCD display produces the output of temperature as well as the status of fans. For
example, in Fig. 4, it can be seen that 28 degree centigrade is being displayed by
the LCD display along with status of fan as ON. Actually, the running condition of
fans depends on the threshold value set. We set 25 degree centigrade as the value,
and therefore, it can be seen that for 28 degree centigrade fan is running (i.e., in ON
condition). Obviously, for below, for example 23 degree centigrade, the fan will go
OFF. The interface of display with bread board and Arduino hardware can be seen
in Fig. 5.
Automatic Temperature Control System Using Arduino 225

Fig. 5 Display of a
temperature and status of fan
in automatic control of
temperature

5 Conclusions

We have designed a simple method of temperature control system automatically.

Utilizing the concept cooling after certain temperature, Arduino-based hardware
along with display was realized in hardware. Few samples are shown in result, but
any value of temperature can be generalized in this work. The work is focused
mainly on temperature control, and no other parameter is involved. This seems to be
robust way of handling only temperature control on automatic basis. This can be
extremely useful for persons of physical disability. Soft computing method could be
used to make it more robust and fuzzy controlled.

Acknowledgements The successful and final outcome of this paper is required a lot of guidance
and assistance from my teacher. I respect and thank Mr. G.R. Sinha, Professor, Myanmar Institute
of Information Technology (MIIT), Mandalay (Adjunct Professor, IIIT Bangalore, India).

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