Designing Real-World Systems with Arduino: Actuators,
Sensors, and Behavior Integration
📚 Topics Covered:
This week bridges the foundational knowledge students have accumulated—digital and analog
signals, reading sensor data, and basic logic—and brings it into the real world by introducing
interactivity and behavior. We expand beyond standalone component experiments into full
system integration.
Topics Include:
What are actuators? Overview and classification: linear vs. rotary, electrical vs.
mechanical
How actuators interact with microcontrollers: Interfacing via digital/PWM pins
Servo motors and motor control basics: Rotation, positioning, calibration
Using the Servo.h library to drive position-based rotation
Buzzer modules: Difference between active and passive buzzers
Generating tones using tone() and controlling sound dynamically
Understanding distance and object detection: Introduction to ultrasonic sensors (HC-
SR04)
Sensor-actuator synergy: Designing behavior-based interactions (e.g., motion detection
triggering sound or movement)
Real-time feedback loops using Serial Monitor for calibration and dynamic control
Hands-On Activities:
Each hands-on task is designed to simulate an actual embedded system in miniature. Rather than
one-off circuits, students will now begin chaining events together based on logic and
environmental input.
Activity 1: “The Reactive Ruler” – Distance-Based Feedback
Connect an ultrasonic sensor (HC-SR04)
Code the Arduino to read distance and trigger different LED colors or sounds based on
proximity
Example logic:
o < 10cm = red LED + loud tone
o 10–30cm = yellow LED + soft tone
o 30cm = green LED only
Activity 2: Servo Motion with Analog Input
Use a potentiometer to control the angle of a servo motor (0°–180°)
Introduce map() and constrain() to translate analog input ranges into servo angles
Extension: Replace potentiometer with a temperature sensor (DHT11) and use ambient
conditions to move the servo (e.g., open vent at high temperature)
Activity 3: “Intruder Alert” – Interactive Alarm System
Combine a distance sensor, buzzer, and LEDs
Create logic where a buzzer sounds if an object enters a set range
Use delays, timing windows, and millis() to avoid false positives
Activity 4: Feedback Tuning and Troubleshooting via Serial
Display sensor input in Serial Monitor for real-time observation
Print conditional statements to help debug (e.g., “Object detected: activating alarm!”)
Tune thresholds based on sensor environment (e.g., ambient noise or light interference)
🎯 Learning Goals:
By the end of this week, students will:
1. Understand how to translate sensor input into physical movement or audio output
2. Utilize both analog and digital sensors in a multi-component system
3. Gain working knowledge of pulse width modulation (PWM) to control servos and
buzzers
4. Master using the Serial Monitor for live debugging and dynamic feedback
5. Develop modular code using functions() to keep large sketches organized
6. Understand the principles of system response, latency, and conditional behavior
7. Build the foundation for independent project planning by seeing how inputs can
drive behavior in meaningful ways
📌 Homework / Practice:
Assignment 1: Servo Distance Mapper
Write a program that reads distance from an ultrasonic sensor and moves a servo
accordingly:
o Object close = Servo angle 0°
o Object medium = Servo 90°
o Object far = Servo 180°
Add Serial output to display measured distance and current servo angle
Assignment 2: Final Project Proposal Draft
Submit a 1-page proposal outlining:
o The project name
o Problem statement (what does it solve?)
o Components to be used (sensors, actuators, logic)
o Initial sketch of the circuit diagram
o A description of expected behavior
