Vol. 4, No.
4 November 2021 P-ISSN: 2621-3273
E-ISSN: 2621-1548
Development of Arduino Basic Learning Kit in Robotics
for Beginner Level Learning
Tan Kooi Lim, Ahmad Zumali Mohammad, Mohd. Noor bin Ismail
Department of Mathematics, Science and Computer,
Polytechnic of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia
*
Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract— This Basic Arduino Learning Kit in Robotics is developed to help someone who wants to learn the basic
concepts of Arduino and its operation in the field of robotics which is becoming increasingly important in our daily
lives. This learning kit, it provides three practical works that allow students to deepen their knowledge of the Arduino
Uno microcontroller in robotics step by step. In Practical Work 1, students are exposed to the experiment of lighting
three LED lights with a pattern of running lights and flashing lights. In Practical Work 2, students are exposed to
measurement work using an ultrasonic detector and displaying its reading on a computer screen and the screen of a
mobile phone with the Android operating system via a Bluetooth module. In Practical Work 3, students are shown
how to build a three-wheeled prototype robot and how to control the robot using a mobile phone with the Android
operating system. The effectiveness of this learning kit has been tested in a learning workshop on 21 Pre-Diploma
students of the Session of June 2020 Polytechnic of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and has shown very encouraging
feedback.
Keyword: Arduino Basic Learning Kit, Robotics, Bluetooth module, a three-wheeled prototype robot
INTRODUCTION In addition, the use of robotics also brings importance
The use of robotics is increasingly popular among to the military field. This can be explained when
young people and has become an important robotic technology helps the military detect bombs,
technology in the development of the country. This landmines, and so on. For example, TALON
can be seen when the use of robotics brings (TALON Tracked
importance in various fields such as in the medical Military Robot - Army
and military fields. In medicine, one of the uses of Technology, 2020)is an
robotics is to help explosives detection robot
doctors to analyze and developed by the QinetiQ
diagnose various types company in North America
of diseases in a patient's that is capable of receiving
body, such as and executing instructions
Figure 2: TALON
diagnosing the growth of to extinguish the
Robot Detecting
cancer cells in the body Explosives explosives it detects.
of cancer patients. Although this robot was
According to local news developed in the year 2000, it is still used today on
Figure 1: Robotic in the United States, M-
Technology Used in the battlefield.
Live Media Group, an
Diagnosing Cancer Cell
international healthcare Therefore, the objective of the development of this
Growth in the Lung
company, Spectrum Arduino Basic Learning Kit in Robotics (Figure 3) is
Health, has completed diagnosing a total of 200 to help someone who wants to learn the basic
procedures of lung conditions at risk for cancer using
robotic technology (Fisher, 2020).
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P-ISSN: 2621-3273 E-ISSN: 2621-1548
concepts of students in any educational institution everywhere. It
Arduino and is easy to pick up the knowledge of the
its operation in microcontroller and is suitable to be used by a student
the field of when they want to fabricate their final year study
robotics which project. Here are the features and specifications of the
is increasingly Arduino Uno microcontroller (A. Aqeel, 2018):
important in Figure 3: Arduino Basic
our daily lives, Learning Kit in Robotics
as well as to
the engineering students who want to use Arduino
equipment to build their study projects in the final
year at their educational institution. In addition, this
kit also aims to expose students and fans of electronic
projects to the concept of wireless communication by
using Bluetooth modules through the implemented
practical works.
LITERATURE REVIEW
To develop a robot that is smart and can be operated
according to the user's commands, it needs to be
equipped with a microcontroller that can be
programmed as the main controller, which is like a
brain to a robot. Therefore, to develop the Arduino
Basic Learning Kit in Robotics, we have chosen the
Arduino Uno microcontroller as the robot's central
controller, and components such as Light Emitting
Diode (LED), ultrasonic detector, and 4-6 volt direct
Figure 4: Arduino Uno Microcontroller
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
The LED is an electronic light that is usually used in
student electronics projects and it serves as an
indicator/marker to an operation. When it is used in
fabricating electronic projects, it needs to be
connected with a resistor with a resistance of between
Figure 5: Light Emitting Diode and
150 ohms to 1-kilo ohm to ensure that it does not
The Specification (Working Principle of Light Emitting
Diode | Electrical4U, 2020) exceed its load and is burnt out subsequently.
current motor as input-output components to the kit. Ultrasonic Detector
In addition, we also use the Bluetooth module in our The SR04 ultrasonic detector is an electronic
learning kit so that all the performed practical works component commonly used to measure distances
can be upgraded and can be controlled from a certain (maximum distance of 4 meters) in electronic
distance (maximum distance of 9 meters). Thus the projects. It uses the principle of ultrasonic wave
concept of wireless communication which is reversal (more than 20 kHz) to measure the distance
becoming increasingly important in our daily lives of an object from it (Last Minute Engineers 20 (Last
this day can be adapted through practical works. Minute Engineers (How HC-SR04 Ultrasonic
Sensor Works & How to Interface It With
Arduino Uno Microcontroller Arduino, 2020).
The Arduino Uno microcontroller is a
microcontroller developed by the company Arduino. For example, an ultrasonic detector is placed facing
cc. This microcontroller is very famous nowadays in an object whose distance is to be measured. At this
the field of robotic learning and is always being used moment the ultrasonic detector will emit ultrasonic
to fabricate final year study projects by engineering waves at its transmitter (Tx) against the object. The
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emitted ultrasonic wave will be reflected when it is mobile phones that are now affordable for many
blocked by an object and the ultrasonic wave will be students.
received back by the receiver (Rx). Thus the time
taken for the ultrasonic waves to travel and with a
known speed of sound (343 meters per second), will
be channeled to the central processing section to carry
out the analysis.
Figure 8: Bluetooth Module
HC-06
METHODOLOGY
To achieve the development objectives of the kit,
three practical works are introduced. It includes the
Figure 6: Ultrasonic Detector and its Operation installation of three LED lights and an ultrasonic
detector to the Arduino Uno microcontroller
Direct Current Motor (DC Motor) (Practical Work 1 and Practical Work 2) and the
In the Arduino Basic Learning Kit in Robotics, there construction of a three-wheeled prototype robot
are two direct current motors used in practical work (Practical Work 3) that can be driven using two 5 volt
and they can operate at a supply voltage of 4 - 6 volts. direct current motors with controls from a distance.
It is used to build a three-wheeled prototype robot that
can be controlled using a mobile phone with the Practical Work 1 – Lighting Three LEDs
Android operating system. A motor driver, the L298N In the practical work, students are provided with
as shown in Figure 7, should be used to drive the two electronic components such as an Arduino Uno
direct current motors in the construction of the microcontroller, a piece of connection board
(breadboard), three LED lights, and three resistors
with 330 ohms and some wires. Students are shown
circuit connections as in Figure 9. The completed
circuit will be tested with a program that will be
executed on the Arduino IDE software.
Figure 7: DC Motor and Motor Driver L298N(Controlling
DC Motors with Arduino | Arduino L298N Tutorial, 2020)
prototype robot and it should be supplied with a
separated power supply.
Bluetooth Module
The Bluetooth module is also used in the practical
work in the learning kit. The purpose of the Bluetooth Figure 9: Connection of Three
module is implemented so that all the performed LEDs on Breadboard
practical works can be controlled or monitored from
a distance (maximum distance of 9 meters). The Practical Work 2 - Measuring the Distance of an
Bluetooth module used is HC-06 type and it is very Obstacle
suitable to be used by students who want to learn the In this practical work, students are provided with an
concept of wireless communication because the Arduino Uno microcontroller, an SR04 ultrasonic
connection is very easy and the price is cheap. It can detector, and an HC06 Bluetooth module. Students
also be compatible with the Android operating system are shown the circuit connection as shown in Figure
10. The completed circuit will be tested with a
P-ISSN: 2621-3273 E-ISSN: 2621-1548
program that will be executed on the Arduino IDE To light up three LED lights in a running light pattern,
software. Students are also shown how to download a program as Figure 12 below is developed in the
the Bluetooth Electronics application from the Play Arduino IDE software:
Store on their mobile phone so that distance
monitoring on an obstacle can be displayed on the
screen of their mobile phone.
Figure 12: Three LED Lights in Running Pattern
Practical Work 2 - Distance Display of an Obstacle
To read the distance of an obstacle by an ultrasonic
detector, the program (7) as in Figure 13 needs to be
downloaded into the Arduino Uno microcontroller,
and the findings are as follows:
Figure 10: Ultrasonic Detector Connection and
Bluetooth Module (Ultrasonic Distance Sensor Demo,
2020)
Practical Work 3 - Building a Three -Wheeled
Prototype Robot
In the practical work, students are provided with the
components of a set of three-wheeled prototype robot
and the connection is as in Figure 11. Students are
also shown how to assemble them. In addition, Figure 13: Reading and Distance Display on Mobile
students will need to download the Car Bluetooth RC Phones
application from the Play Store on their respective
mobile phone for movement control of the three- Practical Work 3 - Movement of a Controlled
wheeled robot. Three -Wheeled Prototype Robot
Figure 14 shows a complete assembled three -
wheeled prototype robot and part of the program that
moves the robot to left, right, forward or backward,
depending on the button being pressed on a mobile
phone with the Android operating system.
Figure 11: Three -Wheel Prototype Robot Connection (R.
Chan, 2020)
RESULT
The following are the findings of the three practical
works that have been implemented.
Figure 14: Picture of a Three -Wheel Prototype
Practical Work 1 - Lighting Three LED Lights in Robot and a Bluetooth RC Car Application
a Running Light Pattern
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DISCUSSION of electronic projects to understand and get involve
into the robotic technology. The practical work
A workshop on the use of the Arduino Basic Learning
produced in this kit is easy to understand and easy to
Kit in Robotics has been conducted upon 21 Pre-
follow by students and project enthusiasts even if one
Diploma students of the session of June 2020
does not have in-depth knowledge and experience on
Polytechnic of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and very
robotics. The kit is expected to be used as a lifelong
positive feedback has been given upon this learning
learning program and promoted to outsiders of our
kit. Figure 15 below are some questions that have
educational institution in the future.
been asked after the workshop and the feedback
received from the attendants.
REFERENCES
After the workshop, I I know aspects of the use
knew more about what of robotics in my daily A. Aqeel. (2018, June 21). Introduction To Arduino
robotic technology is life. Uno.Https://Www.Theengineeringprojects.Co
and its uses. m.
Controlling DC Motors with Arduino | Arduino
L298N Tutorial. (2020).
Https://Electronicshobbyists.Com.
After the workshop, my I will continue my studies Fisher, J. (2020, October 13). Spectrum Health
interest grew upon of robotic technology on completes 200th diagnostic procedure for lung
robotic technology. my own. conditions using robotic technology -
mlive.com.https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-
rapids/2020/10/spectrum-health-completes-
200th-diagnostic-procedure-for-lung-
conditions-using-robotic-technology.html
How HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor Works & How to
I will recommend this If there is an advanced
workshop to friends series of the workshop, I Interface It With Arduino. (2020).
who want to know will join. Https://Lastminuteengineers.Com/.
robotic technology. https://lastminuteengineers.com/arduino-sr04-
ultrasonic-sensor-tutorial/
R. Chan. (2020, July 17). How to use the L298N
Motor. Https://Create.Arduino.Cc.
Among the practical work that have been conducted, TALON Tracked Military Robot - Army Technology.
I have more interested in the practical work on:
(2020, February 21).
https://www.armytechnology.com/projects/talo
n-tracked-military-robot/
Ultrasonic Distance Sensor Demo. (2020).
Https://Www.Keuwl.Com.
Working Principle of Light Emitting Diode |
Figure 15: Feedback from 21 Students Electrical4U. (2020).
https://www.electrical4u.com/working-
on the Learning Kit principle-of-light-emitting-diode/
CONCLUSION
The Arduino Basic Learning Kit in Robotics has been
successfully produced to help a student and enthusiast
