ECE 376: Embedded Systems
Best of ECE 376
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Soldering Your PCB in 8 Minutes
Fall 2018 Sped up video of soldering up your circuit board for Embedded Systems. |
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Guitar Tuner
Spring 2022 Using interrupts, play a note for tuning a guitar. Also strum a guitar pick using a stepper motor to free up your hand for adjusting the tuning knobs. |
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Fire and Flames
Spring 2022 Play the tune "Fire and Flames" using Timer interrupts along with a light show using NeoPixel LEDs. |
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Automated Bullet Caster
Spring 2022 Automate the process of pouring lead into a mold until it is full, wait for it to cool, then repeat. |
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Car Parking Sensor
Spring 2020 An ultrasonic range sensor detects the distance to your car. The distance is translated to a NeoPixel array as a bar graph. When you're close enough, the lights turn red. |
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Refrigerator Data Logger
Spring 2020 A PIC mircocontroller along with a light sensor measures how many times the refrigerator door is opened and the time that the door remains open. It is hypothesized that the open time fits an exponential distribution. |
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Automated Watering System
Spring 2020 A PIC mircontroller monitors the soil moisture in two flower pots. When the pots get too dry, a pump is turned on to water the plants. |
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Aquaponics
Fall 2018 A watering system is set up and controlled by a PIC processor. Water is circulated between a fish tank and tomato plants. A control panel allows you to switch between automatic operation and manual operation. An alarm warns you if there is a water leak. |
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PIC Controlled Light Switch
Spring 2019 Pulse width modulation is used to control the position of a servo motor. A mounting bracket was built using a 3d printer. Together, these allow a PIC processor to turn on and off a light switch |
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Roulette
Spring 2019 When you press a button, a random number is generated. A stepper motor then spins the roulette wheel, stopping at the winning number. |
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Security Passcode Systems
Spring 2019 Using a numeric keypad, a passcode is input to the PIC processor. If the code is correct, a buzzer sounds. |
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Padlock Solver
Spring 2014 This embedded system will determine the combination to any Master lock. A stepper motor turns the lock and goes through every permutation until the lock opens. A solenoid tests the combination and a force sensor detects if the lock opened (you found the correct combination) |
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Three Phase H-Bridge Driver
Spring 2011 A variable frequency drive is made using a PIC microcontroller. Using three half H-bridges, the speed of an AC synchronous motor is controlled. The resulting motor can spin in either direction at adjustable speeds. |
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Analog Control of a Stepper Motor Position
Spring 2017 The position of a stepper motor is controlled by reading the analog input and driving the stepper motor according to the analog voltage read. |
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Automatic Toilet Seat Closer
Fall 2018 A PIC microcontroller detects if the toilet seat was left up using an ultrasonic range sensor. If left up for more than 10 minutes, a stepper motor will lower the seat automatially. |
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Electronic Door Unlocker
Fall 2011 A PIC microcontroller is used with a stepper motor to unlock a door - if you type in the correct password |
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Driving a Stepper Motor at a Variable Speed
Spring 2017 The speed of a stepper motor is controlled using a PIC processor and the analog input. By adjusting the analog voltage from 0V to 5V, the speed of the stepper motor can be adjusted |
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Improved Roulette Wheel
Spring 2016 An improved roulette wheel is made. The amount you're betting can be adjusted from 1.00 to 5.00 using the analog input. You can bet on any number from 1..8 using the buttons on PORTB. When you place your bet, the lights 'spin' around, beeping on each number, and stopping after a random number of steps. |
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NeoPixel and Dual Note Song
2016 Two songs are played at the same time using two different interrupts. A 24-element NeoPixel ring is also lit up according to the note being played. |
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Raiders of the Lost Arc
Fall 2011 A recreation of the opening scene from Raiders of the Lost Arc. Music played by a PIC microcontroller. When the idol is stolen, a stepper motor releases the giant boulder. |
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Reaction Test Game
Spring 2016 A game is set up using a PIC processor. To start the game, press RB0. Between 3 and 10 seconds later, a light turns on. Both players press their button as soon as the light turns on - the fastest player wins. The time difference measured to 100ns is then displayed on the LCD screen. |
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Scooby Doo Theme using Timer2 and Timer0 Interrupts
Spring 2017 The theme from Scooby Doo is played using Timer interrupts. Timer0 sets the frequency of each note and Timer2 sets the duration. |
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Stepper Motor Tennis Game
Spring 2016 A game is programmed where two people play tennis with a PIC microcontroller. When the stepper motor reaches your side, you need to press a button to return the ball. If you miss, you suffer humiliation. Timer interrupts set the speed of the stepper motor. |
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Wireless Coil System
Spring 2011 A Tesla coil is used to drive a flourescent light. A PIC microcontroller turns on and off the light. |
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Cat Toy
Fall 2012 What do you build with a stepper motor, a laser pen, and a PIC microcontoller? A Cat Toy! A laser pen is attached to a stepper motor, which is controller by an H-bridge and a PIC microcontroller. The PIC chip moves the stepper motor back and forth, moving the laser beam around the room. (Entertained cats optional.) |
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Barn Door Equatorial Platform
Fall 2008 An equatorial platform is built using linear actuators (stepper motors). One motor tilts the platform N/S, a second tilts it E/W, the third rotates the platform. A PIC microcontroller drives the stepper motors so that the platform track stars for up to one hour. |