I looked at the previous Basic Arduino class HackPGH did in the past, and I
would like to cover all the topics from the class we did in the past, but
to keep things interesting every year, present them in a different way.
My idea is this. We 3d print 2 of these for all the students.
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:14646
The student brings their own arduino (which they got and soldered together
at the soldering class), or just one they already have.
The object of the class will be to control two traffic lights at an
intersection. First just with timing, and then to introduce the ADC input
and map() function to have a small sensor which would make the light green
if a car just arrived at an intersection (like many real traffic lights at
quiet intersections do)
This will teach the student about basic arduino concepts such as I/O and
timing functions such as delay(). In the advanced course we can introduce
how to use interrupts for timing. And it will teach the students the basics
of ADC and very very basics of sensors, which they can learn more about in
the sensors class.
This can actually be a cool practical toy for your kid's RC cars or
hotwheels. They could even build real intersections for a small toy city. I
really wish I had this when I was 9. ;-)
If anyone has suggestions on how to make this class better, ideas to make
the traffic lights more cool, or even better 3d printed traffic lights we
could download, that would be awesome!
This class will most likely take place in April (definitely after learn to
solder)
-Geno
Secretary | HackPGH
Pittsburgh’s First Makerspace
1936 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
*http://www.hackpittsburgh.org ;<http://www.hackpittsburgh.org>*
