St. David Computer Engineering Parts List
Pick one or more random input and output devices and imagine a new invention that makes use
of them. Perhaps throw a communication link in there. Maybe some storage. Then use your
Arduino to glue them all together.
For example, if you combined:
- Accelerometer
- Arduino
- Bluetooth Module
- A Blackberry app
You could make a system that automatically calls for help if you fall down. The accelerometer is
an input to the Arduino, which decides if the fall is serious. If so, it sends a message over
Bluetooth to the Blackberry. An app on the Blackberry then sends an emergency message over
SMS or email with the GPS coordinates of the victim.
For example, if you combined:
- Voice recognition module
- GPS module
- Arduino
- Motor Controllers
You could make a robot car that follows voice commands (“Forward!” “Stop!” “Right”) or drives
entirely by itself by following GPS coordinates (“Go to John’s house.”).
Or just think of something that annoys you. Then imagine some way to get rid of that annoyance
- possibly using Bluetooth.
Inputs
Sensor Kit v2
With everything included in this kit, you'll be able to sense acceleration, distance, compass
heading, vibration, humidity, movement, ambient light, temperature, and more!
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10027
Infrared Thermometer Module
is an intelligent non-contact temperature sensor with a single pin serial interface for connection
to most microcontrollers.
http://solarbotics.com/products/35002/
Ultrasound module - MaxSonar-EZ1
The MaxSonar-EZ1 is one of the smallest, most efficient, sonar (ultrasonic) ranging systems
available. The MaxSonar-EZ1 can detect objects from 0-inches to 254-inches (6.45 meters /
21.1 ft.) and provides sonar range information from 6-inches out to 254-inches with 1-inch
resolution. The interface output formats included are pulse width output, analog voltage output,
and serial output (TTL).
http://solarbotics.com/products/35230/
GPS Module - PMB-648 GPS SiRF Internal Antenna
The PMB-648 GPS features 20 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition of
NMEA0183 v2.2 data for robotics navigation, telemetry, or experimentation.
http://solarbotics.com/products/35239/
Light dependent resistor (LDR)
Resistance varies with how much light hits it.
http://little-scale.blogspot.com/2007/11/connecting-ldr-to-arduino.html
http://www.ladyada.net/learn/sensors/cds.html
Potentiometer
Detect the angle at which a knob or an attached elbow joint is rotated/opened.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Potentiometer
Voice Recognition - Say It Module
This one actually listens for commands - up to 23 built-in pre-programmed or up to 32 userdefined commands.
http://solarbotics.com/products/21422/
PIR Motion Sensor
The Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensor is a +5V motion detection sensor that outputs a single
status bit when it has been tripped. This is a great sensor for home automation.
http://solarbotics.com/products/35050/
Blackberry Trackballer Breakout
Four spindles on the trackball have a tiny circular magnet the end; each of these are paired with
an SMD hall effect sensor, which are used to measure up, down, left and right movements of
the trackball.
http://solarbotics.com/products/50836/
Parallax X-Band Motion Detector
The Parallax X-Band Motion Detector uses the well proven technology behind security sensors
to detect motion in its field of view. What makes is particularly useful is it can detect motion
through walls and windows. Cool! And it can do this over a range of approximately 8 to slightly
over 30 ft (~2.4 to 9+ m).
http://solarbotics.com/products/35007/
Parallax TSL1401 Linescan Imaging Daughterboard
provides one-dimensional sight to almost any microcontroller. It is designed for plug-in
compatibility with Parallax's BS2pe Motherboard but can be used with all other popular
microcontrollers
http://solarbotics.com/products/35195/
3 Axis Accelerometer Module - H48C
The H48C Tri-Axis Accelerometer is an integrated module that can sense gravitational (g) force
of ±3g on three axes (X, Y, and Z).
http://solarbotics.com/products/35220/
Real Time Clock Module
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/99
Keypad - 12 Button
A basic 12 button keypad for user input.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8653
Gas Sensor Breakout Board (one for each gas sensor)
All you need is VCC at 5V, GND, and a resistor to an ADC, that is it.
We have the methane, propane, carbon monoxide, and alcohol sensors to go with it.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8891
Thumb Slide Joystick (we have four of them)
This is a resistive analog joystick, very similar to those found on the PSP1000. These compact
joysticks are different in that they have a very interesting 'slide' feeling.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9426
Joystick Shield Kit
The shield sits on top of your Arduino and turns it into a simple controller. Five momentary push
buttons (4+ joystick select button) and a two-axis thumb joystick gives your Arduino functionality
on the level of old Nintendo controllers.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9760
Car Computer Interface - OBD-II UART
This board allows you to interface with your car's OBD-II bus. A wealth of information can be
obtained by tapping into the OBD bus, including the status of the malfunction indicator light
(MIL), diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), inspection and maintenance (I/M) information, freeze
frames, VIN, hundreds of real-time parameters, and more.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9555
Tilt Sensor (5 of them)
This basic tilt switch can easily be used to detect orientation. Inside the can are a pair of balls
that make contact with the pins when the case is upright.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10289
Non-Invasive Current Sensor - 30A
This current clamp can be used to detect a current of up to 30A. Simply clip it around the current
source that you wish to measure and it will produce a (very) small AC voltage proportional to the
current. Use this to build your own energy monitor and keep your power usage down, or use it
to to build an over-current protection device for an AC load.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10341
Key Switch
Have you ever wanted to start your widget the same way you start your car? These small
switches are the key to making that happen. This simple ON-OFF switch can be used to power
up your project with the turn of a key.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10445
Controllers
Arduino USB Board - Uno (25 of them)
The latest Arduino Board.
http://solarbotics.com/products/50450/
uM-FPU V3.1 Math Coprocessor
is a full featured standalone math engine that is capable of crunching even the toughest of
mathematical equations
http://solarbotics.com/products/17385/
Communication
Your computer
Using the Processing graphics programming language, you can connect your Arduino to your
computer to do cool graphics and other interaction (mouse, keyboard, sensors on your Arduino,
outputs on your Arduino).
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Interfacing/Processing
http://accrochages.drone.ws/en/node/90
Ethernet Shield for Arduino
Connect your Arduino to your LAN, WAN, or the whole Internet.
http://solarbotics.com/products/51830/
Wireless Communication Module - XBee-PRO Module - 60mW Wire Antenna (we have four of
them)
These 2.4GHz communication modules also take the the 802.15.4 stack and wrap it with a
tasty, easy-to-use serial interface command set.
-63 mW built-in mini wire whip antenna
-63 mW output (but the chip antenna designation kinda gives that away already, huh?)
-250kbps communication speed
-3.3V @ 50mA power consumption
-1.6kM (1 mile) range (line-of sight, which is pretty darn good!)
-6 10-bit ADC input pins
-8 digital I/O pins
-128-bit encryption
http://solarbotics.com/products/51730/
Cellular Shield with SM5100B
The Cellular Shield for Arduino includes all the parts needed to interface your Arduino with an
SM5100B cellular module. This allows you to easily add SMS, GSM/GPRS, and TCP/IP
functionalities to your Arduino-based project. All you need to add cellular functionality to your
Arduino project is a SIM card (pre-paid or straight from your phone) and an antenna and you
can start sending Serial.print statements to make calls, send texts and serve web pages!
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9607
WiFly Shield
The WiFly Shield equips your Arduino the ability to connect to 802.11b/g wireless networks.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9954
FM Tuner - Breakout Board for Si4703 FM Tuner
Beyond being a simple FM radio, the Si4703 is also capable of detecting and processing both
Radio Data Service (RDS) and Radio Broadcast Data Service (RBDS) information. The Si4703
even does a very good job of filtering and carrier detection. It also enables data such as the
station ID and song name to be displayed to the user.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10344
FM Transmitter
Enable your next embedded project with FM broadcast ability. This small module packs some
power. With a 2mW maximum broadcast power we've been able to transmit up to 60ft with a
simple 31" piece of wire (1/4 wave of 95MHz).
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8482
Bluetooth Serial Module and USB Bluetooth Dongle
Existing class project. Create your own Bluetooth device that can communicate with other
Bluetooth-enabled devices (PC, laptop, mobile phone, etc.). Create a device that communicates
with a mobile app and the world.
RF Link - transmitter and receiver modules
Operate at 315 MHz. Transmit serial data at 2400 bps with up to 500’ range. Use built-in Wire
library, not NewSoftSerial. Otherwise you will need to clean up the noisy and error-filled signal
yourself. Sample RFLink code is in the Arduino projects folder.
http://solarbotics.com/products/50600/
http://solarbotics.com/products/50610/
Model Airplane Remote Control System
2 joysticks (X and Y on both) and two switches allow you six channels of control over large
distances. Connect directly to servos and motor controllers or feed the signal as an input to an
Arduino.
Storage
USB Host Shield
You could use your Arduino to interface with and control any USB slave device - thumbdrives,
digital cameras, bluetooth dongles, and much more!
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9947
Voice Recorder
This is a breakout board for the ISD1932, a multiple-message record/playback device. This
single chip can record up to 64 seconds worth of voice messages.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9579
USB Memory Stick Datalogger
The Parallax Memory Stick Datalogger connects your thumbdrive/memory stick to a USB Host
Bridge that is able to talk to your microcontroller. It's designed to handle the File System of the
thumbdrive so that you can share the files with your PC using simple Serial commands.
http://solarbotics.com/products/37001/
OpenLog
The OpenLog is a serial logger that just works. Power it up and it will starts logging any received
serial data to a micro SD card at 9600bps.
http://solarbotics.com/products/50831/
Outputs
Control Any Home Appliance
Use your Arduino to control an LED that is taped to the light sensor of an off-the-shelf night light
type of switched outlet (designed to turn on lamps plugged into it when it gets dark). When you
want a home appliance to turn on, just turn off the LED. It is a safe, easy, and entirely legal way
(no need to have it inspected by the Electrical Safety Authority) to control devices operating on
household current. The below project is a little more involved, but you should get the overall
idea.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap--easy-opto-isolated-TTL-to-110V-light-contr/
Motor Controllers and Motors
Want to make a remote controlled vehicle, cart, or robot? You can attach motor controllers to
the Arduino in the same way as a servo. We have a small motorized robot platform (2’ x 2’) that
you can develop with. Just add a powerful battery and an Arduino.
http://www.luminarymicro.com/jaguar
Servos
Need to move something to a particular position in degrees? Some are very powerful, though
the ones we have are not. Good for moving lasers, door latches, and control surfaces (rudders,
ailerons, elevators, fins).
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/Servo
http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Labs/Servo
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Learning/SingleServoExample
Stepper Motors
Need to move something a certain, exact distance?
Computer-controlled stepper motors are one of the most versatile forms of positioning systems.
They are typically digitally controlled as part of an open loop system, and are simpler and more
rugged than closed loop servo systems. Industrial applications are in high speed pick and place
equipment and multi-axis machine CNC machines often directly driving lead screws or
ballscrews. In the field of lasers and optics they are frequently used in precision positioning
equipment such as linear actuators, linear stages, rotation stages, goniometers, and mirror
mounts. Other uses are in packaging machinery, and positioning of valve pilot stages for fluid
control systems. Commercially, stepper motors are used in floppy disk drives, flatbed scanners,
computer printers, plotters, slot machines, and many more devices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepper_motor#Applications
http://www.azega.com/controlling-a-stepper-motor-with-an-arduino/
Laser diodes
We have them. Connect them just like an LED, but without the current-limiting resistor. Make a
laser tag system, beam-break detector for an alarm system, or optical signal transmitter. Or
mount the laser on a couple servos to aim it at things.
Musical Instrument Shield
The Musical Instrument Shield is an easy way to add great sounding MIDI sound to your next
Arduino project. This board is built around the VS1053 MP3 and MIDI codec IC, wired in MIDI
mode. Simply connect a speaker/stereo/pair of headphones to the 1/8" stereo jack on the shied
and pass the proper serial commands to the IC and you'll be playing music in no time!
The VS1053 contains two large tonebanks including various piano, woodwinds, brass, synth,
SFX and percussion sounds. The shield is also capable of playing several tones simultaneously
(maximum polyphony of up to 31 sounds!).
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10529
MP3 Player Module - MP3 Trigger V2
Here's a HIGH-QUALITY audio playback unit for your embedded application. MP3 compatible
up to 192Kbps stereo on microSD memory cards! It's ideal for building your own low-cost, lowpower embedded MP3 Player!
http://solarbotics.com/products/50750/
Voice Synthesizer Chip - SpeakJet
The SpeakJet is a completely self-contained, single-chip voice and complex sound synthesizer.
It uses a mathematical sound algorithm to control an internal five channel sound synthesizer to
generate on-the-fly, unlimited vocabulary speech synthesis and complex sounds.
The SpeakJet is pre-configured with 72 speech elements (allophones), 43 sound effects, and 12
DTMF Touch Tones. Through the selection of these sounds, and in combination with the control
of the pitch, rate, bend, and volume parameters, the user has the ability to produce unlimited
phrases and sound effects, with thousands of variations, at any time.
Use with the TTS256 Text to Speech chip.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9578
Text to Speech chip for SpeakJet - TTS256
The TTS256 is an 8-bit microprocessor programmed with letter-to-sound rules. This built-in
algorithm allows for the automatic real-time translation of English ASCII characters into
allophone addresses compatible with the Magnevation SpeakJet Speech Synthesizer IC.
Combine this with the SpeakJet to build a complete text-to-speech solution.
Use with the SpeakJet chip.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9811
Basic 16x2 Character LCD - White on Black 5V
This is a basic 16 character by 2 line display with a snazzy black background with white
characters. Utilizes the extremely common HD44780 parallel interface chipset.
http://solarbotics.com/products/50418/
Parallax 2x16 Non-Backlit LCD Module - TTL Serial interface
Serial LCD display module. ASCII characters 32 to 127. Create up to 8 of your own customer
characters. Selectable 2400, 9600, 19200 baud interface. 3 line interface (power, gnd, data).
http://solarbotics.com/products/21400/
Color LCD Shield
The board comes as shown with the 128x128 mini color LCD, as well as a backlight driver
circuit (boosts to 7V), and three momentary push-buttons (tied through a jumper to pins D3-5).
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9363
Color LCD - Breakout Board
Breakout board for the popular Nokia 6100 Knock-off color LCD has an improved backlight
driver circuit (boosts to 7V) , plus we give you a tri-color status LED and 2 pushbuttons.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8600
Graphic LCD 84x48 - Nokia 5110
The Nokia 5110 is a basic graphic LCD screen for lots of applications. It was originally intended
for as a cell phone screen.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10168
Thermal Printer
This is a thermal printer like you would find on a cash register or adding machine. It will print
simple strings passed to it via TTL serial, bitmap images (poorly) and it even generates several
different formats of barcodes!
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10438
LoL Shield
The LoL Shield is a charlieplexed LED matrix for the Arduino. The LEDs are individually
addressable, so you can use it to display anything in a 9×14 grid. Scroll text, play games,
display images, or anything else you want to do.
http://solarbotics.com/products/52137/
Miscellaneous
Danger Shield
Mounts on top of your Arduino or Arduino Pro and equips it with a variety of fun and useful
inputs and outputs.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10115
Pieze Element (5 of them)
Piezo elements come in handy when you need to detect vibration or a knock. You can use
these for tap or knock sensors pretty easily by reading the voltage on the output. They can also
be used for a very small audio transducer such as a buzzer.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10293
Thermoelectric Cooler - 40x40mm
Thermoelectric coolers (TEC or Peltier) create a temperature differential on each side. One side
gets hot and the other side gets cool. Therefore, they can be used to either warm something up
or cool something down, depending on which side you use.
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10080