For examples of almost everything here, see the Threaded Design Examples in the book.
- anaolg-to-digital (A/D) conversion
- see the “Analog Input and Scaling” example in the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- see the potentiometer example under PIC programming examples below
- see Threaded Design Example A.4 in Section 7.11
- see Section 11.4
- see Adcin program example
- see Microchip’s “Understanding A/D Converter Performance Specifications” technical application note
- Arduino development boards and software
- see Section 7.7
- excellent starter kits:
- Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- Arduino.cc – Arduino main site with free software
- CircuitDigest Aruduino Projects (with code, circuit diagrams, and explanations)
- Circuito.io (easy-to-use tool for generating wiring guide, test code, and bill of materials for Arduino projects
- JeremyBlum.com tutorials (video series on Youtube) – excellent tutorials for getting started and doing most things with Arduinos
- Blum’s book: “Exploring Arduino” is also an excellent resource
- Programming Electronics Academy (library of training videos)
- Sparkfun – large-inventory online retailer with cheap products, datasheets, and code examples (and close-by in Boulder for fast delivery or pickup)
- Adafruit Arduino tutorial series
- NewEgg – low-price online retailer of wide range of computer and electronic components (inlcuding Arduino boards, shields, and supplies)
- Element14 Arduino Community (online forum)
- counter and 7-segment LED displays:
- see Section 6.12.1 and Lab 8
- data latch (for storing a switch state for later processing):
- see Section 6.10.2, Design Example 6.1, and Lab 7
- dc motors:
- see Section 10.5.4 for reversibility
- see https://www.dprg.org/brief-h-bridge-theory-of-operation/
- electromagnetic interference (EMI) and circuit noise (information on how to prevent):
- see Section 2.10 and Class Discussion Item 6.17
- see Lab Book Section 15.5
- gearboxes for small dc motor:
- recommended: Hobby Town (see hobby supplies at www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/vendors)
- I/O
- see Section 6.11 (TTL and CMOS)
- see Section 7.8
- keypad
- see Section 7.7.1
- see Lab 11
- see the “Keypad Serial Interface” example in the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- LCD
- see the potentiometer example under PIC programming examples below
- see the “LCD Output” example in the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- see Section 7.7.2
- see Lcdout program example
- motor
- how to select (see Section 10.8)
- see also: “dc motors,” RC servo motors,” and “stepper motors”
- photo-optic detectors:
- see Design Example 3.3 and Lab 5
- PIC microcontroller and PicBasic Pro programming:
- see “PIC Resources” at mechatronics.colostate.edu/pic
- see the printed PicBasic manuals in the Mechatronics Lab and on-line
- see useful project devices and components used by past students
- programming a PIC using the melab U2 programmer
- see selecting and ordering free PICs
- power supply and battery options and information
- see Lab Book Section 15.1 and 15.2
- programming examples:
- see Chapter 7 (especially the Threaded Design Examples with full hardware and software examples, with video demonstrations) and Labs 9-11
- potentiometer example demonstrating A/D conversion, serial communication, and LCD messaging
- Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- MECH307 student submarine project (with examples of serial communication, accelerometer pulse-width reading, RC servo-motor pulse-width control)
- see the student project video demonstrations page for example code from other projects
- see Arduino examples (the language is different, but the programming is very similar, and it is easy to convert Arduino code to PicBasic Pro code using the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide, and using the Arduino language reference page and the PicBasic Pro manual for reference)
- see MicoEngineering Labs programming examples
- RC servo motors
- see Section 10.7
- see the “Servo Motor Control” example in the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- see Servos and How to Use Them video
- sensors
- see Chapter 9
- serial communication
- see Section 7.10
- see the potentiometer example under PIC programming examples above
- see Threaded Design Example C.3 in Section 7.11
- see MECH307 student submarine project video, main sub code, and controller code
- see Section 11.4
- see Serin program example
- see one-wire Owin/Owout temperature sensor programming example
- see I2C external EEPROM programming example
- soldering and prototyping
- solenoids (for short stroke linear motion) and relays (for electrically isolated switching; also, higher currents possible than with transistors):
- see Section 10.3
- see Section 15.12 in Lab 15
- see electronics vendors at www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/vendors
- sound
- see the “Sending a Song to a Speaker” example in the Arduino-PicBasicPro examples and code translation guide
- Sound program example
- can also use the Freqout command to generate music note frequencies directly
- circuit for louder audio from a microcontroller
- see also: pre-recorded-sound modules used by past students under “sound and music”
- stepper motors:
- see Sections 10.6 and 10.7
- switches and buttons:
- see Section 9.2.1 (general info) and Section 6.10.1 (debouncing)
- transistors vs. relays for turning things on and off
- see Lab Book Section 15.3
- vendors and suppliers of electronic and mechatronic components and products (local and Web mail-order):
- see “Useful Local Vendors” at www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/vendors
- see small robotics project links (for motors, drive components, sensors, hobby supplies) at:
www.engr.colostate/edu/~dga/mechatronics/resources#Robotics - E-bay is also a good source for all types of stuff
- see “Mechatronics Resources” at mechatronics.colostate.edu/resources
- components provided, and kits available from Mountain States Electronics