How to Use a Force Sensitive Resistor - Arduino Tutorial

by codebender_cc

66K22625

Intro: How to Use a Force Sensitive Resistor - Arduino Tutorial

In this tutorial you will learn how to use an FSR - Force Sensitive Resistor with Arduino to fade an LED. This sensor is a variable resistor just like a photocell or flex sensor. The resistance changes by applying pressure on it.

Let's get started!

STEP 1: What You Will Need

For this tutorial you will need:

  • Arduino uno
  • Breadboard
  • Force sensitive resistor
  • LED
  • 10KOhm & 220 Ohm resistors

STEP 2: The Circuit

The connections are pretty easy, see the image above with the breadboard circuit schematic.

STEP 3: The Code

Here's the code, embedded using Codebender!

Try downloading the Codebender plugin and clicking on the "Run on Arduino" button to program your Arduino board with this sketch. And that's it, you've programmed your Arduino with this sketch.

How it works:

  • Read analog value from flex sensor
    :: value=analogRead(sensorPin);
  • Map analog values 0-1023 to PWM values 0-255
    :: value = map(value, 0, 1023, 0, 255);
  • Send pwm value to led
    :: analogWrite(ledPin, value);

You can make your own modifications to the code by clicking the "Edit" button.

STEP 4: Well Done!

You have successfully completed one more Arduino "How to" tutorial and you learned how to use a Force Sensitive Resistor with Arduino.

I hope you liked this, let me know in the comments.

There will be more of them, so make sure to click Follow button!

24 Comments

Bernard1232456 5 years ago

Bonjour, vous pouvez m’appelez jean ou bernard comme voulvoul J'aimerai savoir le branchement et le code pour convertir le signal en kg!!!!

FAisalF17 7 years ago

i need a code to measure how much force is applied on the sensor.....

FAisalF17 7 years ago

i need a code to measure how much force is applied on the sensor.....

FAisalF17 7 years ago

i need a code to measure how much force is applied on the sensor.....

seanmcquaid1 7 years ago

I am really new to all of this but would there be a way to measure the time that a force is applied? the amount of force is irrelevant for what i want to do. I just need to know if the time that the force is applied is < or > a certain time. many thanks

else23 7 years ago

What I don't really understand, why do I need a resistor to connect to the ground of arduino? How can I decide about the value of the resistor?

sangit-niroula 7 years ago

when we use any analog type sensors, we need to connect a resistor having around equal value to the sensor in series to make VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT. VOLTAGE DIVIDER CIRCUIT is necessary to observe and grab the change in sensor parameter according to its physical correspondences..

Pigjosh31 8 years ago

What if I was to want to take 4 FSR's and apply a direction to each one such as left, right, up, and down. To make a controller that responded to where you push on the screen. Would anyone have any ideas on how to do that.

samsneatprojects 7 years ago

You could definitely do that! You just have to wire four of these sensors up, and write some fairly simple code. What do you want to use the controller for? I'd be glad to help out if you have any trouble with the project.

AjayK95 8 years ago

how to masure the force or load(gor kg) using force sensitive resistor

mutualhelp 8 years ago

can i use this with a raspberry pi?

BSWill 8 years ago

I know there are a million uses for this resistor (sensor), but I would really appreciate a list of some applications that this would excels as a viable option to use. Is there a place where I could see some of its current applications?

codebender_cc 8 years ago

Hi! You can use it as a touch button switch!! :D

kooth 8 years ago

Thanks for posting this. I have a few of these in a kit I got a few years ago but I hadn't gotten around to trying them out. Your Instructable has piqued my interest!

RamasamyN 8 years ago

do you need jumper wires with the broadboard?

beer-liner 8 years ago

I hate to state the absolutely Obvious, But you can see in the circuit that there are jumpers, wouldn't you think there are necessary when using a breadboard?

david.eaton 8 years ago

Hey, be nice. This could be a 7 year old kid that invents an artificial epiglottis for you someday. Jumpers are not mentioned in the stuff you will need. It's easy for us who do this without thinking to forget what is obvious to a veteran is obscure to a noob.

Yes, there are jumpers. Keep looking at following pictures, it will begin to make sense.

More Comments