This tutorial will teach you to use a Proximity Sensor with a Magicbit using Magicblocks. We are using magicbit as the development board in this project which is based on ESP32. Therefore any ESP32 development board can be used in this project.

Supplies

Magicbit - Pro

Step 1: Story

Hello and Welcome, This tutorial will teach you to use a Proximity Sensor with a Magicbit using Magicblocks.

There are 1 main methods of achieving this goal;

By using Dashboard Text Output.

First of all log into to your Magicblocks account,

Magicblocks is an easy visual programming software for program your magicbit. Anyone can program their micro controller by using magicblocks.io and there is no need of programming knowledge. You can sign up for free.

Start and Open the Playground.

Next make sure your Magicbit is connected to the internet and plugged-in and also linked to your account through Device Manager.

All Done? then scroll down to Method 1

List of Items Required

Magicbit: Magicbit is an integrated development platform based on ESP32 for learning, prototyping, coding, electronics, robotics, IoT and solution designing.

Step 2: Setup the Digital in Block

1. Drag & Drop the Digital In block from the Magicbit-nodes section to the flow.

2. Double-click on the Digital In block and type or paste your unique Device id from the Device Manager Tab on your Magicblocks account. [ This will link the module connected as a digital signal from the Magicbit ]

3. Both PINs 32 & 33 can be used to with the Proximity Sensor, so connect it to one of them and make sure to choose the correct PIN (which you connected the sensor) from the drop-down menu.

4. Select the Method as Interrupt from the drop-down menu

Step 3: [Magicbit PIN Layout]

In this Tutorial PIN 33 will be used.

Step 4: Setup the Change Block

(This Node is used to change the 1 & 0 signal input from the Digital In node to any text you want)

1. Drag & Drop the Change Block from the function nodes section on the left of the screen to the flow.

2. Add new rule from the '+' Button to use 2 rules.

3. Change the function of both of the rules from Set to Change from the drop-down menu.

4. Next change the 'Search for' function from String(text) to Number in both of the rules. And make sure the 'Replace with' function is set to String(text).

5. Set up the rules.

The First Rule to search for '0' in signal input and replace it with our text (e.g. 'Object detected' or 'ON')
The Second Rule to search for '1' in signal input and replace it with our text (e.g. 'No object detected' or 'OFF')

(image below shows an example of the rules)

Step 5: Setup the Text Block

1. Drag & drop the Text block from the dashboard nodes section to the Flow.

2. Double-click on the text node and set up a basic dashboard ui [user- interface] from the drop-down menu and a name for your field.

[Optional] Import Already Setup Nodes

If you had trouble setting up nodes, you can use the import feature in Magicblocks to get the nodes which has been already setup.

First copy this code to your clipboard.
Click on the options menu on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Next hover your cursor over the Import sub-menu.
Then click on Clipboard and paste the code on your clipboard to the text field.
Select current flow or new flow and click on Import.

IMPORTANT

Make sure you type your device id on the Digital In node properties and choose the PIN which your Proximity Sensor is connected.

Step 6: Finally Deploying the Blocks

Connect the all the blocks.
Click on Deploy button on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
After deploying go to the dashboard ui by clicking the link to dashboard URL on the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Use any Object or your hand to block the proximity sensor and the text will be displayed on the dashboard.

Troubleshooting

Check whether your Magicbit is connected to the internet.
Check whether the Proximity Sensor is connected correctly and correct PIN is used (e.g. PIN 33).