Introduction: Multi-Usage Detecting Box

By

In this instructable, you will make a DIY box that can detect objects on it using Arduino.

(Ideas adapted from https://www.instructables.com/lesson/InputOutput/

The instructable above teaches people to push a bottom to turn on one LED light, I adapted the idea of using If and else coding and altered some changes to the original code as well as a decorative cover for the Arduino box.

What I improved and changed:

  1. Adding 4 more LED lights
  2. Changing the buttons to electricity detectors
  3. Adding lights effect when you take away the objects on the detectors
  4. Adding two electrical conductive detectors
  5. Adding a decorative outlook
  6. Alter some changes to the code

It can be used for detecting objects, for kids to play with, or works as a reminder for people to put things back to the spot. The usage varies from one to another.

Follow the steps below then you can make your own one!

Step 1: Step One: Prepare Your Materials!

Prepare all the materials needed, choose a nice and clear space for making your DIY.

  • 1 piece of cardboard
  • 4 LED lights
  • 4 crocodile clip wires
  • 1 scissors
  • 4 resistors (1/4W)
  • 1 precision resistor (1/4W)
  • 1 breadboard
  • 3 electrical conductors
  • 1 tape
  • 20 Jumper Wires Male to Male

Step 2: Step Two: Build the Circuit (crocodile Clip Wires)

Add 5 lines, 2 crocodile clip wires, and 1 precision resistor (1/4W) onto the breadboard.

1. Plug in all the wires in the pins declared for the coding part.
2. Be aware of the positive and negative electrode or else the components might break (positive electrode: is 5V and negative electrode is GND).

*Examples are shown above

Step 3: Step 3: Build the Circuit (4 LED Lights)

Connect 4 LED separately to pin13, 12, 9, and 4.

Remember to add 4 resisters.

Use Dupont connectors or crocodile clip wires to connect the LED lights to the breadboard

*examples are shown above

Step 4: Step 4: Make a Decorative Outlook

This step is relatively easy, take one cardboard box and make your own decorations on it.

Make 4 holes on the surface of the box so that the LED lights can be pulled out.

For the other crocodile clip wires, make 2 holes out on the surface and cover an electrical conductor on it.

*examples are shown above

Step 5: Step 5: Coding

Once you have all the steps above finished, you may copy this code into your Arduino to activate the machine! (link in below)

https://create.arduino.cc/editor/catherine0202/475...

Step 6: You Are Done!

Well done. Glad you make it!

The videos of my final product: