Introduction: Musical Gift Box Using Arduino Nano and Smartphone
A writer once fell in love with an engineer and realized she’s the one he’d been waiting all his life. But he wanted to make the moment of ‘popping the question’ a memorable one. So, he looked for innovative ways here and there and everywhere when he came across our DIY surprise gift box using a Smartphone and decided this was it; perfect for an engineer like her. And then they lived happily ever after!
The End.
Want your ‘popping the question’ moment to be as unique and memorable as theirs? Then come aboard and make this project with us! ;)
Step 1: Components Required
Step 2: Decorating the Gift Box
Before assembling the circuit, let's first decorate the gift box.
I took a cardboard box and have wrapped it around the box.
You can decorate the box the way you want.
Once done keep the box aside.
Step 3: Making the Connections
Take Arduino Nano, a breadboard, an IR Sensor and some Jumper Cables.
Make the connections as given:
IR sensor:
- OUT: digital pin 2 of nano
- VCC: 5V of nano
- GND: GND of nano
Bluetooth:
- 5V: 5V of nano
- GND: GND of nano
- Rx: Digital pin 4 of nano
- Tx: Digital pin 5 of nano
Battery:
- Positive: VIN of nano
- Negative: GND of nano
Step 4: Uploading the Code to Arduino Nano
Upload the following Arduino Coe to Arduino Nano:
Attachments
Step 5: Hiding the Circuit in the Box
Take the circuit and place it inside the box.
Once done, record the message you want to convey or select the music or tone you want to play.
Open Dabble App and connect it Arduino Nano. Finally, open the Music Module of the app.
Place the Smartphone into the box along with the circuit, and cover it using the same wrapping paper.
Place the gift above the paper. And you are ready to go.
Step 6: Working
The purpose of the box is to surprise the recipient when they open the box. The surprise can be both loving or it can be a prank.
All you have to do is record a message on your phone or download your favorite song. Write the code as shown. Pair Dabble with the Bluetooth Module. Select the Music Module.
When the IR sensor triggers HIGH, it will send a command via Bluetooth to play the music or the pre-recorded message selected by you.
Step 7: Conclusion
With this, your DIY surprise gift box using a Smartphone is ready! Go out there and put a smile on your loved one’s face!

Participated in the
Arduino Contest 2019
2 Comments
3 years ago on Step 7
Great job there and very cool too.
Please, what are the modifications needed to make it to triggered by PIR sensor instead of the IR?
Thanks
Reply 3 years ago
Hello,
Thank you so much. In case you are adding PIR, make sure that it detects human movement as it works mainly when it detects human temperature. And the other change that you need to do make is in the code.
Do share the images and experience of the Gift Box.