Ouija With Arduino

There is something better for Halloween than contacting the spirit world through Ouija board?

This project is about creating a homemade Ouija board with the Arduino Program. For work like a real Ouija, we have to put inside the box one servomotor, one light sensor and one distance sensor. In this way, we can simulate the real Ouija in a very simple way. The person who wants to play will only have to ask one question and then put their hand on the light sensor that will be on the Ouija board. Immediately the arrow will move randomly to one of the answers.

Step 1: ​Materials, Electronic Components and Tools

EXTERNAL PART (BOX):

• 2 sheets of wood, size 400 x 600 mm, thickness
• 10 mm2 sheets of wood, size 600 x 70 mm, thickness
• 10 mm2 sheets of wood, size 400 x 70 mm, thickness 10 mm
• 25 Nails
• 16 Screws
• 3 Hinges

THE INSIDE :

• 1 Arduino UNO R3
• 1 Servomotor SG90
• 1 Photoresistor
• 1 Distance sensor
• 1 DF Player Mini Módulo Player module MP3
• 1 Speaker
• Resistors (220Ω, 1KΩ)
• 2 Breadboards
• Cables with connector
• Cables with female to male connector
• 2 Magnets

TOOLS:

• Laser Machine
• Mechanical Saw
• Mechanical Drill
• Circular Drill
• Hammer

Step 2: Make the Box and Arrow

Once we are clear on all the elements that need to be included in our project, we decided to start building our future Ouija.

This way, we take some measures of the wood and then with the help of a pencil, we mark the line which we will then have to cut. After that, we cut the measure with the mechanical saw and at the same time check the measurements with the meter. With the help of the laser machine, provided by the university, we draw relief from the top of the box. For printing this section, we needed the design of our Ouija in a document.DXF or .dwg. At the same time, we make two holes in the front part of the side part od the box with the drill machine. This holes will serve us to be able to put the sensors. We make one hole on the top of the box with a drill machine.

When we already have all the wood ready, we pain all the side pieces with eight nails, to make the side part of the box, screw rivets into one of the side pieces with the top of the box and pin the side part with the bottom part of the box.

For the arrow, we just design one and we print it with the laser machine.

Step 3: Servo Motor Support and Extendable Arm

Apart from the connections inside the box, it is important to create support for the servo motor and an extendable arm. First, we cut the polystyrene into a cube shape and empty the polystyrene where we put the motor. Finally, we paste the servo motor with silicone to the base of the box.

For the extendable arm, and with the laser machine, we cut a piece of wood of 120x30 mm. We stick with silicone and on the extendable arm, we put one magnet and stick with more silicone too.

Step 4: Electrical Connections

Inside the box, there is not a lot of mystery. After connecting all the components, we put some adhesive tape to the cables that we don’t rise so that they do not move. At the same time, and with the help of Tinkercad program, we did a schematic view of all the connections that are inside the box, since they are many.

Step 5: Flow Diagram

Finally, we've done our code and at the same time, we performed a flow diagram to project a schematic view of all functions our Ouija does.

First, when the distance sensor detects something between 80 and 30 centimetres a voice sounds through the speaker saying the instructions you must follow. If the player walks and the distance changes between 30 and 0 centimetres respect the box, a dark song begins to sound. Then, the player must ask some question with a yes or no answer and must put his/her hands on the counter. This will activate the photoresistor since it will not detect light, and this way, the arrow will move to some answer. After that, the circle begins again.

Step 6: Conclusions

Ouija board is a terrifying spiritual experience perfect for Halloween night. Our board is a simple and fun way to live this experience, with a couple of woods and an Arduino kit.

As we have already explained before, the Ouija has several sensors, the distance sensor that will detect the person and then a voice will sound explaining the rules of the game. Then the person will put their hands on the board, and the photoresistor will come into play when the photoresistor doesn’t detect light and activate the servomotor. In this way, the entire internal system will be activated and thanks to the Arduino assembly, its programming and the servo motor together with a pair of magnets, they will make the arrow of the Ouija move randomly and answer the questions, ending the game.

Are you ready to live this experience? Ask a question and start playing, we are waiting for you in the world of the dead.

Project done by: Júlia Marquès, Beatriz Colmenero and Eva Palmer

Elisava University, Barcelona