If you’re an avid electronics lover like me who loves to play
with complex components to forge something unique out of them, welcome to this
guide. Today, we outline the 15 best Arduino projects to boost your eclectic
journey into the magical field of electronics realism. As you should know
already, Arduino is a cheap electronic board that lets you build
not only complex but also one-of-a-kind electronic systems. You can program
these systems pretty easily, thanks to Arduino’s implementation of an effective
programming environment. Enough with the chit-chats; let us delve right into
this list of best Arduino projects for you to build this year.
Below we’re outlining the best Arduino projects you can take on
this year. We’ve picked projects for both beginner and veteran developers
alike. Choose one that sparks your interest and dive into that right away.
15. Build a Tiny Weather Display System
This is one of the best Arduino projects for beginning Arduino enthusiasts. It requires you to build a small display that shows off the current weather, highs, and lows. You can also add tomorrow’s weather – if you’re looking for a broader domain. Program the system in a way so that it can display temperatures with differing units – both Celsius and Fahrenheit. Although it might seem a small project, it’ll aggravate your Arduino skills required for advanced projects later on.
Highlights of the project
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Select a small Arduino board; our experts recommend the Adafruit
HUZZAH board.
·
Get a small OLED graphic display to show off the weather.
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You can 3D print the box for a better visual experience.
14. Build a Motion-Triggered Night Lamp for Using Under Your Bed
Ever stumbled across redundant objects when getting up in the
middle of the night? If so, then this is gonna be one of the best Arduino
projects for your practical life. The project requires you to build a LED
lighting system that will be controlled by an Arduino board.
·
Hook up the LED lights beneath your bed in a nice serial.
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Trigger the lights by utilizing the motion sensors of an Arduino
board.
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Program the system in a way that it does not light up while
you’re peacefully sleeping or are in a different room.
13. Build a System for Muting Any Phrase You Want on TV
This is one of the best Arduino projects that’s fun to build and
rewarding in nature. If you’re as bored as me hearing about the Kardashians or
Mr. Trump always when you turn on the TV, we suggest you take on this
compelling project for your next Arduino adventure.
This project does what the heading suggests – mute specific
phrases that you do not want to hear. Although it sounds quite challenging for
beginners, believe us when we say – this project is very much doable by almost
anyone.
Highlights of the project
·
The system detects specific words or phrases on the TV by
monitoring the closed captioning.
·
It requires the Video Experimenter Shield that can be
bought pre-soldered on an Arduino board.
·
It unmutes the TV after an interval of your choice as long as
the selected catchphrase isn’t being mentioned again.
12. Build an Ambilight Sensor for Your LCD Display
Do you want a killer movie watching system built with your already existing LCD? This is one of the best Arduino projects that deal exclusively with this field. It requires you to build an Ambilight sensor that will bleed backlight behind your computer display to make your movie or video watching sessions a lot more immersive than normal. This is a very fun yet promising project that can reward you with a great visual experience upon successful completion.
Highlights of the project
·
The system bleeds backlight behind the monitor, giving users an
illusion of a much bigger and immersive display.
·
The sensor should detect the accurate color of the background
image successfully and change the backlight according to that.
11. Build a Fingerprint Scanner to Your Garage Door Opener
Another great real-life project, in this project, you will build a fingerprint scanner that will let you inside your garage after confirming your fingerprint first. This is one of the best Arduino projects to tackle a practical problem with your own DIY Arduino solution. Although the project can seem a bit complex at first glance, we believe you can easily implement it if you’ve got a strong determination.
Highlights of the project
·
Install a small board beside your garage door.
·
You can always 3D print the case if looking for a visually
compelling scanner.
·
Follow the Arduino project hub for instructions on how to
implement the coding part of this project.
10. Build a Robotic Arm
One of the best Arduino projects for new robotic enthusiasts,
this project requires you to build a robotic arm with advanced maneuverability
capabilities. We like the most about this project because it forces new Arduino
learners like you to learn a lot of different things.
From the basics of construction to breadboarding, you’ll be
introduced to a lot of topics required in most advanced real-life Arduino
projects. And what’s more rewarding than showcasing your newly built robotic
arm to friends and families?
Highlights of the project
·
Utilize the meArm robot arm project to get yourself
started.
·
You can 3D print the different components of the arm or even
side with wooden pieces.
·
Use an Arduino IDE for coding the underlying logic associated
with your robotic arm.
9. Build a Fully Functional Computer Control Panel
Ever wished to build a fully functional control panel for your
computer just like you’ve watched on those sci-fi films? If so, then this might
turn out to be one of the best Arduino projects for you. Although compelling
enough at first look, the project is not all that tough. The Arduino board will
act as the brain of the project, whereas a select set of USB controllers will
allow you to control the different aspects of your computer – from controlling
the system sound to setting screen preferences.
·
The control panel lets you launch apps, control volume, change
screen preferences, and many more.
·
Set up a select number of monochrome switches and LEDs for
creating a mesmerizing visual experience.
·
Curate the system in a more personalized way, based on how you
want it to function rather than implementing someone else’s perception.
8. Build a Robot Car
Nothing beats the combination of DC motors and Arduino when it
comes to building awe-inspiring electronics projects. So, one of the best
Arduino projects that you can take on this year is building a robot car from
scratch.
You can only use household materials or may opt for 3D printing
your car’s components if aiming for a visually stunning robot. This project is
fascinating in visual and rewards you with a deep understanding of advanced
motor control.
Highlights of the project
·
The robotic car will be powered with a Li-ion battery and a set
of DC motors. We recommend you stick with the 12V variants.
·
Utilize an analog joystick and the L298N driver for controlling the car.
·
If looking for a much wider scope, you can even utilize a
wireless controller to control your robotic car.
7. Build a Clone of the Popular Flappy Bird Game
This can be one of the best Arduino projects for you if you’re
into gaming and that sort of stuff. The game is a clone of the popular flappy
bird game for smartphones where you, as a gamer, control the bird by touching
on the capacitive touchscreen and avoiding the pillars present in front of the
bird’s way.
You’ll learn many different things while building this project that includes both Arduino fundamentals and game theory. The coding aspect is a bit tricky, but with enough patience, we’re sure you’ll get hold of it.
Highlights of the project
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You need a 3.2 inches TFT touchscreen to feature the visual.
·
Utilize both a TFT Mega shield adapter and an Arduino Mega board
for this game.
·
Make use of the UTFT and URTouch libraries for the coding part of this
project.
·
You can use the EEPROM
library for storing the highest score.
6. Build a Personalized Alarm System
One of the best Arduino projects to deal with security; this
project is fun to build yet rewarding in nature. It requires you to build an
ultrasonic alarm system using an Arduino board. This is a great starting point
for all you security enthusiasts. The alarm system will be activated whenever a
person or object appears in front of the sensor. You can then deactivate the
alarm by typing in a predefined password of your choice.
Highlights of the project
·
The project components include an ultrasonic sensor, an LCD, a
4×4 keypad, and a buzzer.
·
The sensor detects any forthcoming objects and activates the
alarm.
·
The user enters a password for deactivating the system.
5. Build a Quadruped Using Arduino
This is a great Arduino project for intermediate developers with
an interest in the field of robotics. This biologically inspired Quadruped is
similar in outlook to a spider and requires you to construct the outer
materials carefully.
Each of the four legs will have three joints, and every joint
will require a servo motor. This is one of the best Arduino
projects for aspiring robotics enthusiasts as it forces you to teach yourself
the fundamentals required to implement automated robots.
Highlights of the project
·
The project requires 12 servo motors and a detailed
understanding of the servo motor working principles.
·
You need a 12 pin Arduino board to connect the 12 servo motors
to them.
·
You can spice up the project by implementing a wireless
controller to control the Quadruped.
4. Build a Kaleidoscope Infinity Mirror
One of the best Arduino projects that help you master the
technology requires you to build a Kaleidoscope Infinity Mirror using the
Arduino board. This mirror will create a mind-blowing infinity mirror illusion
to the viewer’s eyes.
As you change the orientation of the mirror, you control this
mirror – in turn giving a Kaleidoscopic effect. The colors will also vary based
on the orientation. You can spice up the project further by introducing a
vividly psychedelic effect into the mirror.
Highlights of the project
·
You will require a set of LED lights along with an Arduino 101
board. The Sparkfun version is recommended, but you can also side with
Adafruit’s NeoPixels.
·
You can use heat shrink tubing if feeling a bit
fancy.
·
The mirror will be powered by using a set of AA batteries.
3. Build an Autonomous “Follow Me” Cooler
A fun yet rewarding project to build for seasoned developers;
this is one of the best Arduino projects that come in handy in real-life
scenarios. In this project, you will build an autonomous cooler that will
follow you wherever you go. Sounds fun, right?
You can find an unused cooler from pawn shops or even buy a
low-end version yourself. Create a wooden base that will include the wheels for
transporting the cooler. This project will make sure your beers stay cool and
right behind wherever you go!
Highlights of the project
·
Use a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for the base panel.
·
The cooler needs to connect with your smartphone via either
Bluetooth or GPS to navigate behind you.
·
The L298n Motor Driver is recommended for controlling the swivel
motors.
2. Build a Gesture Control with Arduino
One of the best Arduino projects regarding satisfaction is that
even seasoned developers will sweat to build. The project requires you to
control an Arduino project by gesturing your hand. Let’s imagine you’re
controlling the robot car project you built earlier by merely moving your hands
rather than using an external controller. Sounds eclectic, right? You need
tools such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer to build such a
project effectively.
Highlights of the project
·
Utilize the GY-80 module to implement and control the
different sensors.
·
We recommend you use the NRF24L01 transceiver module for effective
wireless communication.
·
Utilize the MEMS module for controlling the overall
project.
1. Build a Smoke Detection System Using the MQ-2 Gas Sensor
This will definitely sit on top of the best Arduino projects you
can take on this year. The project is fancy regarding presentation and solves a
real-life problem in an exceptionally well-laid-out manner. Your project will
consist of a system that detects smoke and other inflammatory gases by
utilizing the MQ-2 gas sensor.
It will feature a buzzer that gets turned on whenever the system
detects a certain level of smoke. An LED indicator will also be featured that
will turn red when the system senses such gases and remain green when the
environment is safe.
Highlights of the project
·
The MQ-2 gas sensor will detect the presence of any potential
gases.
·
The analog input of the sensor will activate the buzzer after
reaching a prespecified level of gas presence.
·
The buzzer will be turned on, and the LED will signal a red
light in case of any detection.
·
Spice up the project, so it sends an SMS to your personal number
whenever it detects any gas.
Ending Thoughts
We have reached the end of today’s post featuring the best
Arduino projects for 2019. Thanks for staying with us on such a long journey.
We’ve curated this list in a way so that both newcomers and seasoned Arduino
experts can find some form of inspiration and take on a specific project from
the list. We encourage you to modify the projects as you build them because we
believe that’s the only way you learn electronics. Thanks again, and I hope you
will stay with us for future posts on this amazing electronic board.