Sensing Hot and Cold with Weekend Projects

Arduino

I'm an artist & maker. A lifelong biblioholic, and advocate for all-things geekathon. Home is Long Island City, Queens, which I consider the greatest place on Earth. 5-year former Resident of Flux Factory, co-organizer for World Maker Faire (NYC), and blogger all over the net. Howdy!

View more articles by Nick Normal

@nicknormal

December 13th, 2012March 7th, 2016 7

Hot/Cold LEDs uses little more than an ultrasonic distance sensor, an Arduino, and some common components to build a basic circuit. We then use software loaded onto the Arduino to explore three different experiments with the same circuit: a proximity program that glows “hot” the closer you get to the sensor, a motion-based game, and a distance trigger. Watch the video below to see each of these software-powered projects in action. Circuits really can be this easy – and fun!

All year long we’ve been building up a repository of beginner-friendly electronics projects over at Weekend Projects, exploring everything from battery-less and battery-powered transmission to making our own bass guitar and a powered amp to hear it on. Hot/Cold LEDs joins our Arduino-based projects, which have also included a touchless 3D interface made from everyday materials and a homemade data logger, among other exciting projects.