Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Second Middle School
Exploring the Arduino World
Making Creativity a Reality
Documenting the Arduino Electronics Design Course
On April 19, 2024, the Innovation Practice Course “Arduino Electronics Design Course” co-organized by the School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Science and Technology Innovation Practice Base of the Second Middle School welcomed its sixth class of the semester. Students from the Second Middle School learned about controllable servo motors in the Jiao Tong University E Valley training camp, using external signals to change the angle of the servo in response to input changes, creating controllable rotating devices. Through practical experience, students further familiarized themselves with Arduino programming and electronic design capabilities, gaining a deeper understanding of the working principles and control methods of servo motors through a variable resistor – potentiometer, further expanding their knowledge in electronic design, and benefiting greatly.
Course Content
This course guided students to learn about motor structure and operation principles, utilizing analog-to-digital conversion (A1 input analog voltage 0-3, converting 3.3V analog voltage into digital – AD conversion), and using motor drivers to drive motors at different speeds in both forward and reverse directions. Specifically, we learned: 1. Functions, serial communication functions, and other programming languages. 2. The origin, structure, and operating principles of motors. 3. Motor driving. The class used a single-channel motor driver module L9110S (pin wiring, driving principles). 4. Variable resistor – potentiometer. 5. Finally, through the programming learned in this class, we set the motor driver to use the potentiometer to achieve speed changes and direction for a motor fan.
Exciting Classroom
Through learning the working principles and control methods of motors, students learned about analog-to-digital conversion and display, and implemented servo rotation and motor fan rotation using Arduino programming with loop statements. During the experimental process, not every student had a smooth experience; some wrote incorrect code, some connected the wrong pins, and others encountered issues with circuit board contact, with some even causing short circuits due to incorrect wiring. However, each of them diligently studied, summarizing the causes and effects of their mistakes. With the careful demonstrations and assistance from the teachers, they solved one problem after another, successfully achieving the desired effects. Students actively interacted, thought independently, and the classroom atmosphere was lively, continuously stimulating their thirst for knowledge while further enhancing their practical cognitive abilities.
Student Reflections
Class 9, Pre-Intermediate, Gui Haoran:
During the practical session in class today, we attempted to connect Arduino with the fan control device. However, we encountered quite a challenge during the connection of electronic components. Just as we were inserting the wires into each interface, suddenly, smoke started coming from a knob. It turned out that due to our negligence, there was a short circuit in the knob’s wiring. Faced with this sudden situation, I felt a tightness in my chest and immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. I quickly and decisively took action, yanking out the power plug, which stopped the short circuit in time. After a thorough inspection, we found that only one knob was damaged due to the short circuit, while the other components were safe.
This brief experience left a profound impression on us. It made us deeply realize that in electronic experiments, carefulness and caution are indispensable. A small oversight can lead to unexpected consequences.
Class 9, Pre-Intermediate, Fei Rixuan:
In this lesson, we learned how to make the servo control the fan to rotate. During the class, the teachers first provided each group with a board that had a servo, a fan, and a knob on it. Then they taught us some functions and syntax to control it. Because I had only learned Python language before, I found it difficult to adapt, which caused our group to have some challenges in completing the first task. However, with the help of the teaching assistants, our group successfully solved the problem. During the second half of the task, there were also some unexpected incidents; first, I accidentally pressed insert, which caused typing to slow down significantly, and then I discovered some syntax errors. Having learned from previous experiences, we carefully checked each issue and completed the project. What impressed me the most in this class was when the teacher introduced the relationship between electricity and magnetism and how people used this principle to invent motors and apply them across various industries. The teacher mentioned that these are topics to be studied in physics, and I am filled with curiosity and anticipation for the physics lessons I will start in the second year of middle school.
Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Second Middle School
Website: http://www.jd2fz.sjtu.edu.cn
WeChat ID: shjd2fz
