Module V - PHYSICAL COMPUTING
Learning Objective Learning Outcome
• To provide hands-on experience of basic coding, using • Would have understood the basics of computers, and
sensors for various activities and getting to work with learnt how to use basic computer applications for
microcontroller boards collaboration like presentation, word processing,
spreadsheets etc.
About Physical Computing
Physical Computing is building/designing/creating/making interactive systems that use different kinds of software and
hardware to sense and respond to an external stimuli – which could be a program, a problem statement, a need, an
issue or simply an Idea. In simple words - physical computing is a process where all the input and output devices work
together as a single entity on the direction of a brain like object that could be a microcontroller board of a kind.
Physical computing takes a hands-on approach, which means spending a lot of time building circuits, soldering, writing
programs, building structures to hold sensors and controls, and figuring out how best to make all of these things talk
to each other and give the desired output. Smart automotive traffic control systems, factory automation processes,
washing machines, fitness equipment found in homes, offices and industry – these are all things that make use of
physical computing.
In essence, this is the stage where all that we have learnt in the previous module will be used and put together
to finally reach the objective of making a prototype and/or working project.
By now, you would have gone through the process of:
• Design thinking - generated ideas - identified problems - used flowcharts/algorithms to depict the problems
etc.
And understood about the following:
• Sensors
• Circuits
Now let’s put it all together and start creating/making!
Note for the facilitator
The following presentations will take you through the process:
• Please refer to the following presentations and activity cards provided in the pen drive
- Presentation - Physical Computing – Let’s get to know boards - will give you an overview of different types of boards
- Presentation - Physical Computing – Getting Started Guide Part 1 - will take you through the process of
programming a board
- Presentation - Physical Computing – Getting Started Guide Part 2 - a mini book for learning to program a board with
simple DIY activities
- Presentation - Physical Computing – Getting Started Guide Part 3 - will take you through the process of
connecting sensors with board
- Activity cards 1 – 5 - each of the activity card will give an understanding of how to work with a different set of
sensors - LDR, Flex, Water Level, Soil Moisture, MQ Gas Sensors; each has a step-by-step process to follow and get
the desired output
• Please ensure all the participants/students solve the exercises given at the end of the presentation.
To take you further in your journey to become an innovator, listed below are five sample activities that are
completely DIY. It’s time to be completely on your own and make something. These activities should be able to help
you to do just this.
List of five completely DIY activities
Activities Key Objective of the Activity
Check the consumption of alcohol amongst drivers to avoid
Alcohol Test
accidents
Create a monitoring system to detect the chances of
Earthquake Test
earthquakes in the near future
Heart Monitor Test Measure heartbeat using a pulse sensor and Genuino 101*
Create a smart irrigation pump that can be controlled using
Smart Irrigation Pump Test
a mobile app
Water Quality Test Detect water quality to make sure people drink clean water
Resources
To get some more inspiration, you may refer to the following:
Brief Description Resource URL
Physical Computing [Link]
[Link]
Arduino Getting Started [Link]
47qHvqvzkknd&index=1
More about Arduino Why Arduino? (Ted Talk by Arduino Founder)
[Link]
gination
Anatomy of an Arduino Board
[Link]
Arduino IDE
[Link]
Arduino Tutorials Playlist (Very useful for beginners , Highly Recommended )
[Link]
What all we can do with Arduino?
[Link]
47qHvqvzkknd&index=1
Arduino Basic Hardware Overview and Fundamental Code Commands
[Link]
Programming Raspberry Pi
[Link]
Physical Computing into
[Link]
Wearable tech - story
Push Buttons for Arduino
Learn about switches
[Link]
Using Motor Driver L298N using Motors with Arduino
Shields with Arduino [Link]
Stepper Motor with Arduino using L293D
[Link]
How servo Motor works [Link]
Learn about soldering How to Solder basics
iron [Link]
Common Soldering Mistakes | Soldering
[Link]
[Link]
do-you-use-solder-tools/
Tutorials showing usage of Gas sensors with Arduino
different types of sensors [Link]
with Arduino Boards Smoke and Gas Sensors
[Link]
Calibrating with MQ2 Gas Sensors
[Link]
Thermistor for Temperature Sensing
[Link]
Force Sensor with Arduino
[Link]
Barometric Pressure Sensor with Arduino
[Link]
Ultrasonic Sensors (Very Interesting Project , It explains how radar works)
[Link]
GPS with Arduino
[Link]
Get inspired with series of [Link]
ideas of DIY arduino/