CHAPTER 3
HAREWARE COMPONENTS OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM
3.1. Resistor
A resistor is a passive two-terminal electrical component that implements elec-
trical resistance as a circuit element. In electronic circuits, resistors are used to reduce
current flow, adjust signal levels, to divide voltages, bias active elements, and termi-
nate transmission lines, among other uses. High-power resistors that can dissipate
many watts of electrical power as heat may be used as part of motor controls, in
power distribution systems, or as test loads for generators.
Fixed resistors have resistances that only change slightly with temperature, time
or operating voltage. Variable resistors can be used to adjust circuit elements (such as
a volume control or a lamp dimmer), or as sensing devices for heat, light, humidity,
force, or chemical activity.
Resistors are common elements of electrical networks and electronic circuits
and are ubiquitous in electronic equipment. Practical resistors as discrete components
can be composed of various compounds and forms. Resistors are also implemented
within integrated circuits.
The electrical function of a resistor is specified by its resistance: common
commercial resistors are manufactured over a range of more than nine orders of mag-
nitude. The nominal value of the resistance falls within the manufacturing tolerance.
Figure 3.1. Resistors
3.2. 16*2 I2C LCD Display
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A 16*2 LCD display screen with I2C interface is able to display 16*2
characters on 2 lines, white characters on blue background.
Usually, Arduino LCD display projects will run out of pin resources easily,
especially with Arduino Uno. And it is also very complicated with the wire soldering
and connection. This I2C 16*2 Arduino LCD Screen is using an I2C communication
interface. It means it only needs 4 pins for the LCD display: VCC, GND, SDA, SCL.
Figure 3.2. 16*2 I2C LCD Display
3.3. Rain Sensor Module
A rain sensor is one kind of low-cost electronic sensor which is used to detect
the rainfall or water drops. It works as a switch. Normally the switch is open condition.
This sensor is consists of mainly two parts, one is Sensing Pad and another one is the
Sensor Module. When rainfall or water drops fall on the Sensing Pad surface, then the
switch will be closed. The Sensor Module reads data from the sensor pad and
processes the data and converts it into a digital/analog output. So, the sensor can
provide both types of output Digital output (DO) and Analog output (AO).
Figure 3.3. Rain Sensor Module
3.4. Push Button
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A push-button or simply button is a simple switch mechanism to control some
aspect of a machine or a process. Buttons are typically made out of hard material,
usually plastic or metal. The surface is usually flat or shaped to accommodate the
human finger or hand, so as to be easily depressed or pushed. Buttons are most
often biased switches, although many un-biased buttons (due to their physical nature)
still require a spring to return to their un-pushed state.
Figure 3.4. Push Button
3.5. LED
A light-emitting diode is a semiconductor device that emits light when current
flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes,
releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light is determined by the
energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor.
Figure 3.5. LED
3.6. Buzzer
An audio signaling device like a beeper or buzzer may be electromechanical
or piezoelectric or mechanical type. The main function of this is to convert the signal
from audio to sound. Generally, it is powered through DC voltage and used in timers,
alarm devices, printers, alarms, computers, etc. Based on the various designs, it can
generate different sounds like alarm, music, bell & siren.
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Figure 3.6. Buzzer
3.7. Male to Male Jumper Wires
The male to male breadboard jumper wire provides an easy way for you to build
your own circuitry on a breadboard. These cables are flexible with both ends of a
prototyping board connector. The jumper cable is ideal for creating circuits between
your microcontroller and the breadboard on the bots.
Figure 3.7. Male to Male Jumper Wires
3.8. Male to Female Jumper Wires
Male to female jumper wires are used for easy and convenient interconnection
between components in electronic prototyping and testing projects, without the need
or soldering. They come in groups or cables with connectors or pins at each end and
an connect FRC pins, Header pins, Berg pins, and other components.
Figure 3.8. Male to Female Jumper Wires
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3.9. Arduino
Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. Ar-
duino consists of both a physical programmable circuit board (often referred to as
a microcontroller) and a piece of software, or IDE (Integrated Development Environ-
ment) that runs on your computer, used to write and upload computer code to the phys-
ical board. The Arduino platform has become quite popular with people just starting
out with electronics, and for good reason. Unlike most previous programmable circuit
boards, the Arduino does not need a separate piece of hardware (called a programmer)
in order to load new code onto the board -- you can simply use a USB cable. Addition -
ally, the Arduino IDE uses a simplified version of C++, making it easier to learn to
program. Finally, Arduino provides a standard form factor that breaks out the functions
of the micro-controller into a more accessible package. There are different Arduino
types, each offering unique features and capabilities. They are Arduino UNO, Ardunio
Due, Arduino Mega, Arduino Leonardo and so on. In this circuit, Ardunio UNO is ap-
plied.
3.9.1. Arduino UNO
The Arduino UNO is an open-source microcontroller board based on the
Microchip ATmega328P microcontroller and developed by [Link] and initially
released in [Link] board is equipped with sets of digital and analog input/output pins
that may be interfaced to various expansion boards and other circuits.
Figure 3.9. Arduino UNO
3.9.2. The Uses of Arduino UNO
Arduino UNO is a low-cost, flexible, and easy-to-use programmable open-
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source microcontroller board that can be integrated into a variety of electronic projects.
This board can be interfaced with other Arduino boards, Arduino shields, Raspberry Pi
boards and can control relays, LEDs, servos, and motors as an output.
3.9.3. The Features of Arduino UNO
Arduino UNO Specifications
Microcontroller ATmega38p
Operating Voltage 5V
Recommended Input Voltage 7-12V
Input Voltage Limits 6-20V
Analog Input Pins 6 (A0-A5)
Digital I/O Pins 14 (Output of which 6 provide PWM output)
DC Current on I/P Pins 40mA
DC Current on 3.3V Pin 50mA
Flash Memory 32 KB (0.5 KB is used for Bootloader)
SPAM 2 KB
EEPROM 1 KB
Frequency (Clock Speed) 16 MHz
Table 3.1. Characteristics of Arduino UNO Microcontroller