It is exciting to see how the maker movement has taken off which encourages people to learn how to create things from scratch. Arduino is one of the most popular microcontrollers in the maker and hacker community because of its accessibility and flexibility. Because Arduino was designed to be beginner-friendly, people who are new to programming and electronics can create functional or artistic projects quickly. From wearable Arduino devices to home automation, this simple and versatile board allows for a wide spectrum of possibilities.
What is Arduino?
Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that consists of an easy-to-use microcontroller board and software IDE. There are different models of Arduino boards, such as the Arduino Uno, Arduino Nano, and Arduino Micro – all have similar functionalities with a few different types of sensors and components. We discussed more in detail the features of the popular Arduino Uno board in this blog post. There are also Arduino development kits available such as this Arduino Starter Kit that are perfect for beginners who want to tinker with electronics. In this article, we’ve listed five Arduino projects with step-by-step instructions that will spark your imagination.
1. Magnetic Levitating Lamp
This magical magnetic levitating lamp is a practical household device that can also act as a cool decoration. The project is beginner-friendly and can be built using an Arduino Nano Every and a 3D printer.
Materials:
3D Models
Pla filament
Leds (WS2812 60led/m)
Magnet Diameter: 12.7mm Height: 5mm x2
Small magnet
Magnetic switch (or Reed switch)
Arduino Nano Every
5v Plug
5V Ban Plug
Silicon wire
View the full project guide for the magnetic levitating lamp here.
2. Arduino Air Bonsai Levitation
A similar concept to the magnetic levitating lamp, this Arduino air bonsai project uses magnetic levitation to keep a small plant afloat. The project uses an Arduino Pro Mini, magnets, and levitation coils. Try it out with any small plant you have at home!
Materials:
LM324N
Levitation coil
SS495a Hall sensor
12V 2A DC adapter
Ring magnet D15*4mm
DC power jack
Ring magnet D15*3mm
Arduino pro mini
L298N module
14 pins socket
Magnet D35*5mm
Resistors (5.6K ohm, 180K ohm, 47k ohm)
10K ohm potentiometer
Acrylic sheet A5 size
Wooden pot and a mini plant
PCB Breadboard
3mm screw, wires
View the full project guide for the Arduino air bonsai here.
3. Arduino LCD Game
For a beginner, this simple Arduino LCD game is the perfect starter project since it does not require a lot of materials. Simply use an Arduino Uno and an LCD screen to create this one-button video game that anyone can enjoy.
Materials:
1 x Arduino UNO
1 x LCD screen (16 x 2 character)
1 x Electronics breadboard
1 x 220 Ω resistor
1 x Pushbutton switch
Solid-core hookup wire
1 x USB cable
View the full project guide for the Arduino LCD Game here.
4. Arduino Lie Detector
This Arduino Lie Detector is a really fun and interactive project that is beginner-friendly. You only need an Arduino Nano and a few other components to build this device. Learn about how lie detectors work and learn how to use an Arduino to monitor people’s electrodermal activity.
Materials:
Arduino Nano R3
5 mm LED: Red
5 mm LED: Green
LED (generic)
Resistor 2K
Cables
View the full project guide for the Arduino Lie Detector here.
5. Arduino Wall-E Robot
If you are up for an ambitious challenge, this Arduino Wall-E robot replica would be a rewarding DIY project to build. The robot features an Arduino Uno, and it involves painting the 3D-printed parts, wiring the electronics, and programming the software. Check out this guide if you are looking for a longer-term project that involves learning how to build a fully functional robot.
Electronics Materials:
High Torque Micro Servo Motor
12V DC Geared Motor (100-150RPM, ⌀37mm, off-center output shaft) – x2
Arduino Uno (or equivalent) – x1
Motor Controller Shield – x1
i2c Servo Controller Board – x1
12V DC Battery Pack – x1
LiPo Battery charger
XT60 Battery connectors
12V to 5V DC Buck Converter – x1
Raspberry Pi – x1
View the full project guide for the Wall-E Robot here.
Arduino’s simplicity and popularity have resulted in innumerable variations to the board, as well as open-source libraries available to help people use it. Even though Arduino is intended for beginners, its capability is far from limited if you consider the number of projects you can build using this simple board. Try out these interesting DIY Arduino projects and let us know how it went!
If you want to start experimenting with Arduino but don’t have all the parts yet, sign up for our virtual prototyping platform that lets you interact with virtual Arduinos and components like LEDs and LCD screens.