https://youtu.be/ygrsIqWOh3Y

Today we will be working with lots of motor drivers and lots of motors!

You’ll see how there are actually three methods used among all of these drivers for controlling speed and direction. Because of this, it’s pretty easy to swap drivers and use a sketch for small motors to be used with much larger ones (or vice-versa).

I’ll be driving everything with a simple Arduino Uno today, but you could use any microcontroller to work with these motor drivers.

The code for all these motors is pretty simple, I’ll show it to you, and I’ll also introduce you to a few libraries that make coding for these motor drivers a breeze. We’ll also check out a motor driver library from Cytron that is a hidden gem, as it can be used with ANY of these drivers!

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:17 - DC Motor Driver Basics
08:05 - L298N Dual H-Bridge
16:13 - TB6612FNG Dual H-Bridge
25:24 - DRV8871 Single H-Bridge
31:08 - MX1508 Dual H-Bridge
38:54 - DBH-12 Dual H-Bridge
46:27 - IBT-2 Single H-Bridge
51:17 - MD25HV Single H-Bridge & Controller
1:02:27 - Conclusion

Hope you enjoy this, remember that the article on the DroneBot Workshop website has all the code I used today.

https://youtu.be/GF27dp4RA0g

Pollution is a problem that affects everyone, no matter where they live. Even if you reside in a rural area, you are still subject to many types of pollution, both outdoors and inside your home.

Today we will look at several air quality sensors that you can use with a microcontroller. We’ll test them out using both an ESP323 and an Arduino, and we’ll also compare the readings to a commercial air quality meter to see if there is any correlation between readings.

We’ll be taking a look at the following sensors:

- MQ Gas Sensors (various models).
- PMS5003 PM2.5 Particulate Matter Sensor.
- BME280 Temperature, Humidity & Air Pressure Sensor.
- BME680 Temperature, Humidity & Gas Sensor.
- AHT20 Precision Temperature & Humidity Sensor.
- CCS811 Air Quality Sensor.
- SGP30 Air Quality Sensor.
- SGP40 Air Quality Sensor.

We’ll see how they work and what parameters they can measure, and we’ll hook them up and run a demo.

Then we’ll put a bunch of sensors together on an ESP32 to make an environmental monitoring platform.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:38 - Air Quality
03:36 - Look at sensors
05:12 - Sensor Calibration Issues
06:46 - MQ Sensors Intro
12:25 - MQ Sensors Library & Code
16:42 - MQ Sensors ESP32 Considerations
21:00 - PM2.5 Sensors
27:55 - Temperature & Humidity Sensors Intro
31:25 - BME280 Demo
33:28 - BME680 Demo
35:49 - AHT20 Demo
37:33 - Air Quality Sensors Intro
39:40 - CCS811 Demo
43:09 - SGP30 Demo
45:38 - SGP40 Demo
47:36 - ESP32 Multi-Sensor
58:45 - Conclusion

On a personal note, this project actually alerted me to several areas in my home that I need to improve the air circulation in. Hopefully, you will find it equally useful!

Bill

https://youtu.be/yatxW3tMhRg

On June 30, 2022, Raspberry Pi announced the latest iteration of it’s RP2040-based Pico microcontroller. The Pico W has the same pinout and form factor as the original Pico and has WiFi capabilities.

Raspberry Pi also released a new UF2 file and several samples using microPython with the new WiFi chip. However, although they did release a C++ SDK, there was no update to the Arduino IDE for the new microcontroller.

But you CAN use the Pico W with the Arduino IDE by using a new boards manager file that covers virtually every RP2040-based board.   And today, I’ll show you how to install that for the classic Arduino IDE 1.8 and the newer IDE 2.0.

After installing the new boards manager, we’ll give it a test. Then we’ll see how we can use the new WiFi features to control LEDs and servo motors with a web-based interface.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
03:25 - Raspberry Pi Pico W
08:05 - Bluetooth issues?
10:55 - Pico W vs. ESP32
13:35 - Installing the Boards Manager
18:22 - Blink test
20:48 - WiFi Network Scan
23:10 - Using the WiFi Library
28:07 - Using Web Data
30:56 - Pico W LED Control
37:43 - Pico W Servo Control
47:28 - Conclusion

The Arduino IDE is a popular interface for programming microcontrollers, and now we can use it with the Pico W.

Hope you enjoy the video!

Bill

https://youtu.be/PF58yIOBdqI

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com/dual-boot

The workstation in my office that I use to develop code is on its last legs, so I’ve decided to put together a new one. This time, instead of just Linux, I’m building a dual-boot computer that will run both Ubuntu Linux 22.04 and Microsoft Windows 11.

I’m starting from scratch, with a “bare-bones” Intel NUC 11 that I’ve configured with two SSDs and memory, however, you can also use these instructions to modify an existing Windows 11 device. I’m installing both Windows and Linux onto the same SSD, but you can also use independent drives for each operating system if you prefer. And, if you wish, you could use a different distribution of Linux.

Dual-boot machines are not perfect, you can also elect to use virtual machines or WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), I’ll go over those options in the video.

Once I get the two operating systems installed, I’ll also create a shared drive that is visible to both Linux and Windows. Then I’ll demonstrate how you can configure your Arduino IDE to use the same shared location for storing sketches and libraries.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
02:43 - Dual-Boot Workstation
08:12 - Dual-Boot Alternatives
09:47 - Obtain Ubuntu & Windows
13:40 - Bootable USB Utilities
15:42 - Windows Licensing
19:58 - BIOS Settings
21:58 - Install Windows 11
26:20 - Prepare Windows for Linux
32:44 - Install Ubuntu 22.04
37:07 - Bootloader Choices
39:23 - Using Both Operating Systems
49:24 - Conclusion

Hopefully you will find the video and the associated article useful if you’re putting together a dual-boot system of your own.

😎

Bill

https://youtu.be/nVpgO6xEF8Y

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com/linear-dc-power/

Learn how linear power supplies work, and then build one of your own. If you want to go directly to the second part, you’ll find it at 32:45.

In the first part, we will learn how linear power supplies differ from switching power supplies. We’ll take a look at the main components of a linear power supply and see how they are specified.

Then we’ll break out the solderless breadboard and hook up a positive, negative, and variable voltage regulator circuit, using a low-current transformer for safety.

Then we move on to part 2, building a small linear power supply that would look great on your workbench.

I’ll show you how I selected the components, how I hooked them up, and how I constructed and labeled the chassis. Then you’ll see how I laid out the components with safety first in mind.

And, of course, we’ll check out the resulting product, a variable DC power supply that can supply 2 - 20 VDC at up to 2.5 amps.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's (very long) video:

00:00 - Introduction
02:57 - Linear vs Switching Power Supplies
07:18 - Power Supply Components
15:41 - Rectifier Demonstration
19:34 - Voltage Regulators - Fixed Positive
25:12 - Voltage Regulators - Fixed Negative
29:15 - Voltage Regulators - Variable Positive
32:45 - Part 2 - Build a Linear Power Supply
33:56 - Parts & Prototyping
44:00 - Power Supply Hookup
49:01 - Cutting a Metal Chassis
52:30 - Layout and Design Considerations
58:09 - Labelling the Chassis
1:03:34 - Wiring & Assembly
1:07:40 - Final Product
1:10:06 - Conclusion

Although they are not as popular as switching supplies, linear power supplies do offer advantages in several situations. Learning to design and build them is an essential skill for any electronics experimenter.

Hope you enjoy the video!

Bill

https://youtu.be/k2c2zCmC_X0

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com/gc9a01

We have worked with LCD modules many times before here in the DroneBot Workshop, but this one is a bit different - it’s round!

Round LCD modules like this one are excellent choices for instrumentation and metering projects. They can also be used for special effects in robotics and animatronics, as we will see when we use two of the displays to build some animated eyeballs.

We will start, of course, by looking at the specifications of this display. It is an SPI bus device, and the Waveshare model I’m using can operate on both 5-volts and 3.3-volts. Note that there is another model of this display, also using the GC9A01 driver, that only operates on 3.3-volts (and also has some very confusing pin markings).

Next, we will use the display with an Arduino Uno. We will start by using the Waveshare sample code, but after that, we will switch to another library that is much better documented.

After that, we will use the display with an ESP32, which has better performance than the Arduino Uno as it’s much faster and has more internal memory.

Finally, we will build a set of animated eyeballs using the ESP32 and two of the GC9A01 modules.

Lot’s to learn, and there is even a bonus “riddle” in the video for science fiction fans - of course, I give you the answer in the end!

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:13 - GC9A01 IPS Display
05:11 - GC9A01 with Arduino
18:12 - GC9A01 with ESP32
33:12 - GC9A01 Animated Eyes
43:08 - Conclusion

Hope you enjoy it, and I really hope you pick up a few of these displays and build something cool with them!

And, for those of you who solved the “riddle”, congratulations - and for the rest of you, DON’T PANIC! (that was a clue, BTW).

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com\esp32-i2s

https://youtu.be/m-MPBjScNRk

You might have seen the term “I2S” on the spec sheet for the ESP32 and may have just assumed that it was a form of I2C.  Well, you would be mistaken - I2S is a protocol for manipulation of digital audio, and today we will be using it with the ESP32.

After a short primer on I2S and digital audio fundamentals, we will use an I2S microphone module with an ESP32. We’ll display the microphone output as a waveform on the Arduino IDE Serial Plotter.

After that, we will grab a library from GitHub, and we’ll use it to build an MP3 player with an I2S amplifier module. We’ll then use the same library and the ESP32 WiFi to create an Internet Radio.

Finally, we will convert our simple Internet Radio into a stereo device, with a volume control.

Here is what is in today's video:

00:00 - Introduction

01:27 - I2S & Digital Audio Intro

08:25 - I2S Peripherals

10:18 - Using an I2S Microphone

18:37 - I2S MP3 Player

28:31 - Simple I2S Internet Radio

33:41 - Stereo Internet Radio

43:56 - Conclusion

Remember, if you need any of the code used here, you'll find it on the DroneBot Workshop website at https://dronebotworkshop.com\esp32-i2s.

Hope you enjoy the video!

Bill

https://youtu.be/wIcC8-g9Lnw

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com/interrupts

Today we are working with a fundamental programming concept, the use of Interrupts.

Now, this certainly isn't the first time we have worked with interrupts, we have used Hardware Interrupts in several previous videos. But we have never taken a deep dive into the subject, and as it is a very important concept, I feel it's time that we did!

Plus, Hardware Interrupts are just one of three types of interrupts supported by the Arduino. So we also should take a look at Pin Change and Timer Interrupts as well.

We are working with an Arduino Uno today, but the concepts we are discussing are applicable to just about any microcontroller.

Interrupts can help you make more responsive user interfaces, perform timed operations, or just write better and more efficient code.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:51 - No Interrupt Demo
07:02 - Hardware Interrupts
19:51 - Pin Change Interrupts
37:22 - Timer Interrupts
46:21 - Conclusion

Hopefully the video and its associated article will prove to be a good resource as you work to improve your code with interrupts.

😎

Bill

https://youtu.be/5KszL2Opuo0

Article with code: https://dronebotworkshop.com/esp32-cam-microsd
The ESP32-CAM is an amazing little module, especially when you consider how inexpensive it is. With all the power of the 32-bit ESP32 combined with a 2MP camera, this board has a lot of practical applications.

It also has a MicroSD card slot, and today we will learn how to use this to store images on a MicroSD card.

We’ll examine how the ESP32 works with both the camera and the MicroSD card, and then we’ll build a simple camera. After that, we’ll turn our camera into a motion-sensitive camera, and then we’ll write some code to build a time-lapse camera.

Here is the Table of Contents for today's video:

00:00 - Introduction
01:26 - ESP32-CAM MicroSD Card
07:22 - Using the Camera and MicroSD Card
12:09 - Simple Camera
22:16 - Motion-Sensitive Camera
27:29 - Time-Lapse Camera
33:07 - Conclusion

I hope you enjoy the video!

😎

Bill