Exploring Arduino: Tools and Techniques for Engineering Wizardry

CHAPTER 4

Using Transistors and Driving Motors

Parts You'll Need for This Chapter:

Arduino Uno

USB cable

9V battery

9V battery clip

5V L4940V5 linear regulator

22uF electrolytic capacitor

.1uF electrolytic capacitor

1uF ceramic capacitor

Blue LEDs (×4)

1kΩ resistors (×4)

PN2222 NPN BJT transistor

Jumper wires

Sharp GP2Y0A41SK0F IR distance sensor with cable

Hot glue or tape

Standard servo motor

DC motor

Breadboard

Potentiometer

SN754410 H-Bridge IC

CODE AND DIGITAL CONTENT FOR THIS CHAPTER

Code downloads, videos, and other digital content for this chapter can be found at www.exploringarduino.com/content/ch4.

The wiley.com code downloads for this chapter are found at www.wiley.com/go/exploringarduino on the Download Code tab. The code is in the chapter 04 download and individually named according to the names throughout the chapter.

You're now a master of observing information from the world around you. But how can you control that world? Blinking LEDs and automatically adjusting nightlights are a good start, but you can do so much more. Using assorted types of motors and actuators, and with the help of transistors, you can use your Arduino to generate physical action in the real world. By pairing motors with your Arduino, you can drive robots, build mechanical arms, add an additional degree of freedom to distance sensors, and much more.

In this chapter, you learn how to control inductive loads like direct current (DC) motors, how to use transistors to switch high-current devices, ...