How to Create an "Analog" Arduino Escape Room Puzzle

Most escape room tech puzzles (and electronic systems in general) use *digital* inputs and outputs - those that can only have one of a discrete range of values: a button is either pressed or it is not pressed; a rotary switch can only be in one of a number of fixed positions; a maglock is either secured or it is open, etc.
But, in this video, I'll describe how to create an Arduino-based escape room puzzle that uses *analogue* inputs and outputs - sliding linear potentiometers and ammeters that can express a smooth, continuous range of values, with an almost limitless degree of precision. These allow you to create puzzles that require a different sort of interesting interaction for players, but they do also present some interesting challenges - I'll cover some of the trickier aspects of using the built-in Arduino Analogue-To-Digital Converter (ADC) to convert analog input into a digital value, and how to use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) on GPIO pins to control an analog output.

Timings
---
00:00:00-00:00:13 Introduction
00:00:14-00:02:17 Puzzle Demonstration
00:02:18-00:04:40 Comparing Analog -vs- Digital signals
00:04:41-00:11:20 Retrieving Analog Input using "Ax" pins and the Arduino Analog-to-Digital Convertor (ADC)
00:11:21-00:18:49 Sending Analog Output using "~x" pins and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
00:18:50-00:23:20 Grounding, noise, and isolation of analog components
00:23:21-00:26:53 Wiring Diagram
00:26:54-00:51:40 Arduino Code
00:51:41-00:53:20 Wrap up

Components Used
---
- 4x 1mA Ammeter, ~£2 each from https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10000020296910.html
- 4x Slide Potentiometer, buy 5 for $12 from https://www.banggood.com/custlink/vGGdLOO1zU
- Arduino UNO, $10 from https://amzn.to/2ZcuS82
- 4x LED ($0.01 each, from almost anywhere)
- 4x220 and 4x 4.7kohm resistors ($0.01 each, from almost anywhere)
- 5V 1-channel Relay Module, $2 from https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32905958885.html
- Conductive Copper Strip, $5 for 3m from https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184340220340

Support Me! (or let me support you :) )
---
This video is made possible with the generous support of my Patreon donors - thankyou!
For more details of this, and to access downloads, wiring diagrams, and additional resources and support for all my escape room technology projects, please go to https://www.patreon.com/playfultech

Видео How to Create an "Analog" Arduino Escape Room Puzzle канала Playful Technology