R-B | Embedded Lab

Author Archives: R-B

Real-time GPS tracking device for vehicles

Posted on September 10, 2014 by R-B Leave a comment

Check out Cooking Hacks Arduino-based GPS tracker project for vehicles that could be extremely helpful to pinpoint the exact location of the vehicle in case it is stolen. The project uses a GPS+GPRS shield with an antenna to locate the coordinates of the vehicle. You need to call the device from your preset phone number, which will be verified by the SIM908 module on the tracker, and it will then send you an SMS with the GPS coordinates of its location.

GPS tracker for vehicles

Another IR controlled light switch

Posted on September 8, 2014 by R-B Leave a comment

Vadim Panov’s new project is about an IR controlled light switch that operates with any RC-5 compatible TV remote. His switch is built around the ATTiny2313 MCU clocked at 8MHz. The IR receiving part is designed for decoding the 36KHz modulated IR signal using the TSOP1736 device.

IR controlled light switch

The thing I came up with at the time was a light swich for my room controlled over an IR remote from TV. Remote that I had used RC-5 protocol, hence the firmware is suited for any RC-5 compatible remote.
Everyone is familiar to the everliving problem with switching the lights off in your room before going to bed and stumbling back across the room. The IR switch I describe here solves that problem, and I can definitely tell that this project was a success – I am still using it with no regret.

Solar battery charge controller

Posted on September 7, 2014 by R-B Leave a comment

This Arduino Nano controlled solar battery charger can charge a standard lead acid 12V battery and runs with 90% efficiency under 70ᵒC (158ᵒF). The circuit can take up to 24V input from the solar panels. The maximum power point tracking is implemented in the circuit by measuring the output voltage and current from the solar panel to get the maximum possible power from it.

Solar battery charger

PIC based count down timer

Posted on September 6, 2014 by R-B Leave a comment

Here is another countdown timer based on the PIC16F886 microcontroller. The timer displays the time on four bright 7-segment LEDs, which are driven by a TLC5916 LED driver chip. The timer flashes the seven segment LEDs when the time is up. The timer settings are done with a rotary encoder with a push button, and gets powered from two AAA batteries.

Seven segment LED timerdigital timer, PIC16F886

Very accurate master clock synchronized to the DCF77 time signal

Posted on September 5, 2014 by R-B Leave a comment

Brett’s new masterclock is Arduino-controlled and keeps very accurate time by periodically synchronizing with the DCF77 “Atomic” Clock in Mainflingen near Frankfurt, Germany. The DCF77 library for Arduino is used to decode the time signal broadcasted from the atomic clock. The time is displayed as hours, minutes, and seconds on six 1″ seven segment LEDs. A 4×20 I2C LCD display is also used in the project to display additional info such as display brightness, sync information, signal quality, auto tune’d frequency, auto tuned quartz accuracy, etc. Both the displays are auto-dimmed based on the surrounding light intensity using an LDR sensor and pulse width modulation technique. His clock also includes a bluetooth link for updating the Arduino firmware from a PC without an USB cable.

Accurate master clock synchronized with the DCF77 atomic clock

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