Learning electronics for kids: Control lights with Arduino and a sound sensor by clapping.

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Welcome to Makersgeneration, your go-to destination for cool STEM projects and learning electronics for kids.

We're back again with another exciting Arduino project as usual!!

In today's post, we will be controlling lights just by clapping our hands. Wow!!

Sounds cool right!!? Keep reading as we learn How to make a clap switch with Arduino and Sound Sensor.

Clap switch

A clap switch uses a microphone to detect the sound of a clap. The sound is amplified and converted into a digital signal by an Arduino board. The Arduino compares the signal to a predefined threshold level. If the signal exceeds the threshold, the Arduino triggers an action, such as turning on or off an electrical device connected to the Arduino such as an LED as we will see here.

The main component of this project is the Sound sensor.

A sound sensor is a device used to detect sound levels and convert them into electrical signals that can be read and processed by an Arduino microcontroller. The sensor consists of a condenser microphone or a sound-sensitive element and supporting circuitry. The microphone gives out only analog signals when a sound wave hits the diaphragm of the sensor, this analog signal gets processed by the op-amp and we get the digital output.

Required components

Arduino Uno or Nano
Sound sensor module (KY-037)
LED (1)
220 ohms resistor (1)
Jumper wires
Solderless breadboard
Compatible USB cable

Building the circuit

Sensor pins:

A0 to A0 of Arduino
G to GND of Arduino
+ to 5V of Arduino

LED pins:

Short LED leg to GND of Arduino
Long LED leg to one leg of Resistor
The other leg of the resistor to Arduino pin3

Arduino timer code

const int ledPin = 3;
const int sensorPin = A0;
byte ledState = LOW;

void setup(){
    Serial.begin(9600);
    pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(sensorPin, INPUT);
}

void loop(){
    int sensorValues = analogRead(sensorPin);
    Serial.print("Sensor values: ");
    Serial.println(sensorValues);
    delay(100);
    
    if ((sensorValues >= 200) && (ledState == LOW)){
        ledState = HIGH;
        digitalWrite(ledPin, ledState);
    }
    
    else if ((sensorValues >= 200) && (ledState == HIGH)){
        ledState = LOW;
        digitalWrite(ledPin, ledState);
    }
}

How code works:

In the first section, we declare the Arduino pins the LED (pin2) and sensor (pin A0) will be connected to.
Next, we create a variable to hold the current state of the LED. initially, it is assigned low, meaning the LED is off when the circuit turns on.
Inside the void setup() - we initialize Serial communication and then set pin A0 to receive data from the sensor (INPUT) and then pin 2 to send out data to the LED (OUTPUT).
Now, inside the void loop(), we begin by creating a variable (sensorValues) to store the data read from the sensor and then print those values out on the Serial monitor at intervals of 100 milliseconds.
According to the values printed on the Serial monitor, my sensor was reading below 200 when the room is quiet and goes above 200 when I clap - these are the values I will use to trigger my LED on/off (monitors your's to get the accurate value for your room).
clapsIn the if statement, the system monitors for claps. If the system detects claps, it will check the ledState to see if it is HIGH or LOW, If it is LOW, the system will replace the value with HIGH which means turn on the LED. Then, if the ledState value is HIGH, it will change it to LOW which means turn off the LED.

To run the code:

Open the Arduino IDE, copy the code above, and paste it into the IDE's open window.
Navigate to Tools >> Select Board type (Arduino Uno or Nano) >> Select the correct Port assigned to your board.

Demo video

Alright! We have come to the end of today's topic. Hope you had fun and learned something cool.

Like to see more technology activities for kids? Follow the information below:

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Coding for elementary school students
Make video games
Electronics
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And the STEM summer camp for your kids is organized in Takoma Park Maryland nearby Washington DC to have fun and learn more about robotics, coding, droning, and more. Check the link right here:

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Other cute things to make and hand-crafts for kids

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