Every tinkerer worth their salt knows Arduino. It makes an ideal “brain” for any DIY project requiring an electronically controlled action, a notable family of microcontrollers. They’re reliable, open-source, efficient, and affordable, and as such, there are plenty of projects out there that specifically call for an Arduino – Arduino’s Project Hub database alone counts over 5,350.
We are monitoring the Arduino repositories closely for fun or useful projects. So, here’s a starting selection that will guide beginners and engage experts. We remove the least clicked projects on a regular basis and replace them with new entries. So, something will always be new, while uninteresting entries drift away.
If you have an Arduino board burning a hole in your pocket, keep scrolling for some project-based inspiration.
Beginners
The following Arduino projects are as accessible as they come. You don’t need prior knowledge of coding, wiring, or building things.
Jumpman
So, you want to get your feet wet in the vast Arduino cosmos? This project will turn an Arduino Uno into an easy and fun LCD game.
You control a tiny character on the screen by pressing a button. The goal is to navigate the character to avoid obstacles that appear on the display. You score points for each successful obstacle avoided, and you’ll stay in the game until your character collides with an obstacle.
The game’s code is easy to understand, well-documented, and can be adapted to your liking.
What we like: It’s fun, and you’ll learn a lot.
Who made it? Crepeguy
More information: Arduino Project Hub
LED Fidget Keychain
Maker Vishal Soni packed an entertaining little game into a keyring. So, if you’re bored while commuting or in a waiting room, you’ll always have something to grab your attention.
The game itself is simple. First, an LED ring will display a random color. Then the game starts, LEDs light up, and once the color is displayed, you press the button. Bravo, you scored.
The project may look complicated, but it’s not rocket science. Component-wise, Vishal used an Arduino-based Attiny85, an LED ring, a rechargeable battery pack, and a button, which are put into a 3D printed case. Programming the Attiny85 is easy, as the code is already written, and once you’re done, you can start assembling the components.
What we like: You can admire your maker skills whenever you use your keys.
Who made it? Vishal Soni
More information: Instructables
PC Cooler
This is an easy-to-build project for everyone whose desktop PC’s CPU constantly crashes due to overheating. Step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process of making a circuit that uses an Arduino board as a smart cooling system.
You’ll need a fan and a temperature sensor besides an Arduino Uno. Place the sensor on your PC’s CPU heatsink or in a spot in your PC that gets really hot. The fan should be mounted near the heat source, of course. The code has already been written, but you can adapt it to your needs.
What we like: Only a properly cooled PC keeps its user cool.
Who made it? Miles Peterson
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Mirrorless Camera
If a photo buff hears the words “mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera,” he knows a hefty price tag will be attached to it. Not so with this one, as you can build the camera yourself. You’ll have to invest in the LilyGo T-Display camera kit, which allows for Arduino IDE and MicroPython programming of the display.
The camera uses an M12 lens mount, the smallest lens mount system with varifocal zoom lenses on the market. It matches the diameter of commonly used image sensors. The development of the DIY camera isn’t complete, as Chen Liang wants to add new features. With some expertise, you too can add new features to the camera (GPS, weather sensors, AI support, face detection, etc.)
What we like: It’s a surprisingly powerful camera with interchangeable lenses.
Who made it? Chen Liang
More information: Instructables
Pixel Wristband
Sewing electronics combines technology with craft and art. Chen Liang used an old Apple Watch Sport loop wristband for this Pixel Wristband and added some color LCD panels by sewing the components with a conductive thread. The thread holds the components in place and also connects the module pins.
An integrated flat battery powers the LEDs; it needs to be charged every two months. The “brain” is a specially designed main board. It can store data or even display the date and time on the LCD panels. New data can be uploaded via an Arduino Teensy 4.1
What we like: It’s a DIY wearable that looks cool.
Who made it? Chen Liang
More information: Instructables
PC Info Panel
Sometimes, it’s handy to be able to see what your PC is doing at-a-glance, without taking up any of your main monitor’s precious real estate. Mirko Pavleski’s PC Info Panel provides exactly that: A secondary display that pulls in customizable information from a USB-connected desktop and formats it for display on a 16×2 character-based LCD display.
“The LCD display can be controlled directly through the LPT port,” Pavleski notes, “but nowadays, that port is no longer used and has been replaced by USB.” Inside the custom chassis of the display box is an Arduino Nano R3 board connected to the parallel LCD with no other components besides a 10k potentiometer and a 220-Ohm resistor. On the PC side, the project makes use of an existing piece of software: LCD Smartie, which is capable of pulling in system status reports, including CPU and memory usage, disk space, and network utilization, along with media playback data, RSS news feeds, and more.
What we like: It’s an easy project to start with.
Who made it? Mirko Pavleski
More information: Hackaday.io
Remote Tester
When your infrared remote control is playing up, there are a few ways to test it – including building a dedicated testing rig.
At its simplest, Ashish Adhikari’s tester doesn’t need an Arduino at all: It simply accepts infrared signals as input and repeats them on a visible-light LED, making it clear whether the remote is transmitting or not when you push a button. Using an Arduino Uno or other Arduino-compatible microcontroller board, though, Adhikari’s tester can be extended to offer data capture and decoding – giving you an insight into just what your remote is saying to your TV when you hit the channel-change button.
What we like: It’s better than replacing batteries because you think they are empty again.
Who made it? Ashish Adhikari
More information: Instructables
Passive Cooking Tool
With energy costs rising globally and climate change a growing concern, there’s high demand for ways to reduce energy usage. Italian pasta company Barilla’s approach, though, is an interesting twist on things: A 3D-printable tool powered by an Arduino Nano 33 BLE microcontroller with a thermistor temperature sensor attached.
Pop it on the top of a covered pot and set the water to boiling; when the sensor reads the correct temperature, you receive an alert on your phone to add the pasta. After a few minutes, another alert tells you to turn the hob off – allowing the pasta to continue cooking using the residual heat in what the company calls “passive cooking.”
Barilla has released all design files and source code under an open source license for people to build their own – but make sure the plastic you print the housing with can withstand the kitchen heat!
What we like: Energy-efficient pasta.
Who made it? Barilla
More information: Barilla website
Contactless Door Lock
If you’ve ever wanted a smart door lock you can open with the wave of a radio frequency ID (RFID) access card, Gary Scotland has what you need.
It works by using a simple piece of source code for the Arduino-compatible Espressif ESP32 development board, which waits for the user to scan a valid RFID card and then triggers a servo motor to either lock or unlock a physical bolt. It’s not the most robust or secure locking system, but it’s a great starting point for your physical security projects.
What we like: It’s an interesting locking mechanism.
Who made it? Gary Scotland
More information: Reddit
Tin Whistle Synthesizer
A tin whistle might not seem like the most obvious instrument to inspire an electronic synthesizer build, but that’s exactly what YouTuber Volos Projects has put together. Designed to mimic the form factor of an Irish tin whistle – but easily reproduced on a breadboard for anyone not as confident in their PCB design capabilities – the “whistle” is powered by the Microchip ATmega328 microcontroller, programmed in an Arduino Uno, then removed for mounting to the custom-designed PCB. There’s no need to blow, either: The synth is activated by pressing a switch between your lips, playing as you press down.
What we like: It’s definitely an unusual instrument. Everyone plays guitar.
Who made it? Volos Projects
More information: Volos Projects
Blindspot Monitoring Lights
Using the low-cost Arduino Uno microcontroller development board, Om Kamath’s project attempts to recreate a feature seen in selected high-end vehicles range: LED lights that alert the driver to other road users in the car’s blind spots. “As I was so fascinated with the blindspot warning system on the 2021 Mercedes S-Class,” the maker explains, “I decided to build one for myself using the Arduino Uno.” With the prototype existing on a breadboard and not yet installed in a vehicle – always the trickiest part – it’s a great project for learning how real-world sensor systems operate.
What we like: It’s a great project to learn how to use an Arduino.
Who made it? Om Kamath
More information: Geek Culture
RSS Reader
If you are a news junkie like us at All3DP, this project will be of interest to you. Powered by an Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect, which includes onboard Wi-Fi, this project pulls down website updates via its RSS feed and displays them on an LCD panel. It even includes an optional infrared remote control if you want to take it a step further.
What we like: Get a proper screen, hook it up, and you get a proper newsfeed.
Who made it? Jan Kammerath
More information: Medium
Weather Station
There are plenty of DIY weather stations, but this particular one looks extremely cool. You’ll need an Arduino Uno, a Nextion display, and a Wemos D1 mini-board. You can also customize the graphics presented on the 3.2” touchscreen with a resolution of 400 x 240 pixels.
What we like: It’s an easy, well-documented project. And it looks cool.
Who made it? educ8s
More information: Instructables
Speedometer
So, do you want to know how fast your tennis ball, dog, or car goes? Take an Arduino Nano, add an external ultrasonic sensor, and build this little speed-measuring device.
The device measures the distance of a moving object in a period of 1 second and then calculates the object’s movement in cm/s.
What we like: We didn’t know Arduino sensors were so accurate.
Who made it? Mirko Pavleski
More information: Hackster
Touchless Trash Can
Have you ever encountered one of these fancy touchless trash cans that open magically once your hand hovers above the lid? Well, with some help from an Arduino Micro, you can turn a “dumb” trash can into a smart one. And the best thing is that it’s a project suitable for beginners.
What we like: No more dirty bin lids to clean.
Who made it? Will Su
More information: Hackster
Nano Piano
Looking to get your feet wet in the vast field of Arduino projects? The Nano Piano is fun, doesn’t need many components, and is an easy build. You’ll get a four-key piano that runs off an Arduino Nano Every. Don’t expect to play Chopin on it, but it’s a good start into a new hobby.
Who made it? Christian Madlansacay
More information: hackster.io
Music Reactive LED Strip
This sound-reactive LED strip build dances to the music and is relatively easy to assemble. A microphone picks up the music, passing the information to an Arduino R3, which then regulates an LED strip’s brightness and color scheme.
Who made it? DIY Builder
More information: YouTube
Security Access
This tutorial illustrates how an RFID reader works and how it can be the first step toward a working security system. You need an Arduino Uno, an RFID reader breakout chip, and some RFID / NFC cards. The project is well-documented and easy to build.
What we like: The project can be easily expanded if you have some ideas for an RFID reader.
Who made it? Aritro Mukherjee
More information: Hackster
Theremin
The Theremin is one of the early electronic musical instruments, having first been developed back in the 1920s. It consists of two antennas – one controls the volume, the other sets the pitch. It’s not an instrument that’s easy to play, but with some practice, you’ll be able to impress your friends with some old-school melodies (think of the eerie sound on “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys).
The Arduino Uno is the brain of the project. An ultrasonic sensor replaces the antennas, and a small speaker will provide the sound. It’s an easy build, and if you’re interested, several other Arduino-Theremins are out there.
What we like: It makes an indistinguishable eerie sound.
Who made it? Opus 9
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Home Security Alarm
Why not build a simple yet effective home security system? It calls the homeowner on a mobile number in case of an intruder alert. To set up your alarm system, you’ll need an Arduino Uno, a breadboard, some sensors, and a GSM module for phone calls.
The code for the Arduino is included, so the project shouldn’t be too demanding, even for beginners. Pet owners, beware of many calls from your animal friends.
What we like: It actually works.
Who made it? Electronics Hub
More information: Electronics Hub
Intermediate
If you know the right end of the soldering iron to hold and can alter code to fit your needs, then these intermediate Arduino projects should be right up your alley.
Quadcopter
There are plenty of DIY drones, but this one stood out during our research. It supports acro (great for aerobatics such as flips or rolls) and stabilized flight using the remote control. It also offers Wi-Fi support, a RAM-logging feature, a Gazebot simulation mode, plus a command line interface through USB port – not bad for a DIY project.
As of March 2024, its maker Okalachev wants to improve the design by adding a 3D printed frame as well as features like position control and autonomous flights. You will need an Arduino ESP32 Mini to make the project fly (pun intended).
What we like: It’s not super-complicated to build, yet it’s a nice challenge for the dedicated maker.
Who made it? Okalachev
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Polar Plotter
Upcycling is a big part of the maker community. Here’s a good example of how to build something cool from unused and outdated components, all with a little help from an Arduino Uno. Maker Deepaksh123 gutted an old Wi-Fi camera, an outdated laser printer, and also used pinch rollers from old tape recorders for this project.
In order to get some images on paper, you will use the free software Inkscape to generate the G-code. Then add pen and paper, and enjoy your project while the plotter does its magic.
What we like: Yes, it’s a ridiculously overengineered way of 2D drawing, but we really like the approach.
Who made it? Deepaksh123
More information: Instructables
Spectrum Analyzer
Every serious professional music studio used to have a visualizer bar resting on their mixing console. It showed how much punch a certain frequency band delivered, ranging from the ultralow bass frequencies (on the right end) to the tones only bats can hear (on the left, accordingly).
These bars came with a big price tag, but now, you can build one with an Arduino R3 , some electrical components, and LED matrix elements. It will reach from the lowest bass up to 19 kilohertz, which is good enough for audio signals.
It’s an easy project for everyone who can hold a soldering iron at the right end.
What we like: Blinking lights, synchronized to your favorite music tracks!
Who made it? Shajeeb
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Reverse Polish Notation Calculator
Reverse Polish notation – a method of calculation in which operators come after operands rather than before – can take a little getting used to. If you’re willing to put in the effort, Shinsaku Hiura’s Woody can serve as a reward.
Built using a reverse-engineered keypad connected to an Arduino Nano microcontroller board, the core of the hardware – including a dot-matrix LCD display panel – is relatively simple to put together. Still, it’s the wooden housing that really ties everything together. Machined from walnut, the oiled case gives the chunky calculator real desk appeal – but if you haven’t got access to a mill, Hiura has provided 3D-printable STL files for alternative plastic housing.
What we like: It looks incredibly stylish.
Who made it? Shinsaku Hiura
More information: Instructables
Resistor-Reading Desk Lamp
If you’ve ever wondered why art can’t be practical, you’ll love The Great Resistor. On the surface, it’s a desk lamp shaped to mimic an oversized through-hole resistor, with an Arduino Nano hidden inside, providing control over the color bands, denoting the part’s resistance and tolerance.
Put a real resistor between two metal pillars, though, and the microcontroller reads its resistance value – displaying it on a compact screen towards the bottom of the lamp while automatically adjusting the large-scale color bands to match. “To this day, I still have trouble to decode the color code of resistors,” Oeve writes. “I hope this device will help me to learn them properly.”
What we like: You’ll actually learn something… from a lamp.
Who made it? Jayson Oeve
More information: Instructables
Lord of the Rings Tea-Maker
Although it may be a number of years since the heyday of the Goblin Teasmade, there’s something to be said about being able to trigger a device to make you a hot beverage on demand.
Samuel Gidoin’s Thérrarium goes considerably further than most tea-making projects – using as its inspiration J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings to not only deliver a drink but to do so in style. “The style is inspired by the city of Rivendell and from other fantasy worlds artworks,” Gidoin explains, “but the layout and the dimensions were driven by technical needs. A 220 V input powers it, and the components are driven by an Arduino Mega.” Those looking to follow in Gidoin’s footsteps should be warned, however, that he’s been working on the project since 2018.
What we like: What’s not to like about a hot cup of tea?
Who made it? Samuel Gidoin
More information: YouTube
3D Printed Robot Arm
Commercial robot arms do everything from assembling cars to performing delicate surgery, but nothing is stopping you from experimenting with the technology in the comfort of your own home – providing you’ve got access to a 3D printer, at least.
This robot arm project from Maurizio Miscio uses low-cost servo motors under the control of an Arduino Uno to offer surprisingly fine-grained control over the arm and its customized gripper. The control box, meanwhile, includes a touchscreen display offering a user-friendly interface for stand-alone operation away from a computer.
What we like: It’s more than a gadget; it can actually be of assistance.
Who made it? Maurizio Miscio
More information: Instructables
Programmable Lighting
Designed as a do-it-yourself alternative to the commercial Nanoleaf smart lighting system, Red’s project uses a 3D-printed framework to hold addressable RGB LEDs in shaped blocks for assembly in any shape you choose – with each segment under the control of an Arduino-compatible NodeMCU microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi connectivity.
What sets Red’s version apart from most clones, though, is its secondary function: The segments can be assembled to form an eye-catching seven-segment, four-digit wall clock.
What we like: With the addition of a DHT11 environmental sensor, it can even show you the room’s temperature and humidity level in real time.
Who made it? Projects With Red
More information: Projects With Red’s YouTube channel
$50 CNC Router
You can never have too many tools in your workshop, right? So, why not build a CNC mill for just $50? The little machine carves wood and even hard acrylic sheets, and thanks to an
Arduino Uno driving the stepper motors for the toolhead it is astonishingly precise.
What we like: The project is a great entry point into CNC.
Who made it? Daz projects
More information: Hackster
Nuclear Reactor
A DIY nuclear reactor doesn’t sound all that safe, right? This particular model uses Tritium vials, commonly used in wristwatches, keychains, and pendants. Their beta particles can’t escape the glass tubes, so they’re considered safe and are sold to the public.
The principle of the reactor is easy: The light emitted from the tritium vials charges small solar cells. The device will give you a maximum of 1.5 microwatts of nuclear power for as long as you live. It should be enough to power an LED or a very small electrical device (not a phone, though).
What we like: It’s an energy source that will power something for 100 years.
Who made it? Ian Charnas
More information: Instructables
Plotter
A plotter is nothing less than a computerized drawing machine – so why not use an Arduino Nano to do the heavy lifting here?
Beware, this project is quite extensive, but every step is well-documented. You’ll have to build a frame from an acrylic sheet, upcycle an old PC-DVD writer, add some stepper motors to it, and hook it up to an Arduino Nano. The result is a portable plotter that, with a little help from G-code, can be used to draw any shape you want it to.
What we like: It’s small, it’s portable, it’s nicely engineered.
Who made it? Surajit Majumdar
More information: Instructables
Mind Controlled Drone
Are you looking for a project with a distinct Sci-Fi flair? Get a MindWave sensor, Arduino MKR1000, and a breadboard, and you’ll be part of the way to your very own mind-controlled drone. Thanks to the code provided on the Arduino Hub, you can be up and flying in less than a day.
What we like: It’s somewhat magical and great for impressing your friends.
Who made it? WesleyCMD
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Advanced
These advanced Arduino projects will keep you busy for some time. They also require a deeper knowledge of electronics, coding, and general maker skills.
Bluetooth Thermostat
If you’re into home automation, this project offers an interesting challenge. Gyula Osi built an intelligent thermostat that controls his heater gas boiler. It also toggles his kitchen lights and bathroom airing fan with the help of relays.
The system can even detect if a window has been opened and sports an error correction. The whole system can be controlled via buttons, an Android device, or a computer via Bluetooth. As an experienced maker, you’ll have no problem with the project, as the code and schematics are provided.
The whole system runs on a Arduino Nano. You’ll need a small OLED display, a temperature sensor, a Bluetooth module, and plenty of electrical components.
What we like: Why pay for a professional thermostat when you can build one yourself? Also, the data stays with you.
Who made it? Gyula Osi
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Flight Controller
This time, it’s rocket science. A team of more than 100 undergraduate engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign designs, builds and launches two-stage rockets into space. They plan to bring their rocket up 100 km to the Kármán line.
This is not an easy goal. To achieve it, the team designed and built a “High Power Rocketry Flight Computer” called TARS MK4, which they use for live radio telemetry, GPS tracking, autonomous state estimation, and controlling the rocket’s apogee through an air brake mechanism. One integral part is the Teensy 4.1, which is “compatible, extremely fast, and has a large set of I/O. We also have an ESP32-S3 and an ATmega328P as auxiliary MCU for telemetry and power management.”
What we like: A project true to the motto “To infinity… and beyond!”
Who made it? Illinois Space Society
More information: Instructables
Low-Cost Star Tracker
The “OG Star Tracker,” named after its creator Ondra Gejdos rather than “original gangster,” aims to provide a handy tool for astrophotography without breaking the bank. “[A] star tracker is a small equatorial mount that you need if you want to take pictures of the night sky,” Gejdos explains. “Due to the rotation of Earth, the stars on long exposures pictures are blurred. OG Star Tracker is a star tracker that is easier to make than IKEA furniture.”
Designed to keep the costs as low as possible, with Gejdos estimating around $60-70 per unit, the tracker is almost entirely 3D printed bar a few screws and its electronic components – which include an Arduino Nano R3 or Arduino Uno as the controlling device, though other models are also compatible. “It is perfect for beginners,” Gejdos says of the tool, “as it can be set up in just three minutes and is ready for use. The only additional item needed is a tripod, which can be a surveyor’s tripod or a standard photographic tripod with either a 3/8″ or 1/4″ thread.”
What we like: You can take stunning photos with it.
Who made it? Ondra Gejdos
More information: Printables
Digital 3D-Printing Spool Scale
If you’ve ever wanted a way to see how much 3D-printing filament you have left on a spool at a glance, this project from maker InterlinkKnight can help. On the surface, it’s a simple spool holder designed to feed filament into the 3D printer of your choice smoothly; internally, an Arduino Nano connected to an OLED display and HX711 module with a load cell can measure the weight of the installed spool and its filament – providing an up-to-the-second look at how much you’ve got left.
A clever memory system allows you to tare an empty spool and subtract it from the reading, while multiple profiles mean you can switch filament spools without losing track of the tare weight of each spool. Everything is controlled via a simple three-button control panel underneath the OLED display, with InterlinkKnight promising there’s no need to edit the Arduino sketch – even to calibrate the load cells.
What we like: There will be no more “Out of Filament” messages from your 3D printer.
Who made it? InterlinkKnight
More information: Instructables
The Gaggiuino Coffee Machine
There’s an undeniable gap in quality between low-end and high-end coffee machines familiar to any bean connoisseur, but often an even bigger gap in pricing. The Gaggiuino project aims to resolve that by taking a relatively low-cost Gaggia coffee machine and replacing enough of its innards to compete with high-end computer-controlled alternatives.
Compatible with the Gaggia Classic and Gaggia Classic Pro, the Arduino Nano-based upgrade – with an STM32 Black Pill alternative also available and offering – provides steam control, manual flow control, a proven descale cycle, shot timer, pre-infusion mode, integrated scales, and even sensor graphs for keeping an eye on the brewing process over time. Everything is displayed on a dedicated screen with a 3D-printed enclosure and a smart user interface that wouldn’t look out of place on a commercial machine costing thousands.
However, the project’s creators warn that anyone shouldn’t attempt it without understanding “safe electrical practices” thanks to the high voltages inside the machine.
What we like: Here’s the right tool to achieve barista perfection.
Who made it? Gaggiuino Project
More information: GitHub
Formula 1 Steering Wheel
Petrolhead mechanic Wesley Kagan is part-way through the process of building a 1960s-style Formula 1 race car, with a Mercedes V12 engine offering what he describes rather softly as “a lot of punch in a light formula frame”.
Power is nothing if you can’t control it. Rather than opt for an off-the-shelf control system, Kagan has designed his own 3D printed steering wheel, powered by an Arduino Micro hidden inside. Like the real thing, it includes a range of buttons and knobs to control vehicle systems, plus a display for feedback. Kagan has released the wheel’s source code and CAD files, though he warns that two parts aren’t 3D-printable – one needs to be made on a lathe, and the other is laser-cut.
What we like: It shows the benefits of custom-built solutions.
Who made it? Wesley Kagan
More information: YouTube
Gillbert, the Plastic-Eating Fish
Proposed by Eleanor Mackintosh as part of the Natural Robotics Contest, Gillbert is a “robo-fish” designed to tackle environmental pollution. Powered by an Arduino Nano 33 IoT microcontroller board connected to an Xbox One controller, after Mackintosh’s sketches were turned into a real robot by Robert Siddall and colleagues, Gillbert is a 3D-printed fish with a novel gill design that filters and captures plastic particles found in the water.
The initial idea was to simply remove them, but with the hope that the design could be extended to analyze the samples and provide key data regarding plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and seas. The design files for the robot have been made freely available for others to print, test, and iterate upon.
What we like: It’s a
Who made it? Eleanor Mackintosh, Robert Siddall et al
More information: Natural Robotics Contest website
Automated Bean-Sprouter
If you’re thinking about eating healthier or just want to reduce your reliance on industrial farming, growing your own is a great way to go – and Nico Pretorius’ 3D-printed automated sprouting machine, driven by an Arduino Uno, is ready to help.
“Sprouts are rich in minerals and vitamins and can be eaten in soups, salads, and stir-fry,” Pretorius explains. “Sprouting seeds is easy; in short, the seeds get soaked in water for a few hours. I normally do mine overnight. After that, it is rinsed and placed in a container; it is rinsed regularly until it is ready for harvest. This automated sprouter does the watering bit for you. Every hour the water pump switches on for 10 seconds, long enough to cover the seeds in the drawer with water.”
What we like: Good fresh food every time of the year.
Who made it? Nico Pretorius
More information: Instructables
UV Meter & Breathalyzer
This smart DIY keychain device combines a UV meter with a breathalyzer. So, this little
Arduino Pro Mini-driven device is a lifesaver for an outdoor trip with your friends. First, it measures UV radiation and reminds you when to apply sunscreen; and, thanks to the breath analyzer, it helps you to keep your driver’s license when you’ve lost track of your beer consumption at night.
What we like: Another interesting use for an Arduino.
Who made it? Funelab
More information: Instructables
Automatic Chessboard
Called the Phantom, this Arduino Nano-based project is one of the best-running Kickstarter projects of 2021. Magnets move the wooden Staunton chess pieces. The engine lets you play online chess against any human on the planet and comes with Maja, a chess engine that adapts to your playing style and doesn’t just beat the heck out of you.
The best part is that the whole project is based on a Creative Commons 4. 0 license (BY-NC-ND), and it’s open and well-documented. It’s a complex project with many moving parts (pun intended) and will keep you busy for weeks. Doesn’t it look beautiful?
What we like: This chess board has a digital brain and a very analog feel.
Who made it? Carlos Lopez Pendas
More information: Arduino Project Hub
Robot Kitten
You’ve seen Sony’s Aibo, watched Boston Dynamics’ Spot boogie on down, and now it is time for a ROBOKITTEN! The Petoi Nybble is a laser-cut robot that resembles a kitten. It can run thanks to an Arduino Pro Mini. It even learns from you, and, digging deeper, learn even more thanks to its OpenCat framework.
What we like: It’s a cool, sophisticated project. And you don’t have to empty the litter box.
Who made it? Rongzhong Li
More information: Hackster
Speech Recognition
You can build a speech recognition system with just a tiny Arduino 33 BLE board and a computer. Setting the hardware up is easy; most of the hard work here is in programming and refining your work to improve the results. Once it‘s up and running, you can integrate it into other DIY projects.
What we like: It’s a versatile system for other projects.
Who made it? Ashish Choudhary
More information: Circuit Digest
Lead image source: Rongzhong Li
License: The text of "45 Cool Arduino Projects for Spring 2024" by All3DP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.