Awesome Arduino Projects | Arduino Project Ideas

Arduino has been a revolution ever since it struck the market. Arduino or Genuino (as known in some places), has been a very lucrative option for students designing their first projects. This increase in interest is causing a lot of people to tinker with technology themselves. We compiled a list of Arduino projects that would be cool to design. If you have an Arduino lying around or are planning to buy one, these should come in handy. All you need is an Arduino board and some basic electronics supplies.

ESP8266 Wireless Web Server

This ESP8266 based wireless web server project is built around an arduino. Currently, ESP8266 is gaining popularity in the field of electronics because it is low-cost, reliable and easily available in the market. Most documents related to this module are in Mandarin (Chinese language) and information provided in the data sheet is not sufficient enough for using ESP8266 for an application.
This project is available at: ESP8266 wireless web server

Digital IC Tester With Embedded Truth Table

This article represents an arduino based digital IC tester that is highly capable, highly reliable as well as cost-effective. Here, we develop a program with different functions for checking different ICs. We systematically analyse and test the prototype for several ICs, accessing each individual pin with all possible inputs. We also investigate truth tables associated with different ICs over a display channel.
This project is available at: Digital IC tester with embedded truth table

Arduino Based Audio Meter

Presented here is an Arduino based audio meter that uses a liquid crystal display (LCD). A VU meter or standard volume indicator (SVI) is a device that displays a representation of signal level in audio equipment. In this project, the intensity of left-channel and right-channel audio signals provided as input to Arduino UNO board is displayed as bars on the 16×2 LCD. In this circuit, analogue input pins of Arduino UNO board are used for measurement of audio-signal levels.
This project is available at: Arduino based audio meter

Arduino Based RF Controlled Robot

Here we present a simple Arduino based RF controlled robot that can be driven remotely. This robot can be built very quickly on a small budget. The RF remote control provides the advantage of a good controlling range (up to 100 metres with proper antennae) besides being omnidirectional.
This project is available at: Arduino based RF controlled robot

Home Automation System

Presented here is a home automation system using a simple Android app, which you can use to control electrical appliances with clicks or voice commands. Commands are sent via Bluetooth to Arduino Uno. So you need not get up to switch on or switch off the device while watching a movie or doing some work.
This project is available at: Home automation system using android

Making Arduino Shields

Fritzing is an open source software initiative that supports designers and artists who are ready to move from physical prototyping to the actual product. It was developed at University of Applied Sciences of Potsdam, Germany. The software allows designers, artists, researchers or hobbyists to document their Arduino based prototypes and create PCB layouts for manufacturing. The associated website helps users share and discuss drafts and experiences as well as reduce manufacturing costs.
The project is available at: Making Arduino shield

Fancy Lights Controller

The fancy lights controller described here is built around the Arduino (an Open Source single-board microcontroller) platform that can be purchased in pre-assembled hardware form. The circuit is nothing but a portable four-channel, multi-mode digital light controller, realised using very few external components. Four LEDs are made to glow in different sequences and patterns, controlled from the Arduino board.
This project is available at: Fancy lights controller

Android controlled robot

Presented here is a phone controlled robot that can be controlled via an app on your mobile. The control commands are sent via Bluetooth and the robot has such features as:

1. It can be controlled from Android smartphones by touch or voice commands.
2. The speed of the robot can also be controlled
3. The robot will sense and inform to the phone its distance from the nearest obstacle
4. It will also send information about the direction in which it is moving

This project is available at: Android controlled robot

PC based oscilloscope

Here we describe how you can make your own oscilloscope at a very low cost using your PC and an Arduino board as the hardware for signal acquisition. You can use this oscilloscope to capture frequency signals up to 5kHz. The Arduino board, the heart of the oscilloscope, reads the values from its inbuilt analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) and pushes these to the PC via USB port.
The project is available at: PC based oscillioscope

Arduino based digital IC tester uing MATLAB

Testing of digital electronic systems generally involves applying a set of test stimuli to inputs of the device-under-test (DUT) and analyzing responses of the system using a response analyzer. If the DUT generates correct output responses (also called the golden response) for all the input stimuli, the DUT is regarded as fault-free. Those DUTs that fail to meet the golden response are regarded as faulty or defective. This project describes a digital IC tester for testing 74xx series digital ICs using a MATLAB graphical user interface (GUI) drop-down menu based approach.
This project is available at: Arduino based digital IC tester uing MATLAB

Humidity & temperature monitoring

The IoT using Arduino microcontroller (MCU) is easy and fun for those who are new to the field. Presented here is a humidity and temperature monitoring using Arduino. In this article, humidity and temperature information from DHT-11 sensor is analysed graphically on ThingSpeak platform using Arduino MCU and ESP8266 Wi-Fi module.
This project is available at: Humidity & temperature monitoring

Wi-Fi controlled robot

This Wi-Fi controlled robot can be controlled from anywhere using the ARMA IoT shield for UNO and the Blynk App which provides the user interface. This project uses an Arduino Uno connected to the WiFi using an ARMA IoT shield and controlled using Blynk app which is available for both iOS as well as Android. The chassis is a simple one made from pressed sheet metal with high gauge thickness.
This project is available at: Wi-Fi controlled robot

Tree climbing robot

This robotic project goes up a tree with ease. Unlike Naruto, this Sasuke (Ref. Naruto anime) keeps climbing a tree and this goes all the way. Trees with long stalk and no branches could be very well scaled with this little bugger. Build it and see it go all the way.
This project is available at: Tree Climbing Robot

Fire breathing robot

For this next one, we would not advise taking it up at home, but at a safe and secure environment with zero flammable components. A flamethrower is underrated, using Arduino, you can also build a fire breathing animal. Makers of this project build it into a horse, but the final design is up to you. Khaleesi had dragons which breathed fire, you could have a horse. Hephaestus would be proud…
This project is available at: Personal Phobos

Animatronic Hand

This next project takes dancing at your fingertips to the next level. Using Arduino, the designer could make an animatronic hand, that can be controlled by a user wearing specially designed gloves. Added advantage, it’s wireless. So, keep the animated hand out in your garden, while wearing the glove and scare trick or treaters. Remember, Halloween’s coming…
This project is available at: Halloween Decorations?

Fingerprint sensor

Once you have all this electronic stuff around, you can’t let just about anybody into your workshop. This Fingerprint door lock helps you in keeping unwanted people away from your workshop. You want some engineer to access the workshop, you can add his credentials to the database and he would have access as well.
This project is available at: Fingerprint Lock

Secret knock detector

If updating the fingerprint sensor becomes tiring for you, there is always another system of a secret door knock. However, things are not like the secret seven now. Using the Arduino project, you can turn your regular door lock into a smart door lock. A good opportunity to work with Morse code to come up with knocks. Or you could just “say friend and enter” (Ref. Lord of the rings). You could create multiple Arduino projects with similar rigs.
This project is available at: Secret Knock Detector

Gumball machine

A variant of the secret knock detector could be a gumball machine that dispenses only to limited people. You could have a machine setup in your home and have fun with your family. You could also punish others by changing the knock. Kids not completing their chores, change the knock (just an idea).
This project is available at: Secret Knock Gumball Machine

Spy cam

This next James Bond device could be a double-edged sword. With the help of an Arduino, this surveillance camera is fits into a coffee cup. Every time you pretend to drink coffee, the tilt sensors in the module takes an image for you. Make sure the base of the cup is pointed in the right direction.
This project is available at: It’s Bond, James Bond

Greenhouse

Another idea would be to build a greenhouse for yourself. You can have your own kitchen garden build inside a wrapped enclosure. Mark Watney (Matt Damon in Martian) will be proud. Let’s look at the project before your shuttle malfunctions. In this slideshow, the designer takes you through the entire details about building an Arduino project. The project is easy to build and the software and hardware details are provided within the presentation. So, go ahead with building a greenhouse for yourself.
This project is available at: Greenhouse

Automated plant watering system

Once you are all set with your greenhouse, how does an alarm system for watering your plants sound? This next project could be an addition to your greenhouse as well. You can use both Arduino projects together to have your own automated kitchen garden. This project is a simple and exciting plant watering system that you can build yourself in just a few hours. With efficient use of moisture sensor and downloadable component layout and source code, this could fit in perfectly for potted plants, be it on your terrace or the balcony or the front lawn. It works everywhere. This video takes you through a very similar system that would be very helpful in understanding the project.
This project is available at: Automated Plant Watering System

Air quality controller

Some reports stated Bengaluru to be unliveable in the next 5 years. Top reason listed in the report was high air pollution. How about you build something for yourself that helps you in keeping the air clean at least in your home. The outside can be taken care by planting more trees, which is a longer process. You go ahead with building an air quality control system for yourself.
This project is available at: Air Quality Controller

Earthquake sensor

This list of Arduino projects starts off with an earthquake indicator. A highly-sensitive ADXL335 accelerometer is presented that can indicate vibrations. If motion is violent enough during an earthquake and crosses a certain threshold, a local alarm light (LED) glows, a buzzer sounds and a relay energises. With certain modifications, this can be turned into a knock-and-shake detector for ATMs, vehicles or door-break alarms as well.
This project is available at: Earthquake sensor

Turn signalling jacket

Taking your zeal to make the air clean inside your apartment, we would also suggest you build this next jacket which signals left or right turning for two wheelers. Left or right turning indicators are often missing in bicycles, and most of the other people don’t use them. This jacket could come in handy for such people. The blinking LED’s indicate left or right turning movements.
This project is available at: Turn Signalling Jacket

Lawn Mower

This next project could come in handy the next time you mow the lawn. Playing with remote controlled small helicopters has always been funny. However, if you could get work done in the same play time, that would work out great. The grass would be cut, you could’ve had some fun. With this project, you could have a lawnmower, and a mini dump truck, into one. Work just became interesting.
This project is available at: Lawn mower

Automatic tying shoelaces

Lawn mowing might be a bothersome task at times, but this next project is just straight up lazy. However, if you are that lazy, this next project might be the one for you. Statistics report a majority of people are uncomfortable with tying shoelaces, with about half of these don’t know how to. The effort taken to put your feet in tighten the laces and tie the knot might be too much. This next project built around Arduino does that for you. After Nike’s self-tying shoes, yours could be the one to hit the market. What do you think?
This project is available at: Automatic Tying Shoelaces

Washing machine alarm

A washing machine beeps once it finishes washing your clothes. However often this sound does not reach you due to many reasons. Imagine if you could have this alarm come to your mobile phone. This next project takes care of your washing machine alarms. You don’t have to listen to the beep of the machine, as the notification will show up in your mobile.
This project is available at: Washing Machine Alarm

Alarm Clock

This project could be a simple addition to your night stand. Build an alarm clock using Arduino, and sleep tight. This trusty Arduino project would be an interesting project to try out. It could be easily made using the components already available with any tinkerer. Just go and get an Arduino already…
This project is available at: Alarm Clock

Walkie Talkie

Walkie talkies have always fascinated me. I used to wonder why don’t people just use their phones. Turns out it makes much sense to use a walkie talkie for them. These are bi directional modules dedicated for conversation between just them. How about you make one for yourself? This next Arduino project uses a Bluetooth for communication. All you’ll need are basic electronics supplies and an Arduino board. Hopefully if your frequency crosses over with mine, we might talk?
This project is available at: Walkie Talkie

Inverter

How much does an inverter cost? A basic with a single battery costs about 20-25K INR. How about you just go about buying the battery and use this next Arduino project for your inverter. Money aside, you get to have fun while building it. Who knows, this very practical solution could generate interest in electronics for you.
This project is available at: Inverter

Splash Photography

This next one is for all the photographers out there. Splash photography is a very interesting form of art to lo at. The camera timing might not be able to get just right with a manual photographer at the helm. However, if you have an automated system operating that high-resolution camera for you, it truly works wonders. With this next Arduino project, you can design your very own rig and have a high-speed flash photography setup in no time.
This project is available at: Splashing Photography

Rat trap

The move to smart has now affected the rat trap too. This next project builds a rat trap using an Arduino. Seems like a suitable project to build and set up for those little thieves. Click through to prevent any more of these buggers from making anymore holes in your celery boxes or rice bags.
This project is available at: Find the Rat

---

Let us know how you feel about the Arduino projects listed in the article. Do let us know if you have built any out of the listed ones. Any project not listed here, are always welcome.