Learning Arduino: Pulse Width Modulation

Course details

Pulse width modulation (PWM) is an essential skill for connecting Arduino microcontrollers to motors or lights, providing a way to approximate analog voltage levels with digital signals. Using PWM, you can control and program the brightness of lights and the speed of motors—bringing your projects to life. Join Rae Hoyt in this course and learn how to harness the power of PWM to drive digital circuits. She shows how to use the built-in PWM libraries and functions, troubleshoot code and hardware, and use analog input controls to drive servos, motors, and RGB LEDs. Take the practice challenges along the way to test your learning and see how far your Arduino skills are progressing.

Learning objectives
Using basic PWM output
Adjusting the brightness of LEDs
Color mixing with RGB LEDs
Using analog inputs to drive output
Testing components with a multimeter
Using the map function
Debugging code efficiently with the serial monitor
Controlling servos and motors

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome
02 - What you should know
03 - Using the exercise files
04 - Challenges

1. Introduction to Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM)

05 - Exploring the fundamentals of PWM
06 - Using basic PWM output
07 - Faking PWM on a non-PWM pin
08 - Challenge - Matching PWM and non-PWM LED brightness
09 - Solution - Matching PWM and non-PWM LED brightness

2. Using Analog Inputs to Drive PWM Output

10 - Introducing various analog inputs
11 - Understanding the basics of analog input
12 - Finding logic bugs in your code
13 - Testing components with a multimeter
14 - Using the map function
15 - Challenge - Understanding the math behind the map function
16 - Solution - Understanding the math behind the map function

3. LED and PWM

17 - Fading an LED with PWM with code
18 - Calibrating an analog input to fade an LED precisely
19 - Challenge - Programming an LED that reacts to brightness
20 - Solution - Programming an LED that reacts to brightness
21 - Using an RGB LED
22 - Mixing colors on an RGB LED using three analog inputs
23 - Challenge - Fading through the rainbow with PWM
24 - Solution - Fading through the rainbow with PWM

4. Motor Control

25 - Comparing DC motors, servos, and stepper motors
26 - Implementing basic servo control
27 - Controlling a servo with an analog input
28 - Controlling a continuous rotation servo with an analog input
29 - Controlling DC motor speed with an analog input and transistor
30 - Diving deeper into H bridge control
31 - Controlling a DC motor with an H bridge
32 - Challenge - Controlling a DC motor with an H bridge and potentiometer
33 - Solution - Controlling a DC motor with an H bridge and potentiometer

Next steps

34 - Conclusion

Learning Arduino: Pulse Width Modulation

Authors

Rae Hoyt