Arduinos

For this module we are initially looking at Arduinos, little programmable processors which are expandable using "shields". They are also open source, with the code and hardware blueprints being freely available. The Arduino website defines them as "... an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board".

Lee, our lecturer for this part of the module, explained to us the basics of Arduino and discussed some examples. One example of an Arduino is an "I-Pac" which allows the connection of game controllers such as joysticks, and can be used in fruit machines.

Arduinos use optional parts called "shields" to add functionality - Wi-Fi, motors, and other features can be added to Arduino boards.

For our group project, we came up with the idea of using an alcohol detector attached to a beer glass to sense when someone has had too much to drink, and pass a small current through the drink to give the drinker a small shock. An alternative to this idea is that the user sees a red LED light up upon sensing a certain level of alcohol on the drinkers breath.

Iain supplied the electronics to test our theory out. He assembled a circuit using a 9 volt battery.

I contributed to this group by helping to come up with the concept and the overall idea. 

Here we are testing out the circuit.

Adding a sugary drink to test the conductivity.

And it works! Hopefully this test will also work with alcohol.