14 Sensor Control Projects with LabPro
Use the parts included in our Robotics and Control Kit with our Digital Control Unit (DCU). The experiments included with the kit provide a great way to introduce engineering, programming, and design concepts, and it is perfect for student projects. The fourteen projects include: Alarm system, Greenhouse, Flashing LEDs, Traffic Light, Rubber Band Launcher, Sun Tracker, and more.
Advanced Chemistry with Vernier Book
Investigate 35 advanced chemistry topics, including mole ratios, enthalpy, buffers, concentrations, vapor pressure, radiation shielding, electroplating, chromatography, and more.
Analyzing Sound
Use the Vernier Microphone to analyze the frequency patterns of a touchtone phone and human vowel sounds using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).
Project instructions and downloads coming soon!
Aquarium
We built a device to test three properties of water in an aquarium: conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen.
Balancer
We built a device to automatically balance a horizontal beam as weights are added to either end.
Blind Student Assistant
We used LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT to create two programs that could be very useful to a blind student in a science course. The program speaks Vernier sensor readings or makes a tone with a frequency proportional to the sensor reading.
Buffers
Use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to prepare and test two acidic buffer solutions, then determine the capacity of the prepared buffers.
Build a Temperature Sensor
Build your own temperature sensor with a voltage divider circuit, and calibrate your data with an off-the-shelf sensor. This activity shows you how to create your own LabVIEW subVI.
Building a Virtual Thermometer with Go!Temp
This is a good introductory activity to learn the basics of LabVIEW programming with step-by-step programming instructions. Collect and display temperature data in degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit.
Project instructions and downloads coming soon!
Building a Virtual Thermometer with SensorDAQ
This is a good introductory activity to learn the basics of LabVIEW programming with step-by-step programming instructions. Collect and display temperature data in degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit.
Chemistry with Computers Book
Conduct over 30 experiments in thermochemistry, gas laws, acid-base reactions, equilibrium, electrochemistry, electrolytes, states of matter, and more.
Concrete
Graph the hydration cycle of curing concrete and investigate the addition of sugar and salt to the normal mixture.
Conductimetric Titration and Gravimetric Determination of a Precipitate
Measure the equivalence point of a sulfuric acid/barium hydroxide reaction using conductivity values and precipitate mass.
Determining the Mole Ratios in a Chemical Reaction
Determine the stoichiometry of an oxidation-reduction reaction in which the reactants are known but the products are unknown.
EMG and Muscle Strength
Correlate hand grip strength with the electrical activity of a muscle after receiving a visual stimulus.
Project instructions and downloads coming soon!
Evaporation and Intermolecular Attractions
Investigate temperature changes caused by the evaporation of several liquids, and relate the temperature changes to the strength of the intermolecular forces of attraction.
LEGO Chemistry
We built a device to add a dry chemical to a liquid, shake the solution, and then measure the temperature.
Microscale Acid-Base Titration
Determine the molar concentration of two acid solutions (strong and weak) by conducting titrations with a base of known concentration.
Monitor Force Threshold with LED
This project introduces the wiring and programming required to control the SensorDAQ digital output lines programmatically. The project will then demonstrate how to combine sensor input with digital output by monitoring a Dual-Range Force Sensor and turning on an LED if the reading goes above a threshold value.
Monitor Heart Rate with LED
Visually track the status of your heart rate with LEDs wired in an open-drain circuit.
NXT Golf
We wanted to show the science behind the popular computer games which use wireless sensors to sense motion. We used a Vernier Low-g Accelerometer and a LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT connected over Bluetooth to a computer running LabVIEW.
Photodiode Switch
Control the on/off operation of an LED using light level readings from a photodiode.
RC Servo Motor
Learn the basics of pulse-width modulation and control the angular position of a servo motor based on temperature readings.
Solar Cell
Measure the current and voltage of a solar cell to investigate the effect of irradiance angle on the total power output.
Strain Gage Measurement
Create a Wheatstone half-bridge circuit with two strain gages, and measure the strain on an aluminum cantilever beam as a load is applied.
Sun Tracker
Build a single-axis sun tracker to balance a light source between two sensors. This is a good example of a sensor-based control system.
Tea Maker
We decided to build a robot that simplifies the tea brewing process. It does everything short of boiling the water.
Truss Bridges
Investigate the tensile and compressive forces in truss bridge components. Build a truss bridge out of manila file folders and load it to failure.
Vapor Pressure of Liquids
Investigate the relationship between the vapor pressure of a liquid and its environment.
