14 Sensor Control Projects with LabPro

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.

Acidity Tester

Acidity Tester

We built a robot to sort a set of beakers into "acidic" and "safe" liquids.

Advanced Chemistry with Vernier Book

Advanced Chemistry with Vernier Book

Investigate 35 advanced chemistry topics, including mole ratios, enthalpy, buffers, concentrations, vapor pressure, radiation shielding, electroplating, chromatography, and more.

Air Compressor

Air Compressor

We built a pneumatic pump and switch.

Coming Soon

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

Aquarium

We built a device to test three properties of water in an aquarium: conductivity, pH, and dissolved oxygen.

Balancer

Balancer

We built a device to automatically balance a horizontal beam as weights are added to either end.

Battery Tester

Battery Tester

We built a device to test the current flow through a battery as it lights up a lamp.

Beer's Law

Beer's Law

Determine the concentration of an unknown copper sulfate solution.

Blind Student Assistant

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

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 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.

Coming Soon

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

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

Chemistry with Computers Book

Conduct over 30 experiments in thermochemistry, gas laws, acid-base reactions, equilibrium, electrochemistry, electrolytes, states of matter, and more.

Compass

Compass

We built a robot to detect the earth's magnetic field and head true north or south.

Concrete

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

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

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.

Coming Soon

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

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

LEGO Chemistry

We built a device to add a dry chemical to a liquid, shake the solution, and then measure the temperature.

Leveler

Leveler

We built a robot to carry a cup of water up and down hills without spilling it.

Magnet Finder

Magnet Finder

We built a robot to detect a magnet hidden under one of three walnut shells.

Microscale Acid-Base Titration

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

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

Monitor Heart Rate with LED

Visually track the status of your heart rate with LEDs wired in an open-drain circuit.

NXT Golf

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

Photodiode Switch

Control the on/off operation of an LED using light level readings from a photodiode.

Pit Viper

Pit Viper

We made a snake robot that uses two surface temperature sensors to detect its prey.

Plant Waterer

Plant Waterer

We built a device to automatically water houseplants when the soil becomes too dry.

RC Servo Motor

RC Servo Motor

Learn the basics of pulse-width modulation and control the angular position of a servo motor based on temperature readings.

Salinity Adjuster

Salinity Adjuster

We built a device to increase the salt content of a solution.

Solar Cell

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

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

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

Tea Maker

We decided to build a robot that simplifies the tea brewing process. It does everything short of boiling the water.

Truss Bridges

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.

UV

UV

We built a robot to study the UV absorption of various sunscreens.

Vapor Pressure of Liquids

Vapor Pressure of Liquids

Investigate the relationship between the vapor pressure of a liquid and its environment.

See Projects for Other Disciplines

Vernier Software & Technology Project Lead the Way LEGO Education NI LabVIEW National Instruments The Center for Engineering Education Outreach
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