Top 5 Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021

It is around that time of the year, you can try these top 5 Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021 to impress your new friends. We will rate this project base on the criteria listed below.

• Challenge, the chance of someone with not a lot of tools able to reproduce the project.
• Code, the level of complexity.
• Creativity, speak for itself.
• Completement, the stage of the project.

What is an Arduino?

In a nutshell, an Arduino is a Microcontroller that can be used by Makers to design and build devices that interact with the environment. Moreover, Arduinos contains several different parts and interfaces together on a single circuit board.

You can program the Arduino using the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). On top of that, the Arduino IDE is free, open-source software that is written in Java. The software will work on a variety of platforms such as Windows, Mac, etc.

Instructables became that documentation system in 2005, as an in-house project of Squid Labs. For me, Instructables is a great place where I can share my weekend project with the Makers Community. In return, I got inspiration from the projects that are shared on the page. On top of that, most of the project posts on Instructable come with complete detailed steps on how to build the project.

Tabel of Contents

1. 8x8x8 LED Cube
2. Useless Box
3. Shuttle Mission Control Mock-Up for Kids
4. LED Hour Glass
5. Magic Dome

1. 8x8x8 LED Cube

Source: www.instructables.com/How-to-Build-8x8x8-LED-Cube/

Nothing better than an old-school LED Cube project. Don’t underestimate the project since there are thousands of LED Cube project out there. This is one of the best Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021 to impress your professor with your patience and hard works.

This project grade high in the Challenge category since you only require a soldering iron and fairly cheap components. You will need a lot of patience tho, especially, when you need to solder 512 LEDs together correctly and nicely equally space out. This project also grades high in the Code category because one can come up with amazing things with the LED Cube such as hologram-like images, motion pictures, etc. In contrast, the project grade is low on Creativity since you cannot really change much on the design.

Furthermore, there is not a lot to modify to the project idea since it is already an established project. The project also grades low on Completement because without a lot of coding the project could potentially be a LED lamp. On top of that, the incomplete and failure rate on this project is fairly high due to the level of patience that is required.

• Creativity: 2
• Code: 4
• Completement: 1
• Challenge: 5
• Total Score:12

Conclusion

The LED Cube project is great as a beginner project. Firstly, this project helps understanding soldering, basic coding, and more importantly, patience. Secondly, the project is low cost since the majority of the components are electronic parts & general supplies. The Arduino board and other components could be used for other projects. Finally, SmartTronix did a great job explain document all required steps, the patience shown in the final product.

2. Arduino Useless Box

Source: www.instructables.com/Useless-Box-8/

The name of this project speaks for itself, a Useless Box, however, this project is nothing but useless, there is no useless project in my book. The Useless Box Project is also well known in the Makers Community like its cousin LED Cube. This project, however, is a great Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021 to mess with your new friends because they can spend hours trying to turn off the box.

The Useless Box grades high in the Challenge category, the project is a fairly simple part list ( a project enclosure) and assembles process. Don’t let the wood box deter you, a cardboard box or a food container would also work. This project also grades high in the Code category, just like the LED Cube project, you can come up with funny and interesting motion sequences for the project. Where in contrast, the project grade is low in the Creativity category since you cannot really change much on the design. You can add more switches but the idea would be the same since this is already an established project. The project also grades low on the Completement category because without a lot of coding the project could potentially just be a box that turns the switch on and off.

• Creativity: 3
• Code: 4
• Completement: 2
• Challenge: 5
• Total Score:14

Conclusion

The Useless Box Project is another good beginner project, especially for robotic hobbyists. First, the project covers some basic motion control and theory. This lesson is the cornerstone for more complex projects such as humanoid robots, robotic arms, etc. Secondly, the project is very low cost and most of the components could be reused for other projects if plan correctly. Finally, Phoebister did a great job explaining the process of how to design, fabricate and assemble the enclosure.

3. Arduino Shuttle Mission Control Mock-Up for Kids

Source: www.instructables.com/A-Shuttle-Mission-Control-Mock-Up-for-Kids/

This is one of the coolest projects I see over the year, I like switches and flashing lights, and when you add the Space Shuttle then I just completely in adore with this project. The Shuttle Mission Control Mock-Up project is also used as a teaching platform for the young Makers. This is the best Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021 to transform you from a science teacher to a super since teacher.

The Shuttle Mission Control project grades high in the Creativity category, this is such an original idea that it is one of a kind. Moreover, this project also grades high in the Code category because you can program different launch scenarios or different emergencies situation. This really opens up educational opportunities such as train the young one for NASA University. This project grades average in the Completement category since with the most basic version of the code the project is complete. However, this project grade was very low in the Challenge category due to the high number of control switches, the hardware required to build the panel. Finally, most of the components would be hard to recover for other projects and that also affects the grading in the Completement category.

• Creativity: 5
• Code: 5
• Completement: 3
• Challenge: 1
• Total Score:14

Conclusion

In the end, gcall1979 did an amazing job building this project. The Shuttle Mission Control is looking absolutely amazing and the super craftsmanship show. This is not any means a beginner project, you would need a fair amount of tools, knowledge on how to trade a plane, operating power toll, soldering, etc. However, if you are a veteran Maker and looking for a challenging project then this is a project that should be on your To Build List.

4. Arduino LED Hour Glass

Source: www.instructables.com/LED-Hour-Glass/

This is another very creative project, even though the LED Hour Glass is not new in the Maker community. However, this project took the idea to a next level with the wood frame, RBG LED, and motion sensor. Moreover, the project has a lot of potential for applications where this project moves beyond just a project. This project would give your game night a future vibe. Also one of the reasons why this is one of the best Arduino Back-To-School Projects 2021. Once you finish with the project, you also have the best-looking decor.

The LED Hour Glass grades fairly in the creativity in the sense of elevating an established idea to the next level. This is very hard to do as you can see in the LED Cube and Useless Box project was not able to escape its shadow. Furthermore, the project grades fairly in the Complement category since with a basic code the project would work. On top of that, the project grades high in the Challenge category since the parts required for the project are common and require basic power tools. Furthermore, with a little bit of planning the Arduino can be recovered for other projects. In contrast, the project grades low in the Code category since there is not a lot that can be changed to the code.

• Creativity: 4
• Code: 1
• Completement: 5
• Challenge: 5
• Total Score:15

Conclusion

In my opinion, tmckay1.jackson did an excellent job on this project, elevate the LED Hour Glass idea to the next level. This is what I call complete product level, where the project moves to the stage, manufacturing. With a couple of changes, this project has the potential to become an actual product that people would want to buy for a board game, furniture, etc. Finally, this is a perfect project for Maker at any level to tackle and a great gift idea.

5. Magic Dome

Source: www.instructables.com/Magic-Dome/

This is another project that elevates a known idea to the next level, the Magic Dome captures one’s imagination of the futuristic world that we are living in. Furthermore, this project has the potential to integrate into other projects is a big benefit since not a lot of project has this ability.

The Magic Dome grades high in the Creativity category, because the project was able to elevate the LED matrix idea to the next level and also infuse the project with a Sci-Fi vibe. The project grades average in the Completement category since the project needs a fairly complex code or integrates the project with other projects. The Magic Dome grades fairly in the Code category since the project doesn’t really have a lot to offer however, the project open the door when it was able to integrate it with other projects. Finally, the project grades fairly in the Challenge category due to simple parts that can find in local hardware, and the Arduino can be reused for other projects.

• Creativity: 5
• Code: 4
• Completement: 4
• Challenge: 4
• Total Score:17

Conclusion

The Magic Dome is not complicated, however, the project was able to archive a couple of hard things that not any project can do. The project was able to elevate from a simple idea to something that one would never relate to a LED Matric project. On top of that, this project can be integrated with other projects such as your own Google Assistance, Smart House, Robotic, etc. Especially when DomePLL provides detailed instruction to the project and makes it fairly simple to replicate. Moreover, the demonstration video is mesmerizing to be the least.

Recap

The Maker Community has been grown so much at the rate that one can only believe that they are living in the future. These projects are fairly simple one way to another, however, doing these projects right will archive a stunning solution. Furthermore, with the vast information about these projects, you can try to elevate and improve upon them. This was a fun journey, I am looking forward to doing this again.