Turn Knob Sets Night Light Threshold

Code

The code in the editor below is ready to run! Plug Buzz in to your computer's USB port with the cable and hit 'Upload Your Code!' to see what it does. Change something in the code, like a delay or pin number. Try to add something new to the program - it's yours to tinker with! You can always press the 'Restore' button to return the code to the working example.

//Use the turn knob to adjust the threshold where Buzz's light-sensitive wing pixels come on #include "LEDStrip.h" //The LEDStrip.h library gives your code access to special functions exclusive to the LED Pixels LEDStrip wings = LEDStrip(16, A4, A5); //Set up the pixels by defining how many pixels (16) and where it's connected to Buzz (always A4 and A5) void setup() { pinMode(A1,INPUT); //light sensor pinMode(A0,INPUT); //turn knob } void loop(){ int lightReading = analogRead(A1); int knobReading = analogRead(A0); if(lightReading < knobReading){ //if the light sensor sees less light than where the knob is set wings.setPixel(wings.ALL,200); //turn on all Buzz's pixels to a color of 200 wings.draw(); //send the setPixel data to the wings. } else{ //otherwise if the light reading is not less than knob reading wings.clear(); //turn off all of the pixels wings.draw(); } } // (c) 2023 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense

Walkthrough Video

Watch the video for a line-by-line explanation of how the example program works. Then you'll be ready to make some changes of your own!

Buzz’s LED Pixel Color Spectrum

Use this spectrum to estimate the color values you'll need for your 'setPixel' arguments to achieve your favorite color!

Challenges

Can you complete the challenges? Change the code in your code editor above. Upload your code to see the effect when you're finished. Complete a challenge? Check it off the list!

Change the color of the pixels.

Can you create a two-threshold nightlight so that the lights don't flicker as you get closer to the threshold? You can refer to the project in chapter 3 where we did something similar. Hint: you'll need another condition in the loop that uses something like "if lightReading > knobReading + 50..."

Concepts

These are the new code concepts covered in this example program. To become a great coder, read through these concepts to learn new vocabulary.

Quiz

If you're having trouble, try to run an experimental program or look at the example code to help you find the answer.

1. Which syntax ends the entire 'void loop' function?

semicolon ;
parentheses )
closing curly brace }

2. Which syntax ends a single code command?

semicolon ;
closing curly brace }
period .

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