Track the Sun

Our first attempt at understanding and exploring the world of Heliotropes. For this second project, out goal was to create a mechanism, or a thing, which tracks a light sources using LDR light depending sensors, arduino, and servo motors on dual axes. After a few arduino tutorials the prior week, we were to build upon the knowledge gathered and alter it to complete the assignment.

The Task (according to our profs):

"Your team's task is to design, build, program, and test a device that tracks a light source (a handheld flashlight). This system should operate on dual axes and be active. Ideally it should be capable of:

• tracking the light horizontally
• tracking the light vertically
• indicating when it is in alignment with the light

For our specific design, we used two servo motors to accomplish the dual axes; one rotates what could be considered the stem, around on the base in the horizontal direction, while the second is affixed near the head (or perhaps flower, if you want) in order to rotate in the vertical direction. In addition, I believe six LDR's were used; two of which to correspond with the horizontal rotation, two of which correspond to the vertical rotation, and the final two are the center points. These central LDR's were added to help indicate the direct alignment with the light source. When the light shines on these two centrally located LDR's a couple LED's light up inside of the base, which is concealing majority of the electronics and wiring to create a cleaner final product.

I want to thank Damien for taking some great photographs of our model/project which you can find on this page at the top and of course thank you to John Marshall for documenting the presentations for our own viewing pleasure

Flashlight Tracker from John Marshall on Vimeo.