Phase 1: May – July 2025 | Get Started with Arduino
Goal: Understand the basics of Arduino, sensors, and simple
programming.
Step-by-Step Plan
1. Get Your Kit
• Buy an Arduino UNO starter kit (recommended brands: Elegoo, Funduino, or official
Arduino).
• Ensure it includes: breadboard, jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, buzzer, ultrasonic
sensor, LDR, IR sensor, servo motor.
2. Set Up Arduino IDE
• Download: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software
• Connect Arduino via USB.
• Upload the "Blink" example sketch (preloaded in IDE).
3. Follow Video Tutorials (in order):
• Search on YouTube: Paul McWhorter Arduino Tutorial Series or Programming
Electronics Academy
• Watch & replicate these tutorials (1–2 per week):
1. Blink an LED
2. Button-controlled LED
3. Fading LED with PWM
4. Ultrasonic sensor for distance
5. LDR sensor for light detection
6. Buzzer alarm for motion detection
7. Servo motor control
4. Your First Mini Project
• Obstacle Detection Buzzer
o Components: Arduino UNO, ultrasonic sensor, buzzer, breadboard, jumper
wires.
o Logic: If distance < 10cm → buzzer ON.
o Learn: how to use digitalWrite(), analogRead(), Serial.begin(),
delay()
5. Weekly Practice Plan
• 3–4 sessions per week (30–60 min)
• Keep a notebook or Google Doc for:
o What you tried
o Errors you faced
o What you learned
Phase 2: Aug – Sep 2025 | Build & Document a Real
Project
Goal: Build your first full project and showcase it on your personal
website.
1. Choose a Project
Pick one that matches your interest:
• Obstacle-Avoiding Robot (Arduino + ultrasonic sensor + motor driver + wheels)
• Smart Lamp (turns on in the dark using LDR)
• IR Remote-Controlled Car
2. Step-by-Step Build Example: Obstacle-Avoiding Robot
• Components: Arduino UNO, Ultrasonic sensor (HC-SR04), Motor driver (L298N), 2
DC motors with wheels, 9V battery
• Connections:
o Ultrasonic → Digital Pins (e.g. 7, 8)
o L298N → Motor A/B & Arduino power pins
• Code Logic:
o If distance > 15 cm → move forward
o Else → stop and turn
• Enhance: Add buzzer, LED indicators, or a display.
3. Document It
• Take photos while building.
• Record a short video of the robot working.
• Write a short blog post (what you made, how it works, challenges).
• Upload to Google Sites or Wix website.
Phase 3: Oct – Dec 2025 | Polish + Participate
Goal: Improve your existing project and present it to the world.
1. Improve Your Robot
• Add a Bluetooth module (HC-05): control with your phone.
• Replace DC motors with servo motors for better control.
• Make it solar-powered or battery-charging.
2. Join Competitions
• Ask school to enter it in:
o Science exhibition
o Robotics contest
o Online Arduino contests (try Instructables.com)
3. Learn New Concepts
• Intro to IoT with ESP8266 or Blynk app.
• Read sensor data on your phone.
• Project idea: Room temperature monitor that logs data online.
Phase 4: Jan – Mar 2026 | Advanced Space-Themed
Project
Goal: Build a project that links to aerospace/space tech.
Project Ideas & How to Build:
✅ 1. Satellite Tracker
• Use GPS + compass sensor + OLED display.
• Show simulated satellite movement over coordinates.
✅ 2. Rocket Launch Controller
• Simulate rocket ignition with safety switches, countdown, buzzer & LED ignition.
• Add pressure/temperature sensor for realism.
✅ 3. Weather Balloon Logger
• Record altitude, temp, humidity (BMP280 or DHT11 sensor).
• Save data to SD card using SD card module.
Phase 5: Apr – Jul 2026 | Submit & Showcase
Goal: Finalize best project and submit it to global contests.
Actions:
1. Improve code (optimize, comment well)
2. Record a YouTube video demo
3. Write a technical report or PDF presentation
4. Submit to:
o Google Science Fair
o Coolest Projects
o Arduino Project Hub
Resources
Type Source
Courses Udemy - “Arduino Bootcamp”
Videos Paul McWhorter, Programming Academy
Community Reddit: r/arduino, Arduino forums
Project Ideas https://projecthub.arduino.cc/
Website Maker Google Sites, Wix
Overall Goals for Phase 1 (July – August)
• Build strong foundation in Python, Arduino, and SAT
• Launch personal branding (journal, website, GitHub)
• Create early technical projects (Rover, Quiz App)
• Gain creative skills (video editing, graphic design)
• Begin outreach to professors/mentors
Arduino Daily Plan (July 9–31)
WEEK 1 – July 9–14: Blinking, Buttons, Breadboard Basics
Date Episode Title Task
July 9 Ep. 2 Blink LED Upload "Blink" sketch, change delays, test
July 10 Ep. 3 Install Libraries Explore library manager (optional)
July 11 Ep. 4 Breadboard Basics Build Blink on breadboard
July 12 Ep. 5 Button to control LED Build button + LED circuit
July 13 Ep. 6 Digital Input/Output Add second button, modify code
July 14 Ep. 7 LED + Button Combo Test combining inputs/outputs
✅ By end of week:
• LED blinks with button
• Document: How buttons work, digitalRead(), digitalWrite()
WEEK 2 – July 15–21: PWM, Servo, Buzzers, Sensors
Date Episode Title Task
July 15 Ep. 8 Fading LED (PWM) analogWrite() fading LED
July 16 Ep. 10 Servo Motor Rotate servo with servo.write()
July 17 Ep. 13 LDR Light Sensor Read light with analogRead()
July 18 Ep. 17 Ultrasonic Sensor Measure distance with HC-SR04
July 19 Ep. 18 Buzzer Alarm Trigger buzzer on motion
July 20 - Combine: Mini project If distance <10cm → Buzzer ON
July 21 - Journal + Video Record video, write blog entry
✅ By end of week:
• Servo, buzzer, ultrasonic sensor working
• One working mini-project: Obstacle Detector
• Document: delay(), Serial.begin(), if-else logic
WEEK 3 – July 22–28: Memory Builds + Polish
Date Task Description
July 22 Rebuild LED + Button from memory No tutorial, only from mind
July 23 Rebuild Ultrasonic + Buzzer Test recall and logic
July 24 Build LDR + Servo Light Tracker If dark → servo moves
July 25 Explore combining 3+ components Mini fusion circuit
July 26 Document learnings (in Google Doc) What worked, what failed
July 27 Organize hardware neatly Tidy workspace, label components
July 28 Reflect + review tutorials Watch 1–2 skipped videos if needed
✅ By end of week:
• You can build 2–3 circuits without tutorials
• Full notes on sensors & actuators
WEEK 4 – July 29–31: Wrap-Up & Phase 2 Prep
Date Task Description
July
Watch robot demo (Obstacle Avoider) Understand Phase 2 goal
29
July Make parts list for Obstacle-Avoiding
Arduino, motor driver, wheels
30 Robot
Date Task Description
July "What I learned in July" + plan for
Final Journal Entry
31 August
