Sea Voyage
Robo Explorers 2
Blue Elixir Board
What is The Blue Elixer Board?
The Blue Elixir Board, is no ordinary board—it was a futuristic creation, built with advanced sensors and powerful components. It had the ability to control the waves, read the patterns of the sea, and even let Nova and friends glide across the water like a shooting star in the night sky.
Would it reclaim the power to run freely on the sea and control the waves? Only time would tell… but one thing was certain—Nova and friend's adventure was just beginning.
Components of The Blue Elixer Board
The Blue Elixir PCB Board is a sophisticated electronic control system designed for Nova’s ability to interact with the ocean. This board is equipped with various sensors, actuators, and display components that allow it to sense, process, and respond to environmental conditions in real time.
At the core of the board is an Arduino Nano, a compact and powerful microcontroller that serves as the brain of the system. It processes data from multiple sensors and controls the actuators to execute commands efficiently.
The board includes the following key components:
Ultrasonic Sensor – This sensor measures the distance to objects or obstacles, allowing Nova to detect waves, avoid obstacles, and navigate efficiently.
DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor – This sensor provides real-time temperature and humidity readings, essential for monitoring environmental conditions over the ocean.
5 LEDs – These LEDs serve as status indicators, signaling different modes, warnings, and operational states of the board.
OLED Display – A small, yet high-resolution display that shows real-time sensor data, system status, and other important information.
Servo Motor – This motor allows mechanical movement, enabling Nova to interact with the environment, adjust components, or control small mechanisms as needed.
Each of these components plays a critical role in the functionality of the Blue Elixir Board. In the upcoming chapters, we will explore each of these components in detail, understanding how they work and contribute to the overall system.
Understanding the Schematic of the Blue Elixir PCB Board
The schematic represents the circuit design of the Blue Elixir PCB, which integrates various sensors, actuators, and indicators with an Arduino Nano as the central controller. Below is an analysis of the key components and their connections:
1. Microcontroller Unit: Arduino Nano
The Arduino Nano is at the heart of the circuit.
It provides multiple I/O (input/output) pins to interface with different components.
Power is supplied via the VCC and GND pins, ensuring stable operation.
Communication with external components happens through digital, analog, and serial interfaces.
2. Sensor Interfaces
The schematic includes multiple sensors, each connected to the Arduino Nano:
a) Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)
The ultrasonic sensor is used for distance measurement.
It is connected to the Arduino via:
VCC & GND for power.
Trigger (TRIG) Pin (D10) – Sends ultrasonic pulses.
Echo (ECHO) Pin (D12) – Receives the reflected signal and calculates distance.
b) DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor
The DHT11 sensor measures temperature and humidity.
It is connected as follows:
VCC & GND – Power supply.
Data Pin (D11) – Communicates temperature and humidity readings to the Arduino.
3. Output Components
The schematic includes multiple output devices for interaction:
a) LED Indicators (5 LEDs)
Five LEDs are connected to separate digital pins via current-limiting resistors.
Used for status indication (e.g., different system states).
Connected as follows:
LED 1 → D4
LED 2 → D5
LED 3 → D6
LED 4 → D7
LED 5 → D8
b) OLED Display (SSD1306)
The OLED display is used to show real-time sensor data and system information.
It communicates with the Arduino via the I2C protocol (SDA & SCL lines).
OLED Reset Pin = -1, meaning no hardware reset is used.
c) Servo Motor
A servo motor is included in the design for mechanical movement and interaction.
It is connected to PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Pin D9 for precise control.
The servo enables dynamic adjustments based on sensor feedback.
Blue Elixer Board Layout
The Blue Elixir PCB Board is a well-integrated system that combines sensing, data display, and mechanical control. Each component is carefully wired to the Arduino Nano, allowing real-time interaction with the environment.
In the next steps, we will analyze each module in detail, including its working principles, programming, and real-world applications.