by polytech

Projects
C-STEAM didactic platform provides a vast number of
STEAM projects that can be implemented, revised,
expanded and diversified to an unlimited number of
STEAM applications using SMART:Blox.
 Projects
How to start buliding a SB project

Create an Algorithm
1. First step in creating an Algorithm is defining the Output: what we
want to have as a result?
2. After that, we define the Input which will be effecting the system.
3. Finally we define the Process Logic by which the system will be
operating.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Through this process students clearly understand:

 The Output Definition
 The Input Definition
 The Logic of the system that we want to build.
 Projects
How to design a project
STEAM APPLICATION EXAMPLE: Engineering
AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGIRATION, COOLING, ENGINE TEMPERATURE CONTROL etc.

EXAMPLE: A THERMOSTAT OPERATION

The thermostat is a controller which will monitor the temperature, and controls different
operations, depending on the set value of temperature and the actual temperature of the
space we are monitoring and control.
The controller is connected to a temperature sensor and depending on the application to i.e
a fan motor, an air-condition compressor, a refrigeration compressor etc.
Actual temperature

30 35
40
25 45

20 50

15
10

FAN MOTOR
THERMOST
AT
Set value of temperature
 Projects
How to design a project
STEAM APPLICATION EXAMPLE: Engineering
AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGIRATION, COOLING, ENGINE TEMPERATURE CONTROL etc.

EXAMPLE: A THERMOSTAT OPERATION

For example, we want to monitor that a temperature in a control space
(box, room, storage etc.) remains 25⁰C degrees.
If it gets hotter, then a fan will cool it down and bring the temperature to lower than 25⁰C
degrees.
When temperature is 25⁰C degrees (or less) then green light is on, when the temperature
is above 25⁰C the red light comes on.

O
N
24
26
25
27
Temperature Co

25

min max
 Projects
How to design a project
STEAM APPLICATION EXAMPLE: Engineering
AIR CONDITIONING, REFRIGIRATION, COOLING, ENGINE TEMPERATURE CONTROL etc.

EXAMPLE: A THERMOSTAT OPERATION

In a controlled temperature environment, we want a monitor system which has:
OUTPUTS : The following operation
 When the temperature is i.e. equal or less than 22 degrees, we want just a Green Led
on (normal operation). GREEN LED is one OUTPUT.
 When its temperature is higher than 22 degrees, we want the
Red Led to alarm us and the fan that cools the system to start operating (cooling
operation). RED LED and FAN MOTOR are two more OUTPUTS.

INPUT: The temperature sensor readings to the system

INPUT OUTPUT 1 OUTPUT 2 OUTPUT 3

TEMPERATURE GREEN LED RED LED FAN MOTOR
T <= 25 C ON OFF OFF
T > 25 C OFF ON ON
 Projects The Algorithm-Flow Chart
What is The OUTPUT

Output
T≤ 22 T> 22
Temp
Temperature GREEN > 22
Equal or Less LIGHT
than 22⁰C ON

GREEN
GREEN LIGHT
LIGHT
Temperature RED ON
OFF
Greater than LIGHT
22⁰C ON
RED RED
AND LIGHT LIGHT
OFF ON

Temperature COOL
FAN
Greater than COOL
ON COOL
22⁰C FAN FAN
OFF ON
 Projects The Algorithm-Flow Chart

What is the INPUT

Temp Temp
≤ 22 >Temp
22
> 22
Then
18
23
22
21
19
GREEN
GREEN LIGHT
LIGHT OFF
ON
INPUT: The temperature sensor
readings to the system
RED RED
LIGHT LIGHT
OFF ON

COOL COOL
FAN FAN
OFF ON
 Projects The Algorithm
What is the LOGIC CONDITION

IF
IF: the temperature is Less Temp NO
or Equal to 22 degrees: ≤ 22

YES
THEN
GREEN
Green Light is ON, GREEN
Red Light is OFF Then LIGHT
ON
Else LIGHT
OFF
Fan Motor is OFF

RED
ELSE RED
LIGHT LIGHT
Green Light is OFF, OFF ON
Red Light is ON
Fan Motor is ON
COOL COOL
FAN FAN
OFF ON
 Projects
Where is my Input?
Input IF
AJS01
Temperature Measurement Temperature
≤ 22 No

We will use the Analog temperature sensor Yes

block (AJS01) to measure the temperature.

The Temperature sensor is an

analog device so it should be
connected to an analog port
of the ARDicon controller
i.e. the A0 port.
 Projects
Where is my Output?
Output
We have 3 outputs for this project:

A. The Green led block– DJX07

The green led is a digital device so it
should be connected to
a digital port i.e. D9.
B. The Red led block- DJX06
The red led is a digital device so it
should be connected to a digital port
i.e. D8.

C. Step motor block- DJX09

The step motor can be used either as analog or digital output.
In this project we use it as digital (on/off) so it should be connected to a digital port i.e. D7.
 Projects
Programming step
Click on the command block .
At the function menu of the Ardicon SB application select the “if/then” function.

In the design of our algorithm we used the

CONDITIONS: IF/THEN or ELSE.
Let’s start designing our program by using these functions.
 Projects
Programming step
If command setup
On “if” block, choose the input,
temperature sensor from the sensor list
by clicking the (+) symbol on the
function and selecting the sensor.

0 The temperature sensor icon will

show up.
Select the port (pin) you have
connected the sensor to (here port 0).
We have connected our sensor
previously to the A0 port, so select
“0” in the pin window.
 Projects
Programming step
Select the ≤ Comparison Operant.
If command setup Click on the range window as many times
as needed until the ≤ symbol appears.

0
≤
 Projects
Programming step

If command setup 0
Select the limit temperature value, ≤ + 22 -
which is 22 degrees, as said before.
Click on the (+) symbol of the value
window until the value 22 is selected on
the block.

We have set the IF function: If temperature reading from the sensor -connected in
port 0, is equal or less than 22……

…Then … lets see what we do next…

 Projects
Programming step
Then command setup
0
The “Then” function is a nested function in the ≤ + -
if function, so you have to move to the second
column, to nest the function.

To do so you have to click on the

Command line.
That moves the command line one step on the
right.

Nοw, we are ready to define the Then function.

Click on the command block to chose

the next function.
THEN
Green Light is ON
Red Light is OFF
According to our Algorithm, the Then
function must control the following: Fan Motor is OFF
 Projects
Programming step
Then command setup 0
Now define the outputs and ≤ 22
their states. The outputs that we
will use are digital (LEDS and
FAN).

When we want as OUTPUT a digital device

+
Digital
i.e. LED, that accepts (reads) digital values (0 2 write
or 1, On or OFF, High or Low) we use the
Digital Write function.

Click on the command line, so the next function you have to call is the “Digital write” on
the function menu and you will get the function block for it.
 Projects
Programming step
Then command setup 9
+
Digital
If temperature ≤ 22 2 write

 Green Light is ON
First output we designed was
Green Light -ON, so lets do that.
OUTPUT Selection
Click on the “output window” of the Digital Write block to select the output and select
GREEN LED. The default state of the selected LED is OFF .
OUTPUT State - On or Off
Click on the green led icon on the block to change its the state from OFF to ON. The LED
default is always in OFF state.
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the Green led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 9 (digital port D9).
Output 1 is set, as the Green LED is ON when temperature reading is ≤ 22.
The green led is connected to Pin 9 of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click
on the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
Programming step
Then command setup 8
+
Digital
If temperature ≤ 22 2 write

RED light is OFF

OUTPUT Selection
Click on the “output window” of the Digital
Write block to select the output and select
RED LED. The default state of the selected
LED is OFF.
OUTPUT State - On or Off
The LED default is always in OFF state, do not change it.
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the red led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 8 (digital port D8).
Output 2 is set, as the RED LED is OFF when temperature reading is ≤ 22.
The green led is connected to Pin 8. of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click
on the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
Programming step
Then command setup 7
+
Digital
If temperature ≤ 22 2 write

FAN motor is OFF

OUTPUT Selection
Click on the “output window” of the Digital
Write block to select the output and select
Step Motor. The default state of the selected
is OFF.
OUTPUT State - On or Off
The motor by default is always in OFF state, do not change it
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the red led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 7 (digital port D7).
Output 2 is set, as the Fan Motor is OFF when temperature reading is NOT ≤ 22.
The green led is connected to Pin 7 of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click
on the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
Programming step Algorithm – flow chart

If
22
T≤ 22

If > then program YES

GREEN
LIGHT
ON

RED
LIGHT
OFF

COOL
FAN
OFF
 Projects
Programming step
If > then> else command setup
IF NO Temp > 22
The next step is to program the else condition. The Temp
Else condition says:
≤ 22
IF temperature is NOT ≤ 22, then we have:
Else
ELSE
Green Light is OFF GREEN
LIGHT
Red Light is ON OFF
Fan Motor is ON
We call the else function after If/Then is RED
completed. Remember that the else LIGHT
function should be at line 1, just as the ON
“if” function is.
When the OUTPUT is a digital device i.e.
LED, that accepts (reads) digital values (0 or 1, COOL
FAN
On or OFF, High or Low) we use the Digital ON
Write function.
 Projects
Programming step
Else command setup 1 else
If temperature is NOT ≤ 22

 Green Light is OFF

9
OUTPUT Selection
+
Digital
2 write
Click on the “output window” of the Digital
Write block to select the output and select
GREEN LED. The default state of the selected
LED is OFF
OUTPUT State - On or Off
The LED default is always in OFF state.
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the Green led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 9 (digital port D9).
Output 1 is set, as the Green LED is OFF when temperature reading is NOT ≤ 22.
The Green led is connected to Pin 9. of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click
on the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
Programming step
Else command setup 1 else
If temperature NOT ≤ 22

RED light is ON
8
OUTPUT Selection
+
Digital
2 write
Click on the “output window” of the Digital
Write block to select the output and select
RED LED. The default state of the selected
LED is OFF .
OUTPUT State - On or Off
Change it to ON.
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the red led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 8 (digital port D8).
Output 2 is set, as the RED LED is ON when temperature reading is NOT ≤ 22.
The Red led is connected to Pin 8. of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click on
the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
Programming step
ELSE command setup 1 else
If temperature NOT ≤ 22

FAN motor is ON 7
+
Digital
2 write
OUTPUT Selection
Click on the “output window” of the Digital
Write block to select the output and select
Step Motor. The default state of the selected
is OFF.
OUTPUT State - On or Off
The motor by default is always in OFF state, change it to ON.
OUTPUT pin – ARDicon port
Click on the pin window to select the port you have connected the red led In our circuit
connection, we selected Pin 7 (digital port D7).
Output 2 is set, as the FAN motor is ON when temperature reading is NOT ≤ 22.
The Fan motor is connected to Pin 7 of the ARDicon controller. Now, set the next output, click
on the Command block, for the new Digital Write command.
 Projects
The Results
After you have completed the programming
step of the input and output devices of the
project, click “Generate” on the top
of the screen to generate the code to the
software.

After a few seconds click “Upload”

to load the program to the
ARDicon controller. Now the project is
completed.

If the temperature rises higher than 22oC

degrees then you can observe the red led and
the fan turning ON until the temperature falls
under 22oC.
 Projects

Temp sensor
Fan Motor

To test your project with real signals and devices all you have
to do is:

1. Take a low cost, plastic toy set of building blocks.

2. Build the Project structure, i.e just like a simple

closed room with detachable roof.
3. Install the SMART:Blox devices to the proper
points of your design.

4. Connect them using the UTP cables to the

ARDicon controller.