ECE 110/120 Honors Lab Section : Smart Breadboard

Problem:

Need to clear breadboard every time when creating a new circuit. Only way to save circuit is to draw out schematic or take a picture.

Difficult to teach circuitry remotely.

Difficult to remotely collaborate on projects involving circuitry.

How the Smart Breadboard works:

Regular breadboard on top, but bottom half has a scanner to determine which breadboard pins are occupied. Scanner sends data to a computer, which creates a virtual map of occupied pins. User can virtually connect activated pins and place components.

Challenges:

1. Configuring scanner to work with microcontroller.

If I can't find a hackable scanner, I will have to build my own using a small camera or photocell

1. Packaging stepper motor, scanner bed assembly, power source, lighting, and wiring in a neat package.
2. Accurately moving scanner by the correct amount of steps for each row or column it moves down while scanning the underside of the breadboard.

Will need to eliminate all play in the lead screw moving the scanner unit, and determine number of steps via trial and error.

Ideas for further expansion:

Bluetooth connectivity for live updates for circuit schematic on computer

StemTera Smart Breadboard: https://stemtera.com/

Integrated Arduino inside breadboard.

Can add extra pins in the outer border around the breadboard, as dedicated Arduino pins (builtin usable Arduino within breadboard)