Smart Arduino Projects: 10 Hands-On Builds with Shift Registers and Multiplexers for Automation and IoT

Welcome to Smart Arduino Projects: Mastering Microcontrollers and ICs for Automation and IoT! Whether you're a curious beginner, a seasoned hobbyist, or an aspiring engineer, this book is your gateway to building practical, innovative, and downright exciting projects with the Arduino platform. Over the course of ten hands-on projects, you'll transform from a novice tinkering with wires to a confident creator crafting real-world solutions like smart parking systems, LED control panels, and sensor-driven automation setups.
Why Arduino? It's the ultimate playground for makers. Affordable, versatile, and backed by a global community, Arduino empowers you to bring ideas to life with minimal barriers. In this book, we dive deep into the magic of integrated circuits (ICs)—the unsung heroes of electronics like the 74HC4051 multiplexer, 74HC595 shift register, and 74HC165 shift register. These ICs allow you to control complex systems with just a few Arduino pins, unlocking endless possibilities for scalability and efficiency.
Each project in this book is carefully designed to teach you something new while building on the last. From controlling LED matrices (Project 6) to managing eight parking spots with real-time LCD displays (Projects 7-9) and mastering button inputs with PWM-controlled LEDs (Project 10), you'll explore automation, IoT concepts, and smart city applications. Every project includes detailed explanations, pin connection tables, complete code, and practical tips, all tested in Proteus 8 simulations and real hardware. Whether you're aiming to impress at a science fair, prototype a smart city solution, or simply learn how microcontrollers shape our world, these projects are your stepping stones.
This isn't just a book—it's a journey. You'll learn by doing, troubleshoot like a pro, and gain the skills to create your own projects. By the end, you'll not only understand how to wield shift registers and multiplexers but also see the bigger picture: how small circuits can power big ideas. So, grab your Arduino, fire up the Arduino IDE, and let's build something extraordinary together!
Arduino and Multiplexer Projects with the 74HC4051
In this section, we explore how to expand the capabilities of an Arduino UNO by integrating the 74HC4051 multiplexer. This versatile IC allows you to control up to 8 outputs using just a few pins, making it ideal for projects requiring more connections than the Arduino alone can provide. Below are five exciting projects that demonstrate this combination, all simulated using Proteus 8. Each project includes a detailed description, code, and a pin connection table.