Motor Shield with Photoresistors

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

I have been researching some methods to create a dual axis autonomous solar tracker. In my search, I have come across a few small scale models that implemented the Arduino.

I have been reading up on the capabilities, but am far from competent or confident for that matter. My goal is to use photoresistors as the input to move 4 DC motors that will control the tilt of the solar cell.

At this point, I have just received my Arduino Duemilanove and a Motor Shield Kit, which I plan to run my 4 DC motors off of.

The problem I am currently facing is how to incorporate the photoresistors into the Arduino with the Motor Shield. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

2

Take a look at these links, should help you get started!
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Learning/PhotoResistor

And here's another link where (I think) they're doing the same type of project.
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1224541956/9

And also, another good one!
http://arduinofun.com/blog/2009/07/07/arduino-solar-tracking/

Alot of people have implemented this idea into Robots, "Light following robot" So not too hard to implement:D

3

You can always try modifying other objects around you to help perform the task you wish to accomplish...

I did a similar setup, but I used a Roomba:

4

Thanks for the links guys!

Just another quick question. After I solder on the Motor Shield, how can I use the pins?

5

After looking at this website
(Motor Shield - Arduino motor/stepper/servo control), I realize that you can use the analog pins, but I don't know what it means when it says the pins are "broken out in the bottom right corner".