YKR038 COURSE · MODULE 4 · LESSON 28

Detect Vibration and Tilt

Turn movement or vibration into a clean digital event.

25 minComplete beginnerSensors & Detection
BUILD WITHVibration or tilt sensor
PROGRAMESP32
ACHIEVEA deliberate movement produces one stable…
Written for complete beginners

Follow the numbered steps in order. Do not connect USB power until the wiring step tells you to. Compare every pin label before continuing.

LESSON GOAL

What you will build and learn

In this lesson, you will learn mechanical switching and event filtering. By the end, a deliberate movement produces one stable event.

  • Recognize the purpose of each required part.
  • Make the connections in a safe, repeatable order.
  • Upload or run the lesson procedure and verify the expected result.
  • Use observable evidence to fix common problems.
Real YKR038 wiring photo reserved

A close, labeled photograph of this exact experiment will be added here. Until then, use the written pin-by-pin connection list below.

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Build the experiment

1

Understand the target result

Turn movement or vibration into a clean digital event. The expected result is: A deliberate movement produces one stable event.

2

Prepare the board and parts

Disconnect the ESP32 from USB. Put the ESP32, breadboard, jumper wires, and the listed lesson parts in front of you. Straighten bent pins gently and never force a module into the breadboard.

3

Make each connection with power off

  1. Sensor VCC → the voltage printed on the module (use 3.3V when supported).
  2. Sensor GND → ESP32 GND.
  3. Sensor digital output DO/OUT → GPIO 27.

Power check: confirm that no 5V signal goes directly into an ESP32 GPIO and that 3.3V is not connected to GND.

4

Install any library and upload the code

No additional Arduino library is required for this starter sketch. Select your ESP32 board and serial port before clicking Upload.

Arduino sketchCheck the pin constants against your wiring
const int SENSOR = 27, LED = 23;
void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); pinMode(SENSOR, INPUT); pinMode(LED, OUTPUT); }
void loop() {
  bool detected = digitalRead(SENSOR);
  digitalWrite(LED, detected);
  Serial.println(detected ? "DETECTED" : "CLEAR");
  delay(100);
}
5

Power the circuit and observe

Connect USB power only after the wiring check. Open Serial Monitor at 115200 baud when the sketch prints data. Watch the circuit for at least 20 seconds and compare it with this expected behavior: A deliberate movement produces one stable event.

6

Change one value and test again

Make one small change—such as a delay, threshold, brightness, or displayed message—then upload again. This confirms that you understand which part of the program controls the result.

WHY IT WORKS

The key idea

This experiment demonstrates mechanical switching and event filtering. The ESP32 repeatedly reads or updates the connected hardware, applies the program logic, and produces the observable result. Changing one input or one code value helps you see that relationship directly.

Input or instructionESP32 logicMeasured result or output

TROUBLESHOOTING

If the experiment does not work

Nothing powers on

Disconnect USB. Check the USB cable, 3.3V/5V selection, GND rail, and breadboard row placement.

Upload fails

Confirm the board and port. Close other serial programs, reconnect USB, and hold BOOT only if your board requires it.

Result is unstable

Shorten jumper wires, confirm a shared ground, and verify that input pins are not floating.

Lesson-specific check

Debounce vibration contacts just like a push button.

VIDEO WALKTHROUGH

Hands-on lesson video reserved

The final video will show the real YKR038 parts, every wire connection, the upload process, and the expected result.