Whispering Nature Coffee Mug: Arduino Magic for Birdsong Bliss

Transform your coffee breaks into a magical escape with the Arduino Nature Sounds Mug. Dive into this instructable to discover how to blend tech and nature seamlessly. This whimsical creation, powered by Arduino Nano, MPU6050 gyroscope, and DF Player Mini MP3 player, turns your ordinary mug into an extraordinary sensory experience. Follow the steps to design, craft, and relish the soothing symphony of nature, making your daily routine truly extraordinary.

• Arduino Nano: The brain – controls the mug's magic.
• MPU6050 Gyroscope: Detects shakes and tilts.
• DFPlayer Mini MP3 Player: Plays nature sounds from the SD card.
• Speaker: Delivers the enchanting sounds.
• 3.7V Lithium-ion Batteries: Powers up for a wireless experience.
• Voltage Regulator: Ensures a stable power supply.
• Diode and Capacitors: Essential for power filtering.
• Terminal Blocks: Simplifies connections.
• Resistor (1k ohm): Connects Arduino and DFPlayer Mini.
• PCB (Printed Circuit Board): Compact platform for organized connections.
• Coffee Mug: The charming canvas for blending tech and nature.

Sketching the circuit layout on EasyEDA, I strategically placed components for a snug fit inside the coffee mug. Incorporating terminal blocks for speaker connections and power supply, I ensured ample space for the MPU6050 and DFPlayer Mini.

Converting my circuit design into a printed circuit board (PCB), I used EasyEDA for the design. After finalizing, I ordered the PCB from Lion Circuits for professional fabrication.

Connecting components per the PCB layout, I attached the speaker to the terminal block and powered the circuit using two 3.7V batteries regulated by the 7805. Ensuring proper grounding, I connected the DFPlayer Mini to the Arduino.

Uploading the Arduino code, I tweaked track numbers, volume, and sensitivity thresholds to fit my preferences. The code seamlessly integrated MPU6050 readings with DFPlayer Mini commands, enabling playback control based on shakes.

Upon receiving the fabricated PCB, my focus shifted to calibrating MPU6050 values. This involved fine-tuning sensitivity for detecting shakes and adjusting threshold levels to match my desired settings.

The testing phase was crucial to ensure that shakes triggered the desired responses. Fine-tuning both the code and calibration settings was necessary during this phase. With components secured inside the coffee mug and the speaker optimally positioned for sound output.

Shaking the mug vertically became my routine for starting/stopping playback, while horizontal shakes seamlessly switched tracks. The result? An immersive experience of nature's soothing sounds from my Arduino-powered Nature Sounds Mug. Additionally, I initially planned to incorporate a microphone module for audio recording, but later discovered that the DFPlayer does not support this feature, leading me to omit it from the final design.