Arduino Workshop, 2nd Edition

17 Infrared Remote Control

In this chapter you will

• Create and test a simple infrared receiver
• Remotely control Arduino digital output pins
• Add a remote control system to the robot vehicle we created in Chapter 14

As you’ll see, with the addition of an inexpensive receiver module, your Arduino can receive the signals from an infrared remote and act upon them.

What Is Infrared?

Many people use infrared remote controls in a variety of daily actions, and most don’t know how they work. Infrared (IR) signals are beams of light at a wavelength that cannot be seen by the naked eye. So when you look at the little LED poking out of a remote control and press a button, you won’t see the LED light up.

That’s because IR remote controls contain one ...