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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 9 - 12

Build a Light Detector Inspired by Space Communications

A photo showing a small electronics breadboard setup inside a green plastic case. The breadboard has several components inserted: three LEDs, a small circular sensor, resistors, and multiple jumper wires connecting the components to the underlying circuit board.Three-panel photo showing a breadboard circuit with LEDs and a light sensor in different states of operation.

Students design, build, and program a device that detects and measures light from multiple sources. Using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit different wavelengths of light (such as infrared, visible, and ultraviolet), students develop code that enables their device to selectively identify and respond only to the wavelength containing the desired information. Through iterative testing and refinement, students integrate programming, electronics, and optics to create a functional sensing system. This activity models real-world challenges in optical communication and remote sensing, helping students explore how engineers design systems to transmit and detect information using electromagnetic radiation.

Electrical and computer engineers design and program integrated hardware–software systems that use light to transmit, detect, and process information. They combine electronics, coding, and knowledge of electromagnetic radiation to create devices capable of distinguishing among different wavelengths of light and responding accurately in real time. Their work is critical in fields such as telecommunications, medical imaging, environmental monitoring, robotics, and space exploration, where precise detection and interpretation of light signals drive technological innovation and scientific discovery.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Write, test, and debug code that controls hardware components, including LEDs, sensors, and output devices.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of electromagnetic radiation and light wavelengths by designing a system that selectively detects and distinguishes between infrared (IR), visible, and ultraviolet (UV) light.
  • Use data from sensors to make informed design decisions, including setting detection thresholds, analyzing sensor outputs, and iteratively refining code and hardware configurations.

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