Robot Mag The World's Leading Robot Source
A new breakout board from Sparkfun allows you to easily integrate a load cell into your next electronics project. The board uses an HC711 IC, and uses a two wire interface (clock and data) for communication. Just connect the amplifier to a microcontroller, such as an Arudino, and callibrate your device to get accurate weight measurements. Sparkfun has already made code available online for working with the HC711 IC, so it’s a great choice for a first load cell project.
The Sparkfun team used the board to create an automatic dog treat dispenser that releases the treats when a dog steps on a board placed over the load cell. But the board could be used for a wide range of projects. For example, imagine a combat robot that altered its behavior based on the weight of a competitor as it rolled on to a sensor in front of it!
You can buy the Load Cell Amplifier – HX711 from Sparkfun for just $9.95.
