Shock And Vibration Detector
Shock And Vibration Detector
Last revision • 25/06/2025

HARDWARE REQUIRED:

  • PICUNO Microcontroller board
  • 1 × HW-513 Shock sensor module
  • 1 × HW-480 Two-colour LED Module
  • 2 × 220Ω resistors (for current-limiting)
  • Jumper wires
  • USB cable

DESCRIPTION:

The Shock sensor module contains a very small percussive spring mechanism that is sensitive to sudden movements. When the module is shaken, the conductive spring within the sensor will move, resulting in a HIGH (1) signal being sent to the Arduino, and the LED module will switch to a red colour. When no vibration is detected, the sensor module will send back a LOW (0) signal, resulting in the LED module displaying a green colour (its default state).

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

Shock And Vibration Detector
  • Connect the Shock sensor's VCC (+) pin to 5V.
  • Connect the Shock sensor's GND (-) pin to GND.
  • Connect the Shock sensor's Signal (S) pin to GPIO 8.
  • Two-Colour LED Module:
    • Connect the GND (-) pin to GND pin on board.
    • Connect the Red LED (R) pin to one end of 220Ω resistor and the other end of resistor to GPIO 9.
    • Connect the Green LED (G) pin to one end of 220Ω resistor and the other end of resistor to GPIO 10.

SCHEMATIC:

Shock Sensor Module:

VCC / (+) → 5V

GND / (-) → GND

Signal (S) → GPIO 8

Two-Colour LED Module:

GND / (-) → GND

Red LED Pin (R) → GPIO 9

Green LED (G) Pin → GPIO 10

CODE -- C:

const int SHOCK_SENSOR_PIN = 8;
const int RED_LED_PIN = 9;
const int GREEN_LED_PIN = 10;

int lastShockState = LOW;

void setup() {
  pinMode(SHOCK_SENSOR_PIN, INPUT);
  pinMode(GREEN_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RED_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

  digitalWrite(GREEN_LED_PIN, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, LOW);

  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Shock Detector Armed. System Stable.");
}

void loop() {
  int currentShockState = digitalRead(SHOCK_SENSOR_PIN);

  if (currentShockState != lastShockState) {
    if (currentShockState == HIGH) {
      // SHOCK DETECTED
      digitalWrite(GREEN_LED_PIN, LOW);
      digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, HIGH);
      Serial.println("VIBRATION DETECTED!");
    } else {
      // NO SHOCK
      digitalWrite(GREEN_LED_PIN, HIGH);
      digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, LOW);
      Serial.println("System Stable.");
    }
    // Update the last state
    lastShockState = currentShockState;
  }
  delay(50);
}
pinMode() - Configures the microcontroller's pins. INPUT for the sensor to receive data, and OUTPUT for the LEDs to send data.

digitalRead() - Reads the digital signal (either HIGH or LOW) from the shock sensor's D0 pin.

digitalWrite() - Sends a HIGH (on) or LOW (off) signal to a pin, which turns the corresponding LED color on or off.

if (currentShockState != lastShockState) - This logic makes the code more efficient, as it only changes the LEDs and prints a message when the sensor's state actually flips, rather than every single time the loop runs.

CODE -- PYTHON:

from machine import Pin
import time

shock_sensor = Pin(8, Pin.IN)
red_led = Pin(9, Pin.OUT)
green_led = Pin(10, Pin.OUT)

last_state = 0

green_led.high() # Turn green on
red_led.low() # Turn red off
print("Shock Detector Armed. System Stable.")

while True:
    current_state = shock_sensor.value()

    if current_state != last_state:
        if current_state == 1:
            # SHOCK DETECTED
            green_led.low()
            red_led.high()
            print("VIBRATION DETECTED!")
        else:
            # NO SHOCK
            green_led.high()
            red_led.low()
            print("System Stable.")
        
        last_state = current_state

    time.sleep_ms(50)
Pin(8, Pin.IN) - Creates a Pin object for the sensor, configured as a digital input.

Pin(9, Pin.OUT) - Creates Pin objects for the LEDs, configured as digital outputs.

shock_sensor.value() - Reads the current digital value from the sensor pin, returning 1 for HIGH or 0 for LOW.

.high() / .low() - A simple way to turn a Pin object on (HIGH) or off (LOW).