Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This tutorial explains how you can use infrared devices together with an Arduino to create cool escape room puzzles and effects.
Infrared is a cheap, easy, and widespread technology - no doubt you already have many devices in your home with IR remote controls. Using a simple Arduino with an IR LED and an IR receiver, I'll show you how you can clone the behaviour of any of those devices and harness IR messaging to make a prop that reacts to any existing infrared controller, or learns and broadcasts an IR message which it then broadcasts to other devices.
If you imagine a network of similar devices, all communicating with each other, invisibly and silently, I'm sure you can think of many fun applications in an escape room setting: from IR LED-tipped magic wands that trigger different effects around the room, to lanterns which light up/go out when in the presence of an IR beacon, or an IR "shooting gallery".
In this video, I describe two different projects to demonstrate these concepts, which could fit in two very different escape room themes - a TV channel changing puzzle, and some "Haunted" candles, though I hope to also explain the concepts that will enable you to extend these to many more ideas.
00:00 - 01:32 : Introduction and demonstration of IR LED transmission
01:33 - 03:57 : Visualisation of pattern detected by IR receiver
IR Project #1 - TV Channel Changer
03:58 - 07:14 : Introduction and Demonstration
07:15 - 09:13 : Components and Wiring
09:14 - 29:45 : Arduino Code
IR Project #2 - Magic Candles
29:46 - 31:56 : Introduction and Demonstration
34:57 - 40:42 : Components and Wiring
40:43 - 51:10 : Arduino Code
51:11 - 53:14 : Wrapup
This tutorial has been created with the generous support of my lovely Patreons. If you'd like to download the code listings, wiring diagrams, or list of materials I used in this video, please head over to my Patreon page where you can find the resources to accompany this and all my other ER tech projects: patreon.com/playfultech
This tutorial explains how you can use infrared devices together with an Arduino to create cool escape room puzzles and effects.
Infrared is a cheap, easy, and widespread technology - no doubt you already have many devices in your home with IR remote controls. Using a simple Arduino with an IR LED and an IR receiver, I'll show you how you can clone the behaviour of any of those devices and harness IR messaging to make a prop that reacts to any existing infrared controller, or learns and broadcasts an IR message which it then broadcasts to other devices.
If you imagine a network of similar devices, all communicating with each other, invisibly and silently, I'm sure you can think of many fun applications in an escape room setting: from IR LED-tipped magic wands that trigger different effects around the room, to lanterns which light up/go out when in the presence of an IR beacon, or an IR "shooting gallery".
In this video, I describe two different projects to demonstrate these concepts, which could fit in two very different escape room themes - a TV channel changing puzzle, and some "Haunted" candles, though I hope to also explain the concepts that will enable you to extend these to many more ideas.
00:00 - 01:32 : Introduction and demonstration of IR LED transmission
01:33 - 03:57 : Visualisation of pattern detected by IR receiver
IR Project #1 - TV Channel Changer
03:58 - 07:14 : Introduction and Demonstration
07:15 - 09:13 : Components and Wiring
09:14 - 29:45 : Arduino Code
IR Project #2 - Magic Candles
29:46 - 31:56 : Introduction and Demonstration
34:57 - 40:42 : Components and Wiring
40:43 - 51:10 : Arduino Code
51:11 - 53:14 : Wrapup
This tutorial has been created with the generous support of my lovely Patreons. If you'd like to download the code listings, wiring diagrams, or list of materials I used in this video, please head over to my Patreon page where you can find the resources to accompany this and all my other ER tech projects: patreon.com/playfultech
