Project Hub /Audio Displays & Interactive Media/LED Matrix & Cube Displays/LED Controller Using WebSerial

Beginner

INDUSBOARD

₹500 – ₹1,500

3 – 6 Hours

Partial Kit

LED Controller Using WebSerial

An interactive LED controller that allows users to switch LEDs on and off directly from a web browser via a USB connection using the Web Serial API.

Originally published on ElectronicsForU

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

10pcs 5mm RED Diffused Light Emitting Diodes - LEDs Set Rs. 39.00
10pcs - 220 ohm 1/4 W Resistor Set Rs. 39.00
Cable for Arduino Nano (USB 2.0 A to USB 2.0 Mini B) 30cm Rs. 69.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

This list includes a generic resistor set as a placeholder — it is not matched to the exact value or part number this circuit needs. The correct one is specified on the original source page linked above; check it before buying.

We don't carry yet: Other Dev Board (Indusboard / Maixduino / misc)

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How It Works

The LED Controller Using WebSerial system bridges browser-based software and physical hardware by leveraging the IndusBoard Coin microcontroller connected via a USB cable. At the heart of the setup is the Web Serial API, a modern web standard that allows compatible web browsers to communicate directly with serial devices over a USB connection. When a user interacts with the graphical interface in their web browser, specific data commands are transmitted over the serial communication line to the IndusBoard. The microcontroller runs a compiled sketch using the WebSerial library, continuously listening for incoming serial data via its universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) hardware. Upon receiving a designated command byte or string from the browser, the IndusBoard interprets the instruction and alters the digital state of its general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin connected to the external circuit. This circuit consists of a 5mm LED wired in series with a 1k ohm current-limiting resistor. When the microcontroller pin goes HIGH, voltage flows through the 1k ohm resistor—which safely restricts the electrical current to prevent component damage—and lights up the 5mm LED. Conversely, when a turn-off command is sent, the pin drives LOW, cutting off the current and turning the LED off, thus completing a closed-loop interactive hardware interface controlled entirely from a web page.

Why Build This

Bridge software engineering and hardware prototyping by creating custom browser-based graphical interfaces to control physical embedded systems.

Gain practical experience implementing the Web Serial API for bidirectional, low-latency communication between web applications and microcontroller hardware.

Develop foundational skills in microcontroller serial communication and digital output control suitable for undergraduate engineering automation tasks.

Real-World Application

Control home lighting systems remotely via a web browser, manage dynamic LED displays for art projects, and quickly prototype web-controlled hardware interfaces.

Skills You'll Learn

Web Serial API integration

microcontroller serial communication

digital output control

browser-to-hardware interface design

current-limiting resistor calculation

Safety Precautions

No specific precautions noted for this build — always follow general electronics safety practices.

Technology Tags

WEBSERIAL

WEB SERIAL API

ESP32

C++

ARDUINO

HTML

BROWSER INTERFACE

IOT

LEDS

MICROCONTROLLERS

Frequently Asked Questions

Which web browsers support the Web Serial API required for this project?

Browsers based on Chromium, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera, natively support the Web Serial API, whereas browsers like Firefox and Safari do not currently support it by default.

Why is the 1k ohm resistor necessary when connecting the 5mm LED to the IndusBoard?

The resistor limits the electrical current flowing through the circuit from the microcontroller pin, protecting both the LED from burning out and the IndusBoard pin from drawing excessive current.

Can I use this setup to control multiple LEDs or other hardware components?

Yes, by expanding the Arduino sketch to handle additional serial commands and wiring more components to available GPIO pins on the IndusBoard Coin, you can control multiple outputs from the web interface.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

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