Source: https://mokxi.com/teachers/plans/build-load-cell-pedals Updated: 2026-11-11 Lesson plan # Build load cell pedals lesson plan Sim racing pedals on a Pro Micro in three short lessons: a load cell brake on an HX711, a hall throttle and a pot clutch, and the curve that makes it feel right. 2 chapters, 3 lessons, about 1 hours, on the SparkFun Pro Micro. Every lesson runs in the browser, with nothing to install. Start a class from this course The unit ## Objectives and materials ### By the end, students can - A brake that weighs your push, and two pedals that measure travel. - A curve, a deadzone and a report that does not chatter. ### Materials for the whole unit - Full-size breadboard - Hall sensor, 49E linear - Load cell with HX711 - Potentiometer - SparkFun Pro Micro Every part is already on the simulator’s bench, so there is nothing to buy or hand out. The counts are the most any one lesson uses, if you build it on real breadboards too. Chapter 1. About 40 min ## Force and position A brake that weighs your push, and two pedals that measure travel. Lesson | Time | What students do A brake that measures force A beam load cell on an HX711: why a brake should read how hard you push rather than how far, taring at start-up, and counts per kilogram. | 20 min - Run it - Push the brake - Counts per kilogram - Full brake Throttle and clutch A hall sensor throttle and a pot clutch: calibrating two readings into a full 0 to 1023, with a little dead travel at each end. | 20 min - A magnet on the throttle - Two calibration readings - The clutch - Dead travel at each end ### Materials - Full-size breadboard - Hall sensor, 49E linear - Load cell with HX711 - Potentiometer - SparkFun Pro Micro ### Check for understanding Each student finishes "Throttle and clutch" on their own, without opening the hints. The simulator checks 4 of its 4 steps as they go. Then ask each one to explain, in a sentence or two, the last thing it asked of them: "Dead travel at each end". Chapter 2. About 20 min ## The feel A curve, a deadzone and a report that does not chatter. Lesson | Time | What students do The brake curve and the report Shape the brake with a curve and a deadzone, keep load cell noise out of the report, and know what changes on a real Pro Micro. | 20 min - A progressive brake - A resting foot - Noise and the report - On a real Pro Micro ### Materials - Full-size breadboard - Hall sensor, 49E linear - Load cell with HX711 - Potentiometer - SparkFun Pro Micro ### Check for understanding Each student finishes "The brake curve and the report" on their own, without opening the hints. The simulator checks 4 of its 4 steps as they go. Then ask each one to explain, in a sentence or two, the last thing it asked of them: "On a real Pro Micro". Your class ## Teach this unit as a class Start a class from this course and its 3 lessons are assigned in one go, in order. Students join with a six-character code or printed login cards, and each one’s work comes back to you. The class tools are free for 30 days for one class of up to 20 students, with no card. The lessons themselves are free either way. Start a class from this course See the demo class More units ## Other lesson plans Electronics basics 20 lessons, about 10 h. Embedded on the Arduino Uno 16 lessons, about 12 h. Embedded on the ESP32-C3 13 lessons, about 11 h. Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico 7 lessons, about 6 h. Build your own fight stick 5 lessons, about 4 h. Embedded on the STM32F411 6 lessons, about 6 h. C++ on a board 13 lessons, about 10 h. Digital logic and memory 4 lessons, about 4 h. Interactive devices on the Uno 9 lessons, about 8 h. From gates to a computer 23 lessons, about 16 h. Build a claw machine 8 lessons, about 6 h. Every unit All the courses as ready-made units, on the teachers page.