A group of Mechanical Engineering students from the Cyprus University of Technology developed a functional liquid level control system as part of their Mechatronics course, using the KYPRUINO UNO+ board.
The aim of the project was to design and implement an automated system that manages liquid flow and balance between communicating vessels. By combining sensors, pumps, and a microcontroller, the students created a working prototype with both visual and audio feedback for the user.
Projects like this are a great reminder that engineering education becomes much more meaningful when theory moves off the page and into a real, testable system.
The student-built liquid level control system setup using KYPRUINO UNO+ and communicating vessels during testing.
The Project Setup
The system consists of three tanks, with one acting as a central reservoir. Water is transferred between the tanks using four one-directional pumps, allowing the setup to carry out both filling and draining operations in a controlled way.
Two level sensors are placed in the main tanks to monitor the water level continuously. The components are connected to the KYPRUINO UNO+ through a breadboard and jumper wiring, while the system itself is powered through a computer via USB.
In addition to the pumping system and sensors, the prototype includes onboard light indicators and a buzzer so that users can immediately understand what is happening during operation.
Visual and Audio Feedback
The project uses the onboard NeoPixels of the KYPRUINO board to display the current system state:
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Blue – tank empty
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Green – desired level reached
- Red – overflow risk
Whenever an overflow condition is detected, the system also activates a buzzer, adding an audible warning on top of the visual indication.
How the System Works
The control logic was implemented in C++ and organised into two main operating phases.
Phase 1 – Filling and Stabilisation
The user first adds water to the central tank. The first pump is then activated until Tank 1 reaches the desired level. Once that condition is met, the second pump is activated so that Tank 2 can also reach its predefined target level.
Phase 2 – Overflow and Rebalancing
In the second phase, extra water is added to Tank 2, intentionally creating an overflow condition. At that point, a third pump transfers water back toward Tank 1 until Tank 2 returns to its desired level.
As a natural consequence, Tank 1 then overflows, which triggers the fourth pump. This pump continues operating until Tank 1 also returns to its predefined level. Through this sequence, the system gradually restores equilibrium between the tanks.
What the Students Learned
This project gave the students hands-on experience with several important mechatronics and automation concepts, including:
- Designing a liquid level control system
- Interfacing sensors and actuators
- Wiring and prototyping on a breadboard
- Programming a microcontroller in C++
- Implementing logic-based control in phases
- Using light and sound for system feedback
More importantly, it gave them the chance to work through the part of engineering that matters most: testing, troubleshooting, and improving a system until it behaves as intended.
Why We Love Seeing Projects Like This at Robo
We always enjoy seeing students use KYPRUINO in practical projects that go beyond simple demonstrations. This kind of work shows how embedded programming, electronics, and automation can come together in a meaningful and approachable way.
Projects like this are exactly why we build educational hardware in the first place — so people can stop just talking about systems and actually build them.
If you have created a project using KYPRUINO and would like to see it featured on our blog, feel free to get in touch.