millis() for non-blocking timing in Arduino - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to get the current time in milliseconds.

Arduino

unsigned long currentTime = [1]();

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Adelay

Btime

Cmicros

Dmillis

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using delay() instead of millis()

Using micros() which returns microseconds, not milliseconds

The millis() function returns the number of milliseconds since the Arduino board began running the current program.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to check if 1000 milliseconds have passed since last event.

Arduino

if (millis() - previousMillis [1] 1000) {

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A>=

B<

C==

D<=

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '<' instead of '>='

Using '==' which may miss the event if timing is off

We check if the difference between current time and previous time is greater than or equal to 1000 milliseconds (1 second).

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in updating the previousMillis variable after the event.

Arduino

previousMillis = [1]();

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Adelay

Bmillis

Cmicros

Dtime

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Assigning delay() which pauses the program

Assigning micros() which returns microseconds

After the event, we update previousMillis to the current time using millis().

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a non-blocking blink that toggles LED every 500 ms.

Arduino

if (millis() - [1] >= [2]) {
  ledState = !ledState;
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, ledState);
  previousMillis = millis();
}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ApreviousMillis

Bdelay

C500

D1000

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using delay instead of the interval number

Using 1000 instead of 500 for the interval

The code checks if 500 milliseconds have passed since previousMillis, then toggles the LED.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a dictionary comprehension that stores word lengths for words longer than 3 letters.

Arduino

lengths = {word: [1] for word in words if [2] [3] 3}

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Alen(word)

C>

D<

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '<' instead of '>' in the condition

Using word instead of len(word) for length

This comprehension creates a dictionary with words as keys and their lengths as values, only for words longer than 3 letters.

Practice

1. What does the millis() function in Arduino return?

easy

A. The current date and time

B. The number of milliseconds since the Arduino board started running the current program

C. The number of microseconds since the last reset

D. The current time in seconds

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what millis() measures

   millis() returns the time in milliseconds since the Arduino started running the program.

2. Step 2: Compare options with the definition

   Only The number of milliseconds since the Arduino board started running the current program correctly describes this behavior; others mention seconds, microseconds, or date/time which are incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   The number of milliseconds since the Arduino board started running the current program -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   millis() = milliseconds since start [OK]

Hint: Remember millis() counts milliseconds since start [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing millis() with delay()
• Thinking millis() returns seconds
• Assuming millis() gives current date/time

2. Which of the following is the correct way to store the current time using millis() in Arduino?

easy

A. char currentTime = millis();

B. int currentTime = millis();

C. float currentTime = millis();

D. unsigned long currentTime = millis();

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct data type for millis()

   millis() returns an unsigned long value representing milliseconds.

2. Step 2: Match the data type with variable declaration

   Only unsigned long currentTime = millis(); uses unsigned long, which can hold large millisecond values without overflow.

3. Final Answer:

   unsigned long currentTime = millis(); -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Use unsigned long for millis() values [OK]

Hint: Use unsigned long to store millis() time [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using int which can overflow quickly
• Using float or char which are incorrect types
• Not declaring variable before assignment

3. What will the following Arduino code print to the Serial Monitor?

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 1000;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();
  if (currentMillis - previousMillis >= interval) {
    previousMillis = currentMillis;
    Serial.println("Tick");
  }
}

medium

A. Prints "Tick" once and stops

B. Prints "Tick" continuously without delay

C. Prints "Tick" every 1000 milliseconds without stopping the program

D. Causes a compile error due to variable scope

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the timing logic

   The code checks if 1000 milliseconds have passed since last print using millis() and updates previousMillis accordingly.

2. Step 2: Analyze the output behavior

   When 1000 ms pass, it prints "Tick" and continues looping without blocking, so it prints every second repeatedly.

3. Final Answer:

   Prints "Tick" every 1000 milliseconds without stopping the program -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Non-blocking timing prints "Tick" every second [OK]

Hint: Check millis() difference to print repeatedly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it prints only once
• Confusing with delay() causing blocking
• Assuming compile error due to variable scope

4. Identify the error in this Arduino code using millis() for timing:

unsigned long previousMillis;
const long interval = 2000;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  if (millis() - previousMillis >= interval) {
    Serial.println("Hello");
  }
}

medium

A. previousMillis is never updated, so "Hello" prints continuously

B. interval should be unsigned long, not long

C. Serial.begin() is missing in setup()

D. millis() cannot be used in loop()

Solution

1. Step 1: Check how previousMillis is used

   The code checks the time difference but never updates previousMillis after printing.

2. Step 2: Understand the effect of missing update

   Without updating, the condition stays true, so "Hello" prints repeatedly without delay.

3. Final Answer:

   previousMillis is never updated, so "Hello" prints continuously -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Update previousMillis to avoid continuous printing [OK]

Hint: Always update previousMillis after action [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to update previousMillis
• Thinking interval type causes error
• Assuming Serial.begin() is missing

5. You want to blink an LED every 500 milliseconds without stopping other code from running. Which code snippet correctly uses millis() for this non-blocking timing? A)

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 500;
void loop() {
  if (millis() - previousMillis >= interval) {
    previousMillis = millis();
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, !digitalRead(LED_BUILTIN));
  }
  // other code runs here
}

B)

void loop() {
  delay(500);
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, !digitalRead(LED_BUILTIN));
}

C)

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 500;
void loop() {
  if (millis() >= previousMillis + interval) {
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, !digitalRead(LED_BUILTIN));
    previousMillis = millis();
  }
}

D)

unsigned long previousMillis = 0;
const long interval = 500;
void loop() {
  if (millis() - previousMillis > interval) {
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, HIGH);
    delay(500);
    digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LOW);
  }
}

hard

A. Correct non-blocking blink using millis() and toggling LED

B. Uses delay(), which blocks other code from running

C. Correct logic but may cause overflow issues with addition

D. Uses delay() inside if, causing blocking and incorrect blink

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify non-blocking timing usage

   Correct non-blocking blink using millis() and toggling LED uses millis() difference and updates previousMillis correctly, toggling LED without delay.

2. Step 2: Compare other options for blocking or logic issues

   The other snippets either use delay(), which blocks other code from running, or use addition in the condition, which can cause overflow issues with large millisecond values.

3. Final Answer:

   Correct non-blocking blink using millis() and toggling LED -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use millis() difference and update previousMillis [OK]

Hint: Toggle LED using millis() difference, avoid delay() [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using delay() causing blocking
• Not updating previousMillis properly
• Using addition risking overflow bugs