Knight Rider LED Scanner

Requires

This Arduino-based project creates a scanning LED effect similar to the iconic front scanner from the TV series Knight Rider.

Six LEDs are connected to Arduino pins 2 through 7. The lights turn on one at a time in sequence, moving from left to right and then back again, creating a smooth back-and-forth scanning motion like the one on KITT’s front grille. Each LED stays lit for one second before passing the light to its neighbour.

Parts List

  • Arduino Uno
  • 6x Red LEDs
  • 6x 220Ω resistors
  • Breadboard
  • Jumper wires
  • USB cable

Assembly Instructions

  1. Place the six LEDs in a horizontal line on your breadboard, leaving one empty row between each LED
  2. Connect the cathode (shorter leg) of each LED to ground through a 220Ω resistor
  3. Connect the anode (longer leg) of each LED to Arduino pins 2 through 7 in sequence
  4. Connect the Arduino’s ground pin to the breadboard’s ground rail