Arduino-Controlled Rotary Telephone - DIY Escape Room Prop Tutorial

Learn how to create a versatile Arduino-controlled rotary telephone prop for escape rooms in this comprehensive tutorial. Discover how to wire an Arduino or similar microprocessor directly to the mechanical components of a 1970s phone, including the rotary dial, hook switch, solenoid, microphone, and earpiece speaker. Explore the use of a DFPlayer Mini MP3 module for audio output and program custom behavior using a Finite State Machine (FSM). Master techniques for triggering incoming calls, handling outgoing calls to multiple numbers, and dynamically changing phone behavior during gameplay. Gain insights into integrating the prop with other escape room elements and controlling external hardware. Follow along with detailed explanations of hardware design, component identification, wiring, and Arduino code implementation. Perfect for escape room designers and DIY enthusiasts looking to create a flexible and feature-rich rotary telephone prop.

00:00- Introduction
00:44- Demonstration of incoming and outgoing calls
03:36- Hardware design decisions
06:57- Identifying components of the telephone handset
15:28- Wiring the telephone hardware to the Arduino
26:12- Using a Finite State Machine FSM to model telephone behaviour
29:29- Arduino ESP8266/ESP32 code listing
01:06:02- Wrapup