How to Control Linear Actuator Using a Capacitive Touch Button and Ardui

2026-05-20 | By Ron Cutts

License: GNU Lesser General Public License Microcontrollers Touch Motors Arduino

In this project, we will learn how easy it is to control a linear actuator with Arduino using a capacitive touch button and Visuino.

Watch the video!

Learn more about Visuino: What is Visuino

What You Will Need

What You Will Need photo 2

What You Will Need photo 3

What You Will Need photo 4

What You Will Need photo 5

What You Will Need photo 6

The Circuit

Connect the power supply (batteries) pin (gnd) to the motor driver controller pin (gnd)
Connect the power supply (batteries) pin (+) to motor driver controller pin (+)
Connect the power supply (batteries) pin (+) to the Arduino pin (VIN)
Connect GND from the Arduino to the motor driver controller pin (gnd)
Connect digital pin(6) from Arduino to motor driver pin (IN1)
Connect digital pin(8) from Arduino to motor driver pin (IN2)
Connect the linear actuator to the motor driver, as you can see on the schematic
Connect the Capacitive Touch button pin (SIG) to Arduino digital pin (2)
Connect the Capacitive Touch button pin (VCC) to the Arduino pin (5V)
Connect the Capacitive Touch button pin (GND) to the Arduino pin (GND)

The Circuit

Start Visuino, and Select the Arduino UNO Board Type

Start Visuino as shown in the first picture. Click on the "Tools" button on the Arduino component (Picture 1) in Visuino. When the dialog appears, select "Arduino UNO" as shown in Picture 2

Start Visuino, and Select the Arduino UNO Board Type

Start Visuino, and Select the Arduino UNO Board Type photo 2

In Visuino Add & Set Components

Add "Debounce Button" component
Add "Toggle(T) Flip-Flop" component
Add "Speed and Direction To Speed" component
Add "L298N" component

Select "SpeedAndDirectionToSpeed1" and in the properties window set "Initial Speed" to 1

In Visuino Add & Set Components

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 2

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 3

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 4

In Visuino Add & Set Components photo 5

In Visuino Connect Components

Connect Arduino digital pin [2] to "Button1" pin [In]
Connect "Button1" pin [Out] to "TFlipFlop1" pin [Clock]
Connect "TFlipFlop1" pin [Out] to "SpeedAndDirectionToSpeed1" pin [Reversed]
Connect "SpeedAndDirectionToSpeed1" pin [Out] to "DualMotorDriver1" > Motors [0] Pin [In]
Connect ""DualMotorDriver1" > Motors [0] Pin [Direction]" to Arduino digital pin[8]
Connect ""DualMotorDriver1" > Motors [0] Pin [Speed]" to Arduino digital pin Analog PWM[6]

In Visuino Connect Components

In Visuino Connect Components photo 2

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

In Visuino, at the bottom, click on the "Build" tab, make sure the correct port is selected, then click on the "Compile/Build and Upload" button.

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

Play

If you power the Arduino module and press the touch button, the linear actuator will start to move in one direction, and if you press the touch button again, it will reverse.

Congratulations! You have completed your project with Visuino. Also attached is the Visuino project that I created for this. You can download it here and open it in Visuino: https://www.visuino.eu