A note on electrostatic discharge (ESD)
Static electricity needs two conditions to occur: friction between dissimilar materials (ie cat hair and a rubber rod - recall the demo from science class, or balloon rubbed in your hair), and insulation - the lack of a path to bleed off the charge.
It is important to take some care when working with the electronics (sensors and the micro-controllers) in order to prevent them from being damaged by ESD. Here are some recommendations:
For a hobbiest, an anti-static wrist band is an inexpensive solution to bleeding off any charge that builds up. For your safety, be sure to get a grounding strap that has resistance built in, and one with a snap connection to the grounding wire so when you forget to remove it, it doesn't rip your arm off when you walk away.
Ground yourself before touching the electronics. This can be done by touching a metal appliance which is plugged into an electrical socket.
Work in an environment where there is less chance of ESD developing, such as on a concrete floor of a garage. Avoid carpets and plastic tables When not in use, store the electronics in an ESD protective plastic bag.
Avoid chairs with plastic seats - like you sometimes find in schools. Just shifting around on those as you work can build up quite a charge. And if possible, don't put your work area on synthetic fiber carpeting.
The static charge needed to zap an electronic device, particularly IC's like the Micro-controllers, is way way less than that needed to cause an arc in the air. So avoid touching IC pins when possible.
Static damage is cumulative. Repetitive handling can eventually cause failure. And the damage won't necessarily be catastrophic failure. It might merely increase static power draw, or reduce the output drive strength, or input threshold.
I don't wear polyester or rubber soled shoes, and my workbench area isn't on carpeting. The air here is typically 50% humidity or higher. I'm careful handling parts. In these conditions, I've not had any issues with static damage.
