Arduino is an open-source hardware platform for building electronics projects. It provides a programmable circuit board and software to program it. Key features include an inexpensive ($30) and easy to use board, support for both digital and analog input/output, and a large user community. Arduino boards can be used to build interactive objects, sense and control the physical world, and communicate using various protocols. Examples of Arduino projects include robots, 3D displays, sensors, and more.
3. What Is Arduino?
Microcontroller Platform
Okay… but what’s a Microcontroller?!@#$#
Tiny, self-contained computers in an IC
Often contain peripherals
Different packages available
Vast array of size and power available
5. So What Is Arduino?
A physical Input / Output board (I/O) with a
programmable controller
Open source
C/C++Language
USB programmable
Large community
Inexpensive ~$30
7. Why Arduino?
It is Open Source, both in terms of Hardware
and Software.
It is cheap, the hardware can be built from
components or a prefab board can be
purchased for approx $30
It can communicate with a computer via
serial connection over USB / Bluetooth
It can be powered from USB or standalone
DC power.
8. Why Arduino?
It can run standalone from a computer (chip
is programmable) and it has memory (a
small amount)
It can work with both Digital and Analogue
electronic signals - Sensors and Actuators
You can make cool stuff!
Some people are even making simple
robots, and we all know robots are just
cool
9. History
The project began in Ivrea, Italy in 2005 to
make a device for controlling student-built
interaction design projects less expensively
than other prototyping systems available at
the time.
As of October 2008 more than 50,000
Arduino boards had been shipped.
This has risen to more than 120,000 shipped
boards as of February 2010.
10. Arduino is Open Source
Programming environment is all Free
Software
The bootloader is Free Software
The PCB board is under a Creative
Commons License
11. What Can It Do?
Input
Sensors (buttons, light sensors, ultrasound, …)
Digital Input (Serial, SPI, I2C)
Output
LEDs & Lasers
LCD/OLED/Touch Displays
Speakers
Motors, Servos, Steppers
Control and Communication
Drive other machinery
Directly or using a communuication protocol
13. Arduino Hardware
Arduinos differ in design but all share some basic
functionality
AVR Microcontroller
Amtel AVR Mega168 or AVR Mega 328
Powered either directly or via USB power
Communications
Serial (older models)
USB (most models)
Connections to a USB interface (smaller models)
Pins for various functions
14. Arduino Hardware - Atmega128
128KB self-programming Flash Program
Memory
8KB SRAM
4096 Bytes EEPROM
16 Channel 10-bit A/D-converter
JTAG interface for on-chip-debug
Running at 16 MHz.
1.8 - 5.5 Volt Operation.
16. Arduino Hardware -
Decimila (Atmega168)
14 digital input/output pins
6 analog inputs
Mega (ATmega1280)
54 digital input/output pins
16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs
Arduino Mini
Arduino Nano
Even smaller
20. Arduino IDE
The Arduino IDE is a cross-platform
application written in Java
Basic features such as syntax highlighting,
brace matching, and automatic indentation
Compiling and uploading programs to the
board with a single click
Works on Windows, Linux and Mac
21. Arduino Shields
Shields are commercially available
daughterboards to complement Arduino
Ethernet
Xbee
Breadboard
Voice
GSM
Motor Control
Many more…
24. Cool Arduino Projects
Bubble Bot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJC7PkBrR8Y
Auduino synthesiser
http://www.vimeo.com/2266458
Turn signal biking jacket
http://www.instructables.com/id/turn-signal-biking-jacket/
Nunchuck + Pan and Tilt Camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD_-
YnFZFP8&feature=related
Self Balancing (Mini Segway-like)
http://hacknmod.com/hack/make-a-mini-segway-using-
the-arduino/
25. Cool Arduino Projects
Virtual Laser Harp
http://www.stephenhobley.com/blog/laser-harp-2009/
POV (Persistence Of Vision)
http://hackedgadgets.com/2007/08/20/arduino-pov/
3D led display globe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLygWkHo9nw
3D led display globe
http://hackedgadgets.com/2010/05/03/rotating-led-
globe/s
So many more…
26. Conclusion
Electronics doesn’t have to be scary
Microcontrollers are even less scary
Small computers led to lots of cool projects
Go forth and hack!
27. Learning More…
http://Arduino.cc
Online Tutorial
Getting Started with Arduino and Making
Things Talk by O’Reilly
Arduino Programming Notebook
Make Magazine and Instructables
Arduino and Parts at AdaFruit and
MakerShed
Go to Youtube and search for Arduino
28. What Are You Waiting For?!
Go knock yourself out!
