As an engineering student, I often find myself in awe of the advanced world in which we live. Everything in our immediate environment is connected to a power outlet and, in recent times, the internet. Microcontrollers are becoming staple components in all these devices. My studies have thought me to always question, rather than accept, and to learn about the most minute of processes drive everyday items.
Heres where arduino comes in, following a brief 4 week introduction to microcontrollers as part of my course, consisting of the use of a Pololu 3pi robot to complete a challenge course, I decided to splash out and buy a starter kit. The kit I have chosen is based around the arduino uno board, the most common and affordable of the arduino family. I received a variety of electrical components to keep me occupied, everything from stepper-motors to tilt sensors, resistors to breadboards.
After a weekend of hacking and breaking, I have learned to really enjoy the Arduino environment. The amount of online content is simply astonishing! I found myself sifting through forum after forum, and artical after artical, there is an entire community out there, filled with those who are learning and teaching TOGETHER. I think the word together summaries the open-source movement, and I am exited to be part of it.
ps. I am going to continue regular blog updates about my journey, so keep an eye out.
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