How to Get Started with Arduino
If you’re interested in making gadgets and robots but don’t know where to start, Arduino might be the best route to take. It’s an open-source, single-board microcontroller that makes it easy to add robotics and other features to your projects. Learn more about this versatile and accessible tool with this article on how to get started with Arduino and see what it can do for you!
What is an Arduino?
An Arduino is a microcontroller. A single microcontroller is typically capable of performing only one task, but it’s possible to hook up multiple microcontrollers (Arduino boards) together via hardware and/or software in order to control many devices at once. For example, you could hook up a simple motion sensor and then hook up an LED light-bulb that would turn on when there was motion detected, making it seem like someone was in a room when nobody was actually there. With an Arduino board connected via USB port to your computer, it’s easy for you to modify and tweak your project as needed.
The Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. The hardware consists of a simple open board (based on an 8 bit Atmel AVR microcontroller) that provides a virtual peripheral interface called Standard Peripheral Interface (SPI). It gives you access to input/output pins that can be programmed as inputs or outputs, but also has additional general purpose I/O pins (also 5V tolerant), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator and a USB connection port. Finally it has power supply circuitry for powering off of most any external power source between 6 VDC and 20VDC.
Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board. Arduino boards are able to read inputs — light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a Twitter message — and turn it into an output — activating a motor, turning on an LED, publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of instructions to the microcontroller on it. To do so you use the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), which runs in your computer. The language and IDE is awesome for beginners because its simple enough to learn quickly, but powerful enough to work with hundreds of sensors, actuators, displays and other hardware.
There are many types of aurdino boards based on its shape, resolution, size and brand. They come in all different price ranges as well. You will have to choose an arduino that fits your needs and has features you’ll be using more often than others. Make sure you take these things into consideration when buying an arduino board so that you get one that is suitable for your projects. If you don’t know much about all the different types of aurdino boards out there, here is a basic guide as to what they each look like
First, visit arduino.cc and download the open-source software development environment (IDE). The IDE is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems. Once you’ve installed it, fire it up and select File > Examples > 01.Basics > Blink. This loads a simple example script that blinks an LED on your board on and off at one second intervals (you can always check your blink rate by looking at Micros near line 1 in your code.) To get started using sensors in Arduino, first connect a small hobby servo or DC motor to digital pin 6; attach a 100 ohm resistor to pin 7; then load Sketch > Servo or Sketch > Motor Control into your IDE window.
Originally published at https://codewithmohityt.blogspot.com.