Arduino is an open-source programmable circuit board that can be integrated into both simple and complex projects. This board contains a programmable microcontroller that can detect and control objects in the physical world. By responding to sensors and inputs, Arduino can interact with a wide range of output devices such as LEDs, motors, and displays. Due to its flexibility and low cost, Arduino has become a very popular choice for people wanting to create interactive hardware projects.
Arduino was introduced in Italy in 2005 by Massimo Banzi as a way for non-engineers to access a low-cost, simple tool to create hardware projects. Since the board is open-source, it is released under a Creative Commons license, allowing anyone to produce their own board. A quick search on the web will reveal hundreds of Arduino-compatible clones and variations, but only the official boards carry the Arduino name.
Arduino is a great platform for prototyping projects and inventions, but it can be confusing to choose the right option. If you're new to this, you might have always thought there's just one "Arduino" board. In reality, there are many variations of official Arduino boards, and hundreds more from competitors offering clones. But don't worry, we'll show you which one to start with in this lesson.
Below are examples of different Arduino boards. Boards labeled with the Arduino name are official boards, but there are many great clones in the market as well. One of the best reasons to get a clone is that they are often less expensive than their official counterparts. For example, Adafruit and Sparkfun sell variations of Arduino boards that are less costly but of the same quality as the originals. Just a word of caution, be careful when buying from unfamiliar companies.
Another factor to consider when choosing an Arduino is the type of project you want to do. For example, if you want to create a wearable electronic project, you might consider the LilyPad board from Sparkfun. The LilyPad is designed to be easily sewn onto e-textiles and wearable projects. If your project has a small form factor, you might want to use the Arduino Pro Mini, which takes up much less space compared to other boards. Check out Sparkfun's Arduino Comparison Guide for a review and comparison of top boards.
Next, we'll focus on the Arduino board that we recommend for beginners.
One of the most popular Arduino boards is the Arduino Uno. While it wasn't the first board to be released, it continues to be the most actively used and documented board in the market. Due to its extreme popularity, Arduino Uno has a plethora of project tutorials and forums to help you get started or get unstuck on the web. We're big fans of Uno due to its great features and ease of use.
Board Layout
Components that make up the Arduino board and each of their functions.
Reset Button - Resets all loaded code on the Arduino board
AREF - Stands for "Analog Reference" and is used to set an external reference voltage
Ground Pin - There are several ground pins on Arduino, and they all work the same way
Digital Input/Output - Pins 0-13 can be used for digital input or output
PWM - Pins marked with (~) symbol can simulate analog output
USB Connection - Used to power your Arduino and upload sketches
TX/RX - Transmit and receive data indicator LEDs
ATmega Microcontroller - This is where the brains and programs are stored
Power LED Indicator - This LED is always on when the board is powered
Voltage Regulator - Controls the amount of voltage entering the Arduino board
DC Power Barrel Jack - Used to provide power to your Arduino
3.3V Pin - This pin provides 3.3 volts of power to your projects
5V Pin - This pin provides 5 volts of power to your projects
Ground Pins - There are several ground pins on Arduino, and they all work the same way
Analog Pins - These pins can read a signal from an analog sensor and convert it to digital
Arduino Uno requires a power source to operate and can be powered in various ways. Most people can simply plug it into their computer with a USB cable. If you want your project to be mobile, use a 9V battery to power it. Another method would be to use a 9V AC power adapter.
Another important piece when working with Arduino is a solderless breadboard. This device allows you to prototype your Arduino project without having to solder the circuit permanently. Using a breadboard allows you to create temporary prototypes and experiment with different circuit designs. Inside the holes (connection points) of the plastic enclosure are metal clips connected by conductive material strips.
One thing to note is that a breadboard doesn't work on its own and needs to be powered from the Arduino board using jumper wires. These wires are also used to connect resistors, switches, and other components together to form the circuit.
Here's what a completed Arduino circuit looks like when connected to a breadboard.
arduino-uno-breadboard-switch
Once the circuit is built on the breadboard, you need to upload the program (known as sketch) to the Arduino. The sketch is a set of instructions that tell the board what functions to perform. An Arduino board can only run one sketch at a time. The software used to create Arduino sketches is called the Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
Every Arduino sketch has two main parts of the program:
void setup() - Sets up things that need to be done once and then never again.
void loop() - Contains instructions that are repeated until the board is powered off.
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