What is Arduino?

Mithat Konar
2015-10-27

Arduino is an ecosystem designed to let you easily build physical computing systems.

“Physical computing, in the broadest sense, means building interactive physical systems by the use of software and hardware that can sense and respond to the analog world.” (ref)

“Physical Computing is an approach to learning how humans communicate through computers that starts by considering how humans express themselves physically.” (ref)

Input is from a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen …

Output is to a screen, printer, …

Input is from:

• Ambient temperature or humidity
• Pressure on an object
• Distance between objects

Output is to:

• Motors
• Valves
• Light sources

• Turn signal biking jacket
• Pressure activated light-up umbrella
• Bubble machine
• Swimming robo-snake
• MIDI shoes
• Multitouch music controller

• See:
  • this
  • and this
  • and this
  • and this

• Arduino processor boards
• Arduino programming software
• Additional parts
• The community

• The official boards are open source (CC BY-SA 2.5).
  • The Uno is the most common.
• Many unofficial variations and clones of the official boards.

• Arduino Development Environments
  • The tools used to write and load Arduino programs.
  • The standalone Arduino IDE is open source (GPL v2).
  • The license for the online IDE is unclear.
• Third-party libraries
  • Extend core functionality
  • Support external hardware (sensors, displays, etc.)

• Input sensors
  • light, motion, temperature, etc.
• Output devices
  • actuators, motors, lights, etc.
• "Shields"
  • boards that plug into the Arduino board and provide advanced features
    • networking
    • image-capture
    • lcd panels
    • GPS
    • MP3

• Lots of people use Arduino.
• Support is easy to find.
• Libraries are easy to find.

• Required:
  • Arduino processing board
  • Arduino Development Environment

• Helps to have
  • Prototyping breadboard and jumper wire
  • Digital multimeter
  • Basic parts
    • LEDs
    • Resistors
    • Switches
    • Etc.
  • Imagination

• Might need
  • Extra wire
  • Soldering iron and solder
  • Small pliers and other tools

• Starter Kits
  • "Official"
  • Sparkfun
  • Adafruit
  • Maker Shed
  • Assemble your own.

• Official site: http://www.arduino.cc
• Official tutorials: http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/HomePage

• Vendors with lots of Arduino stuff
  • Sparkfun: http://www.sparkfun.com
  • Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com
  • Maker Shed: http://www.makershed.com

• Electronics supplies
  • Digi-Key: http://www.digikey.com
  • Mouser: http://www.mouser.com
  • Newark: http://www.newark.com/

• Tools and other supplies
  • Parts Express: http://www.parts-express.com/
  • MCM: https://www.mcmelectronics.com/