Arduino: The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Arduino - Learn How To Get Started With Arduino Programming, Projects And More!
Table of contents
Introduction
Let me ask you this question, I know it may be way before your time but do you remember the erector sets and circuit boards and all those neat little doodads we used to play with back when transistors and vacuum tubes were all the rage? Well if you do then you are probably older than I am because that stuff was just becoming extinct and the new digital age of technology was being born. If you do however remember this time in your life then you will be happy to know that it is making a comeback with a new twist on old technology. I remember when I was a kid tinkering round with these little kits that really didnt do much but turn lights on and off, move small robots around and did stuff that was for the most part educational. In todays society kids dont know how things work and if something breaks they just throw it away and get something new. Well, if you are someone who is interested in this type of stuff then the Arduino is probably something that you want to take a closer look at and even get your hands on. With the Arduino you have a small circuit board made with modern technology that when combined with your thinking and innovation can do some pretty cool stuff.
You can control lights, make wearable technology as well as a wide range of other tasks and projects. The Arduino however is a little more complicated to work with and may be a little more complicated to operate compared to other boards but if you are looking for a challenge you will want to get your hands on one. In this book we will look at the Arduino as well as several other alternatives. We will talk about what you can do with it and you cant and even show you some cool projects that you can crate using this technology. So if you are someone looking to adventure out into the world so science and technology and are not scared to get your hands dirty go ahead and start learning about this cool piece of technology.
Chapter 1 Arduino 101
The world of computers and technology is a great place to play in.
When we combine some basic technology and the creative juices of our imagination we can create amazing worlds driven by our thoughts and actions. For many years people have been using circuit boards, transistors, lights and now computers to power their ideas bring their visions to life. In the birth of the 21 st century many people have turned away from the exploration of technology to focus on what they can do with the newest and greatest gadget. When something becomes damaged or no longer functions it is discarded for the next best thing and dont attempt to fix simple five minute problems that could save them time and money. In our modern age we are too focused on getting it now, using it to it serves no more purpose and going out and getting the better shinny object. There is, however, a few individuals who are on the other side of the coin.
These are the explorers and the innovators. These are the people who like to learn and discover why as well as how things work. These people are becoming a rare breed. Being pushed out of the way for modern commercialism these hobbyist now turn to the latest technology in order to quench an old school hunger. With the development of modern technology has come a device that will allow those hobbyist to be a part of the past, live in the future and be more innovated and productive than ever before.
Introducing the Arduino.
The Arduino is a small circuit board device that has the basic power of a computer that will fit in the palm of your hand.
The Arduino comes in several different models and when connected to external devices and controlled with some basic programming can do some amazing things. The Arduino is a basic type of computer that will allow you to send inputs to it and receive outputs to an external device or vice versa. The Arduino is a little more advanced than some other micro boards on the market but can do a lot in the hands of a skilled programmer. When looking at this device those who should play with it are people who have a higher skillset in electronics and some basic programming in languages such as C++. If you are a child or someone who wants a device or tool that is more user friendly I would suggest looking at the raspberry pi. The raspberry pi is more of a teaching tool to get kids and adults into the electronics space.
If however you are more advanced and looking for a challenge then the Arduino is a good fit. Just know what types of projects that you are looking to create before jumping into purchasing these devices. You may quickly find that you bit off more than you can chew. Okay, now that I have given you some basic pointers as to weather you should use this device or something similar such as a Raspberry Pi and you are still interested in the Arduino lets jump in and start tearing it apart.
Getting Started
If you are looking to get started there are a few things that you should know. First of all the Arduino is a great piece of technology that has been around for awhile and has a strong and growing community of users.
If you are new to this then you will have some great support. Second since this is a great community of people there are a lot of people offering up projects and other tools and resources that you can use to build your toys. The Arduino is open source which means that you can use the technology to do whatever you want. You can also take the hardware that is on the devices such as the chips and have a company in China design you your very own version of the board that you can use for specific projects and even build something to resell. The third thing is that there are many different versions of the board. With it being open source the Arduino company has released several versions of their own boards as well as several other companies which can make some issues with compatibility with code and technology an issue so make sure you read up on all documentation and ask plenty of questions before purchasing a board.
As far as the boards are concerned they are very reasonable. You can purchase a board from around $15 - $25 US dollars. You can get a kit for around $50 and some more advanced boards and kits for around $300.00 It is my recommendation that you purchase the most basic kit that you can afford when first starting out. If you have some extra money to burn then go ahead and invest in a better board or kit or even purchase several different models t see what you can do and how they work. To keep up to date with the latest news and technology with Arduino visit this web site. https://www.arduino.cc/
What makes up the Arduino?
When we look at the Arduino we have several different components.
The first is Arduino itself. This is the main circuit board that you will use to prototype your creations. The board has several inputs, outputs, led lights, USB connector and power chips. These components allow you connect other components to it in order to create your projects. You can connect power to the device by using either USB connector or with batteries.
Shields
When working with the Arduino you will want to have additional components and functionality that is not built into the base board.
Shields
When working with the Arduino you will want to have additional components and functionality that is not built into the base board.
These additional components are called shields. These shields are easily connect to the main Arduino and will communicate seamlessly together. When connecting these shields together there is no limit to the power and functionality you can create.
Programming your Arduino
When creating your projects you will need to program your device using C++. If you are not a programmer dont worry the language is fairly easily to learn and since the Arduino is all open source there is a huge community of users who have written code already for the device and have made it freely available for you to download, install, modify and make your own.
Next page