A Novice Guide to Arduino Programming

Introduction

You may have heard of many good things about microcontrollers and their ability to use relatively few components to come up with a fully working prototype that performs specific preprogrammed tasks. You got an interest in microcontrollers, and you didn’t know how to start. Well, this book is for you.

This book will satisfy your curiosity by taking you through easy and elaborate step by step guide to programming Arduino Uno. Arduino Uno is a famous microcontroller board with everything on board to get you started with microcontrollers. Be it just working with the onboard LED to start you off, or hooking sensors and actuators to Arduino, this book will be your companion guide.

Chapter 1 of this book introduces you to the Arduino Uno board, its parts, and the function of each part. In chapters 2 and 3, you will learn how to set up Arduino, install the software and drivers, and prepare the environment ready for programming the board. Then in chapter 4, you will be introduced to some electrical and electronic components commonly used when learning how to program Arduino.  You will learn how to identify a component and use it correctly in a circuit.

In chapter 6, we will look at ten projects, each with a colored breadboard circuit and simplified code. You will begin by learning how to set up a simple blinking led project. We will then improve on this project to run multiple LEDs with custom blink patterns. As the chapter progresses, you will learn how to get inputs from sensors like tactile switches, and photoresistors, and controlling outputs when an input meets a certain condition. Finally, you will set up your own fully working motion-activated security system.

Components and Tools Required

You will require the following components to go along with this guide:

✓  Arduino Uno board with A-B USB cable

✓  1 Mini breadboard

✓  A bundle of  jumper wires (Male to Male)

✓  Assorted Resistors: 5 pieces 330 ohm or 220 ohm, 1k ohm, 10k ohm and 100k ohm

✓  A photoresistor (LDR)

✓  A tactile button (push-button)

✓  A 10k ohm potentiometer

✓  A bunch of LEDs (at least 5 units)

✓  An RGB LED (4 pins)

✓  A passive buzzer

✓  A PIR motion sensor module

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Arduino Uno Board

This chapter takes you through various parts of Arduino boards and how each part performs its function.

What is Arduino?

Arduino is an open-source electronic device based on an easy to use hardware and software. Open-source means you are free to modify the hardware and software according to your needs. The Arduino project began in 2005 as a program for students at an Interaction Design Institute in Ivrea, Italy, with the aim of providing a low-cost and easy way for novices and professionals to create devices that interact with their environment using sensors and actuators. The name Arduino comes from a bar, in Ivrea Italy, where some of the founders used to meet. The bar was named after king Arduin of Ivrea of Italy, who ruled in the 11th century CE.

All Arduino boards perform two main functions: