1. Introduction

2. Microcontrollers Programmers work in the virtual world.
Machinery works in the physical world.
The microcontroller connects the virtual world to the physical world
A microcontroller is a small-scale computer with generalized (and programmable) inputs and outputs.
The inputs and outputs can be manipulated by, and can manipulate, the physical world.

3. Arduino is hardware

4. Arduino is software
Including an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for programming.
It’s used to edit code as if editing a word document
The platform is used to create the “process”, compile it, and then upload it to the microcontroller.
The language itself is based in C and is called ‘wiring’

5. Arduino is a platform
A physical Input / Output board (I/O) with a programmable Integrated Circuit (IC).

6. Why Arduino?
It is Open Source, both in terms of Hardware and Software. Anyone who wants can copy it for free
It is cheap, the hardware can be built from components or a prefab board can be purchased for as little as $15
It can communicate with a computer via serial connection over USB (common interfaces)
It can be powered from USB or standalone DC power.
It can run standalone from a computer (chip is programmable) and it has memory (a small amount).

7. What can it do? CURRENT LIMITS!!!
Sensors ( to sense stuff ) [ INPUTS ]
Push buttons, touch pads, tilt switches.
Variable resistors (eg. volume knob / sliders)
Photoresistors (sensing light levels)
Thermistors (temperature)
Ultrasound (proximity range finder)
Actuators ( to do stuff ) [ OUTPUTS ]
Lights, LED’s
Motors
Speakers
Displays (LCD)
CURRENT LIMITS!!!

8. Autonomous Vehicle

9. Laser Harp

10. Clock

11. Sign Language Glove

12. Interfacing

13. Interfacing
Plugs into pins like a breadboard

17. Inputs and Outputs

18. Concepts: INPUT vs. OUTPUT18
Referenced from the perspective of the microcontroller (electrical board).
Inputs is a signal / information going into the board.
Output is any signal exiting the board.

19. Concepts: INPUT vs. OUTPUT19
Referenced from the perspective of the microcontroller (electrical board).
Inputs is a signal / information going into the board.
Output is any signal exiting the board.
Examples:
Buttons Switches, Light Sensors, Flex Sensors, Humidity Sensors, Temperature Sensors…
Examples: LEDs, DC motor,
servo motor,
piezo buzzer,
relay, RGB LED

20. Analog vs. Digital

21. Analog vs. Digital 21
Computers “naturally” talk in a digital language. Things are either “ON” or “OFF”, “HIGH” or “LOW”, “1” or “0”, “5V or 0V”
Our physical world is analog. Things can be “medium”, “warm”, “37 mph”, “92 degrees”
So how do we create 2.75 volts if all we have is 0 and 5?
With a technique called Pulse width Modulation (PWM)
Imagine turning a fan off and on every second. It would operate at a “medium” speed.
The longer the pulses (ON’s), the higher the average voltage and the actual voltage output.

22. Analog vs. Digital 22

23. Analog vs. Digital Fixed cycle length: constant number of cycles/sec23
Fixed cycle length:
constant number of cycles/sec

24. digitalWrite()
analogWrite()
BIG 4 CONCEPTS
digitalRead()
analogRead()

25. Components Push Button Potentiometer Photoresistor Relay Temp Sensor
Name
Image
Type
Function
Push Button
Digital Input
Switch - Closes or opens circuit
Potentiometer
Analog Input
Variable resistor
Photoresistor
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
Relay
Digital Output
Switch driven by a small signal
Temp Sensor
Temp Dependent Resistor
Flex Sensor
Soft Trimpot
RGB LED
Dig & Analog Output
16,777,216 different colors

26. Scales

27. Scales Physical 0V 5V Digital Write LOW (0) HIGH (1) Digital Read
Analog Read
1023
Analog Write
255