Electronics: Arduino 101

This class is for folks who have little experience with electronics, programming and microcontroller platforms. Students will get hands on experience with an Arduino Uno and build a simple project. For more advanced students, we recommend the Arduino 102 class.

1. Introduction to Arduino
- What is Arduino?: Overview of Arduino as an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software.
- History and Applications: Brief history of Arduino and common applications in DIY projects, robotics, home automation, and education.

2. Arduino Hardware
- Board Components: Detailed look at the components of an Arduino board (e.g., microcontroller, digital and analog pins, power supply, USB interface).
- Different Arduino Boards: Introduction to various Arduino models like Uno, Mega, Nano, and their specific features and use cases.
3. Arduino Software (IDE)
- Installing the Arduino IDE: Step-by-step guide to downloading and installing the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on different operating systems.
- Overview of the IDE: Explanation of the IDE interface, including menus, toolbars, and the sketch editor.
4. Basic Electronics
- Understanding Circuits: Basic concepts of voltage, current, resistance, and how to read circuit diagrams.
- Components: Introduction to common electronic components like resistors, capacitors, LEDs, and sensors.

5. Getting Started with Arduino
- Writing and Uploading Your First Sketch: A simple "Hello, World!" project, usually the Blink sketch to make an LED blink.
6. Basic Projects
- Digital I/O: Controlling LEDs, buttons, and other digital components.
- Analog I/O: Reading from analog sensors like potentiometers, temperature sensors, and using PWM to control things like LED brightness and motor speed.
7. Programming Concepts
- Basic Syntax: Variables, data types, functions, and control structures (if statements, loops).
- Libraries: Using and including libraries to extend functionality.
8. Troubleshooting and Debugging
- Common Issues: How to troubleshoot common problems such as connection issues, code errors, and hardware malfunctions.
- Debugging Techniques: Using the Serial Monitor and other tools to debug sketches.
Materials Used in Class (provided)
- Arduino Kit: Includes an Arduino board, breadboard, jumper wires, LEDs, resistors, sensors, and other basic components.
- Computer: For running the Arduino IDE and uploading sketches to the Arduino board.
- Additional Tools: Multimeter, soldering iron, and other prototyping tools.
The class is designed to give students a solid foundation in both the hardware and software aspects of Arduino microcontrollers, equipping them with the skills to start their own projects.

To get the most out of our time together, we recommend taking a look at a few items before class:

A brief introduction to the Arduino

A taste of C language programming

Instructors

Joe Szuecs (pronounced SOOCH) has worked as an electrical engineer and software developer for more years than he'd like to admit. He's built many Arduino based projects over the years. These include a drawing robot, a remote controlled percussion unit, equipment access systems and more.

Jim Wheaton is runs Harmonic Systems, Inc. (www.harmonicsystems.net), a consulting company doing work in the music/audio/lighting world. He has extensive experience programming in C and C++ and other languages, and has done a lot of projects using the Arduino platform. Hooking up LEDs and solenoids as outputs, and using heat, light, and sound as inputs, the Arduino platform is very easy to get something going pretty quickly. More advanced programming topics, like 3rd party libraries and using interrupts can be useful for fast prototyping and real-world applications.

Questions? [email protected]

Host or Publisher Chimera Arts