What is an Arduino

From the official Arduino website:

“Arduino is a tool for making computers that can sense and control more of the physical world than your desktop computer. It's an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple microcontroller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board.”

Basically, Arduino is a credit-card sized computer that costs about $20. It is open source hardware and runs open source software. The development environment is cross-platform and runs on Linux, Windows and Mac. It is at the core of the Maker community.



Arduino is an ecosystem:

• Open Source GUI and Compiler (GCC)
• Very simple software framework (wiring)
• Shallow learning curve, even for those with limited electronic and programming experience, but not dumbed down!
• Created so kids to professionals can create hardware/software applications with minimal effort! 
• Choice of science fair projects everywhere!
• Open Source Hardware (schematics, board layouts)
• Inexpensive hardware and many choices
• Many “shields” available (network, display, etc.)
• Very active community with extremely extensive resources available for free
• Easy to interface with Linux/Win and Android 
• http://openprojectsandapps.org/STEM_arduino.php
• robots, robotics competitions, http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Robot
• drones, http://ardupilot.com
• scientific devices and solutions http://blog.arduino.cc/category/science/
• Arduino-powered satellites have launched to ISS

Arduino Hardware:

USB interface (can power from USB)

5V or 3.3V (7-12V input)
ATmega328 CPU (8-bit, 8/16 MHz)
14 digital I/O (6 can provide PWM)
6 analog input pins (10-bit)
1 UART
2K RAM, 32K Flash (.5K bootloader)
1K EEPROMI2C, SPI interfaces

Where Can I get One:

• Official Store: http://store.arduino.cc/
• Adafruit: https://www.adafruit.com/
• Robotshop: http://www.robotshop.com/
• Seed Studios: http://www.seeedstudio.com/
• Sparkfun: http://sparkfun.com/
• Aliexpress: http://www.aliexpress.com/
• Many, many more stores all over the Internet!

Note, these notes are from a presentation I gave at FredLUG on 4/25.

I'll try to make the full set of slides available and link here or in a future post.