How do arduino boards work

We also have outputs , those would be electronic devices that do things. For inputs, you can think of all the types of sensors out there: temperature sensors, light sensors, touch sensors, flex sensors, humidity sensors, infrared sensors, distance sensors, to name a few.

You can think of those sensors as input devices, and those types of sensors can be read by an Arduino board. Now outputs would be things like DC motors, stepper motors, servo motors, solenoids, LCD displays, LED indicator lights, speakers, and electrical stuff that have some type of action in the world. So Arduino can be used to read inputs and control outputs.

First, we have the physical component of Arduino which are Arduino boards. When someone says Arduino board, it could mean a number of different boards. All Arduino boards share one thing in common: they all have a microcontroller on them. A microcontroller is basically a really small computer. The microcontroller is what enables us to read those different inputs, and control those different outputs. This is a software application that you download onto your computer, and then you use it to program the Arduino boards.

It looks a lot like a text editor. The Arduino IDE is where you write your code that actually gets loaded onto the Arduino board itself. The third part of this Arduino trifecta is the Arduino code.

The Arduino code that you write is called a sketch. Recall that we said the key component of an Arduino board is the microcontroller. Now traditionally, microcontrollers are pretty complicated to use. What the creators of Arduino did was make using microcontrollers as easy as possible. So instead of just electrical engineers and computer scientists using microcontrollers, now pretty much anybody can get their hands dirty on them, and start building stuff.

First, the Arduino board itself is designed for ease of use. You can connect it to your computer with a simple USB cable, not like some specialized cable that it would normally take to connect a microcontroller. Connecting electrical components to the microcontroller is also very easy with an Arduino board.

Because they have these plastic holes around the perimeter of the board. Finally, the Arduino code itself has functions specifically for things like reading inputs and controlling outputs. The Arduino language has significantly reduced that complexity by creating simple programming functions for you to use.

One example of an analog sensor is a simple light sensor; or light-dependant resistor LDR. You should check whether your sensor is analog or digital before connecting it. On the bottom left is a set of power pins. If you're connecting higher-powered motors or a string of LEDs, it's important to power those externally, and not try to pull all the power from your Arduino.

At best you may just burn out the Arduino, which is inexpensive to replace. At worst, if it's connected over USB, you may damage your computer.

Firstly is the concept of "shields". These are upgrades you can stack on top of the Arduino to add functionality. This could be your own custom-designed circuit board, or one that you've bought, such as an LCD screen.

Secondly, because Uno is a standard shape, you'll find a huge range of cases, both ready-made or 3D printable designs to download and print at home, or even modify yourself.

That means anyone can copy the Arduino, modify it, and resell it as their own. This isn't illegal. In fact, Arduino itself is built on the back of other open-source projects. For instance, the Arduino development software is based on Wiring , which is itself based on Processing!

The only rule is that you can't call it an actual "Arduino" device because that's a protected trademark. You can however claim that it's "Arduino-compatible".

In fact, if you bought all the components individually, you could even make your own from scratch. But you should only do that that if you want to learn more about what exactly is contained in an Arduino circuit board, not because you want to save money.

It isn't cheaper, and the end result isn't as sleek. Some manufacturers create Arduino-compatible boards that are exactly the same, but just cheaper. Some add even more functionality than the original boards have. They might be in a unique shape designed for a particular application, add some more connectors, perhaps they have an LED matrix display built-in, or have added Wi-Fi.

It's perfect for compact internet-of-things and home automation projects. Meanwhile, the Teensy line of development boards pack a much bigger processing punch than Arduino boards, with a tiny form factor—making them perfect for small projects which rely on powerful processing at their core.

Programmable Logic Controllers are not a new concept; they were around long before Arduino. Related: What are Programmable Logic Controllers? But Arduino made it easy. It combined an easy-to-use piece of hardware—much like electronics kits we grew up with—and an accessible high-level programming environment. Arduino became a community of users around the world who wrote tutorials, shared code, and spread their knowledge.

The Uno is a great choice for your first Arduino. It's got everything you need to get started, and nothing you don't. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. This is LilyPad Arduino main board! LilyPad is a wearable e-textile technology developed by Leah Buechley and cooperatively designed by Leah and SparkFun.

Each LilyPad was creatively designed with large connecting pads and a flat back to allow them to be sewn into clothing with conductive thread. The LilyPad also has its own family of input, output, power, and sensor boards that are also built specifically for e-textiles. They're even washable! At SparkFun we use many Arduinos and we're always looking for the simplest, most stable one. Each board is a bit different and no one board has everything we want -- so we decided to make our own version that combines all our favorite features.

It'll work on Windows 8 without having to change your security settings we used signed drivers, unlike the UNO. Just plug in the board, select "Arduino UNO" from the board menu and you're ready to upload code. The on-board power regulator can handle anything from 7 to 15VDC. It has lots 54! The large number of pins make this board very handy for projects that require a bunch of digital inputs or outputs like lots of LEDs or buttons. This means that it can be cheaper and simpler. Also, because the board is handling USB directly, code libraries are available which allow the board to emulate a computer keyboard, mouse, and more!

While your Arduino board sure is pretty, it can't do a whole lot on its own -- you've got to hook it up to something. There are lots of tutorials here on learn as well as the links back in the 'What does it do' section, but rarely do we talk about the general kinds of things you can easily hook into.

In this section we'll introduce basic sensors as well as Arduino shields , two of the most handy tools to use in bringing your projects to life. With some simple code, the Arduino can control and interact with a wide variety of sensors - things that can measure light , temperature , degree of flex , pressure , proximity , acceleration , carbon monoxide , radioactivity , humidity , barometric pressure , you name it , you can sense it! Just a few of the sensors that are easily compatible with Arduino.

Additionally, there are these things called shields -- basically they are pre-built circuit boards that fit on top of your Arduino and provide additional capabilities -- controlling motors , connecting to the internet , providing cellular or other wireless communication , controlling an LCD screen , and much more.

A partial selection of available shields to extend the power of your Arduino. Now that you know all about the Arduino family, which board you might want to use for your project, and that there are tons of sensors and shields to help take your projects to the next level.

Here are some further readings that may help you along in learning more about the world of electronics. Need Help? Mountain Time: Shopping Cart 0 items. Product Menu. Today's Deals Forum Desktop Site. All Categories. Development Single Board Comp. Home Tutorials What is an Arduino? What is an Arduino? Introduction Arduino is an open-source platform used for building electronics projects. Looking for the right Arduino? What Does it Do? What's on the board? The Arduino Family Arduino makes several different boards, each with different capabilities.

Here are a few options that are well-suited to someone new to the world of Arduino: Arduino Uno R3 The Uno is a great choice for your first Arduino. The Extended Family While your Arduino board sure is pretty, it can't do a whole lot on its own -- you've got to hook it up to something. Sensors With some simple code, the Arduino can control and interact with a wide variety of sensors - things that can measure light , temperature , degree of flex , pressure , proximity , acceleration , carbon monoxide , radioactivity , humidity , barometric pressure , you name it , you can sense it!

Resources and Going Further Now that you know all about the Arduino family, which board you might want to use for your project, and that there are tons of sensors and shields to help take your projects to the next level. How do I install a custom Arduino library? It's easy! This tutorial will go over how to install an Arduino library using the Arduino Library Manager. For libraries not linked with the Arduino IDE, we will also go over manually installing an Arduino library.

Favorited Favorite A step-by-step guide to installing and testing the Arduino software on Windows, Mac, and Linux. This tutorial will go over how to install an Arduino board definition using the Arduino Board Manager. We will also go over manually installing third-party cores, such as the board definitions required for many of the SparkFun development boards.

Favorited Favorite 3. Arduino Board Comparison Guides. Examining the diverse world of Arduino boards and understanding the differences between them before choosing one for a project.