Subject Electronics and Robotics
Grade 10
Module No. 5
Module Title Introduction to Arduino Uno
Time Allotment 4 hours
Specific Learning
Explain the basics of Arduino Uno
Outcomes
Module Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and
Content software. Arduino boards can read inputs - light on a sensor, a finger on a button, or a
Twitter message - and turn it into an output - activating a motor, turning on an LED,
publishing something online. You can tell your board what to do by sending a set of
instructions to the microcontroller on the board. To do so you use the Arduino
programming language (based on Wiring), and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on
Processing.
Over the years Arduino has been the brain of thousands of projects, from everyday objects
to complex scientific instruments. Uno is one of the popular boards in the Arduino family
and a great choice for beginners. In this module, we’ll talk about the basics of Arduino
Uno, what’s on it and what it can do.
Elicit Q1. Given the parts of Arduino Uno, pick one part and discuss it briefly.
IMAGE SOURCE: [Link]
Engage Access and watch the video entitled: ‘What is Arduino UNO?’ from this link:
[Link]
Q2. What is the most significant information you learned from the video?
Explore Below are some definitions of terms:
• ARDUINO - an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible,
easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists,
and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. In simple
terms, the Arduino is a tiny computer system that can be programmed with your
instructions to interact with various forms of input and output.
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• IDE - Integrated Development Environment, software for programmers that
consolidates coding, compiling, diagnostic, and debugging tools in a single
interface.
• MICROCONTROLLER - an integrated circuit (IC) containing all main parts of a typical
computer, which are as follows:
Processor
Memories
Peripherals
Inputs and outputs
The processor is the brain, the part where all decisions are taken, and which can
calculate.
Memories are often both spaces where both the core inner-self program and the
user elements are running (generally called Read Only Memory (ROM) and
Random Access Memory (RAM)).
Peripherals can be defined by the self-peripherals contained in a global board;
these are very different types of integrated circuits with a main purpose: to
support the processor and to extend its capabilities.
Inputs and outputs are the ways of communication between the world (around the
microcontroller) and the microcontroller itself.
• OPEN-SOURCE - denoting software for which the original source code is made
freely available and may be redistributed and modified.
Explain ARDUINO UNO
The Arduino microcontroller is like a little command center that is awaiting your orders.
With a few lines of code, you can make your Arduino turn a light on or off, read a sensor
value and display it on your computer screen, or even use it to build a homemade circuit
to repair a broken kitchen appliance. Because of the versatility of the Arduino and the
massive support available from the online community of Arduino users, it has attracted a
new breed of electronics hobbyists who have never before touched a microcontroller, let
alone programmed one.
The basic idea of the Arduino is to create an atmosphere where anyone who is interested
can participate and contribute with little upfront cost. A basic Arduino board can be found
online, and all of the software needed to program the Arduino is open-source (free to use
and modify). You need only a computer and a standard USB cable. In addition to being
inexpensive, the creators of Arduino came up with an easy-to-learn programming
language (derived from C++) that incorporates various complex programming functions
into simple commands that are much easier for a beginner to learn.
The Arduino comes in many different shapes and sizes. Today we can count around 15
boards ‘Arduino-based’, which is a funny meta-term to define different type of board
designs all made using Atmel AVR processor. The main differences between those boards
are:
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• type of processor
• number of inputs and outputs
• form factor
Some Arduino boards are a bit more powerful, considering calculation speed, some other
have more memory, some have a lot of inputs/outputs (check the huge Arduino Mega),
some are intended to be integrated in more complex projects and have a very small form
factor with very few inputs and outputs. The magic behind this family is the fact that we
can use the same Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on our computers with any
of those boards.
The most popular board ideal for starters is the Arduino Uno. "Uno" means one in Italian
and is named to mark the upcoming release of Arduino 1.0. The Uno and version 1.0 will
be the reference versions of Arduino, moving forward.
Digital I/O Pins: 14
Analog Input Pins: 6
Microcontroller: ATmega328
Flash Memory: 32 KN (ATmega328)
Arduino also simplifies the process of working with microcontrollers, but it offers some
advantage for teachers, students, and interested amateurs over other systems:
• Inexpensive - Arduino boards are relatively inexpensive compared to other
microcontroller platforms.
• Cross-platform - The Arduino Software (IDE) runs on Windows, Macintosh OSX,
and Linux operating systems. Most microcontroller systems are limited to
Windows.
• Simple, clear programming environment - The Arduino Software (IDE) is easy-to-
use for beginners, yet flexible enough for advanced users to take advantage of as
well. For teachers, it's conveniently based on the Processing programming
environment, so students learning to program in that environment will be familiar
with how the Arduino IDE works.
• Open source and extensible software - The Arduino software is published as open
source tools, available for extension by experienced programmers. The language
can be expanded through C++ libraries, and people wanting to understand the
technical details can make the leap from Arduino to the AVR C programming
language on which it's based. Similarly, you can add AVR-C code directly into your
Arduino programs if you want to.
• Open source and extensible hardware - The plans of the Arduino boards are
published under a Creative Commons license, so experienced circuit designers can
make their own version of the module, extending it and improving it. Even
relatively inexperienced users can build the breadboard version of the module to
understand how it works and save money.
Elaborate In simple terms, the Arduino is a tiny computer system that can be programmed with your
instructions to interact with various forms of input and output. The current Arduino board
model, the Uno, is quite small in size compared to the average human hand, as you can
see in the figure in the next page.
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Although it might not look like much to the
new observer, the Arduino system allows you
to create devices that can interact with the
world around you. By using an almost
unlimited range of input and output devices,
sensors, indicators, displays, motors, and
more, you can program the exact
interactions required to create a functional
device. For example, artists have created
installations with patterns of blinking lights
that respond to the movements of passers-
by, high school students have built autonomous robots that can detect an open flame and
extinguish it, and geographers have designed systems that monitor temperature and
humidity and transmit this data back to their offices via text message. In fact, you’ll find
an almost infinite number of examples with a quick search on the Internet.
Now let’s move on and explore our Arduino Uno hardware (in other words, the “physical
part”) in more detail and see what we have. Let’s take a quick tour of the Uno. Starting at
the left side of the board, you’ll see two connectors, as shown in the figure below:
On the far left is the Universal Serial Bus
(USB) connector. This connects
the board to your computer for three
reasons: to supply power to the
board, to upload your instructions to the
Arduino, and to send data to and
receive it from a computer. On the right is
the power connector. Through this
connector, you can power the Arduino
with a standard mains power adapter.
At the lower middle is the heart of the board: the microcontroller, as shown:
The microcontroller is the “brains” of the Arduino. It is a tiny computer that contains a
processor to execute instructions, includes various types of memory to hold data and
instructions from our sketches, and provides various avenues of sending and receiving
data.
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Just below the microcontroller are two rows of small sockets. The first row offers power
connections and the ability to use an external RESET button. The second row offers six
analog inputs that are used to measure electrical signals that vary in voltage. Furthermore,
pins A4 and A5 can also be used for sending data to and receiving it from other devices.
Along the top of the board are two more rows of sockets, Sockets (or pins) numbered 0 to
13 are digital input/output (I/O) pins. They can either detect whether or not an electrical
signal is present or generate a signal on command. Pins 0 and 1 are also known as the
serial port, which is used to send and receive data to other devices, such as a computer
via the USB connector circuitry. The pins labeled with a tilde (~) can also generate a varying
electrical signal, which can be useful for such things as creating lighting effects or
controlling electric motors.
Next are some very useful devices called light-emitting diodes (LEDs); these very tiny
devices light up when a current passes through them. The Arduino board has four LEDs:
one on the far right labeled
ON, which indicates when the
board has power, and three in
another group, as shown in
the figure. The LEDs labeled
TX and RX light up when data
is being transmitted or
received between the
Arduino and attached devices
via the serial port and USB.
The L LED is for your own use
(it is connected to the digital
I/O pin number 13). The little black square part to the left of the LEDs is a tiny
microcontroller that controls the USB interface that allows your Arduino to send data to
and receive it from a computer, but you don’t generally have to concern yourself with it.
And, finally, the RESET button. As with a normal
computer, sometimes things can go wrong with the
Arduino, and when all else fails, you might need to
reset the system and restart your Arduino. This simple
RESET button on the board is used to restart the system
to resolve these problems.
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The companion to the Arduino hardware is the software, a collection of instructions that
tell the hardware what to do and how to do it. Two types of software can be used:
• integrated development environment (IDE),
• Arduino sketch you create yourself.
The IDE software is installed on your personal computer and is used to compose and send
sketches to the Arduino board.
TAKING A LOOK AROUND THE IDE
The Arduino IDE resembles a simple word processor. The IDE is divided into three main
areas: the command area, the text area, and the message window area.
The Command Area
The command area is shown at the top of the figure and includes the title bar, menu items,
and icons. The title bar displays the sketch’s filename (sketch_mar22a), as well as the
version of the IDE (Arduino 1.0). Below this is a series of menu items (File, Edit, Sketch,
Tools, and Help) and icons, as described next.
Menu Items
As with any word processor or text editor, you can click one of the menu items to display
its various options.
File Contains options to save, load, and print sketches; a thorough set
of example sketches to open; as well as the Preferences submenu
Edit Contains the usual copy, paste, and search functions common to any word
processor
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Sketch Contains the function to verify your sketch before uploading to a board, and
some sketch folder and import options
Tools Contains a variety of functions as well as the commands to select the Arduino
board type and USB port
Help Contains links to various topics of interest and the version of the IDE
The Icons
Below the menu toolbar are six icons. Mouse over each icon to display its
name. The icons, from left to right, are as follows:
Verify Click this to check that the Arduino sketch is valid and doesn’t contain any
programming mistakes.
Upload Click this to verify and then upload your sketch to the Arduino board.
New Click this to open a new blank sketch in a new window.
Open Click this to open a saved sketch.
Save Click this to save the open sketch. If the sketch doesn’t have a name, you will
be prompted to create one.
Serial Monitor Click this to open a new window for use in sending and receiving data
between your Arduino and the IDE.
The Text Area
The text area is shown in the middle of the figure; this is where you’ll create your sketches.
The name of the current sketch is displayed in the tab at the upper left of the text area.
(The default name is the current date.) You’ll enter the contents of your sketch here as
you would in any text editor.
The Message Window Area
The message window area is shown at the bottom of the figure. Messages from the IDE
appear in the black area. The messages you see will vary and will include messages about
verifying sketches, status updates, and so on.
At the bottom right of the message area, you should see the name of your Arduino board
type as well as its connected USB port—Arduino Duemilanove w/ATmega328 on COM6 in
this case.
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Evaluate Give the corresponding name of the numbered icons and briefly describe their functions.
References Adams, Josh, [Link]. Aduino Robotics. New York, USA: Springer Science + Business Media,
LLC, 2011.
Arduino Documentation by Erik Verberne.
ArduinoBoardUnoSMD – Arduino. [Link]
Bayle, Julien. C Programming for Arduino. Birmingham, UK: Packt Publishing Ltd., 2013.
Boxall, John. Arduino Workshop ( A hands-on Introduction with 65 Projects). USA:
William Pollock, 2013.
Integrated development environment. [Link]
development-environment
SIK Experiment Guide for Arduino – V3.2. [Link]
experiment-guide-for-arduino---v32/introduction-sik-arduino-uno
What is Arduino? [Link]
knn’26
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