Mixly Projects Tutorials
Getting Started with Hardware Projects
Project 1: Built-in LED
When it comes to using the REV4 as core of our robot, the REV4 is the best board to get
started with electronics and coding.
If this is your first experience tinkering with the platform, the REV4 is the most robust
board you can start playing with.
Well, let’s at first have a look at this.
Here is an explanation chart of what every element and interface of the board does:
ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) Header
In most case, ICSP is the AVR，an Arduino micro-program header consisting of
MOSI, MISO, SCK, RESET, VCC, and GND. It is often called the SPI (serial
peripheral interface) and can be considered an “extension” of the output. In fact, slave
the output devices under the SPI bus host.
When connecting to PC, program the firmware to ATMEGA328P-PU.
Power LED Indicator
Powering the Arduino, LED on means that your circuit board is correctly powered on.
If LED is off, connection is wrong.
Digital I/O
Arduino REV4 has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM
outputs). These pins can be configured as digital input pin to read the logic value (0 or
1). Or used as digital output pin to drive different modules like LED, relay, etc. The
pin labeled “〜” can be used to generate PWM.
GND ( Ground pin headers)
Used for circuit ground
AREF
Reference voltage (0-5V) for analog inputs. Used with analogReference().
SDA
IIC communication pin
SCL
IIC communication pin
ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) Header
In most case, ICSP is the AVR，an Arduino micro-program header consisting of
MOSI, MISO, SCK, RESET, VCC, and GND. Connected to ATMEGA 16U2-MU.
When connecting to PC, program the firmware to ATMEGA 16U2-MU.
RESET Button
You can reset your Arduino board, for example, start the program from the initial
status. You can use the RESET button.
D13 LED
There is a built-in LED driven by digital pin 13. When the pin is HIGH value, the
LED is on, when the pin is LOW, it’s off.
USB Connection
Arduino board can be powered via USB connector. All you needed to do is connecting
the USB port to PC using a USB cable.
ATMEGA 16U2-MU
USB to serial chip, can convert the USB signal into serial port signal.
TX LED
Onboard you can find the label: TX (transmit) When Arduino board communicates via
serial port, send the message, TX led flashes.
RX LED
Onboard you can find the label: RX(receive ) When Arduino board communicates via
serial port, receive the message, RX led flashes.
Crystal Oscillator
Helping Arduino deal with time problems. How does Arduino calculate time? by using
a crystal oscillator.
The number printed on the top of the Arduino crystal is 16.000H9H. It tells us that the
frequency is 16,000,000 Hertz or 16MHz.
Voltage Regulator
To control the voltage provided to the Arduino board, as well as to stabilize the DC
voltage used by the processor and other components.
Convert an external input DC7-12V voltage into DC 5V, then switch DC 5V to the
processor and other components.
DC Power Jack
Arduino board can be supplied with an external power DC7-12V from the DC power
jack.
IOREF
Used to configure the operating voltage of microcontrollers. Use it less.
RESET Header
Connect an external button to reset the board. The function is the same as reset button
(labeled 9)
Power Pin 3V3
A 3.3 volt supply generated by the on-board regulator. Maximum current draw is 50
mA.
Power Pin 5V
Provides 5V output voltage
Vin
You can supply an external power input DC7-12V through this pin to Arduino board.
Analog Pins
Arduino REV4 board has 6 analog inputs, labeled A0 through A5.
These pins can read the signal from analog sensors (such as humidity sensor or
temperature sensor), and convert it into the digital value that can read by
microcontrollers) Can also used as digital pins, A0=D14, A1=D15, A2=D16, A3=D17,
A4=D18, A5=D19.
Microcontroller
Each Arduino board has its own microcontroller. You can regard it as the brain of your
board.
The main IC (integrated circuit) on the Arduino is slightly different from the panel
pair. Microcontrollers are usually from ATMEL. Before you load a new program on
the Arduino IDE, you must know what IC is on your board. This information can be
checked at the top of IC.
Let’s make a simple test for the REV4 built-in LED (D13).
We will work on blinking an LED. That’s right – it’s as simple as turning a light on and
off!
Now enough talking – let’s get started with the LED project.
Blinking an LED
It’s pretty simple to turn a built-in led on and off. We only require REV4 control board
and a USB cable to enter the wonderful programming world.
Connect your REV4 board to the computer’s USB port using a USB cable for
communication.