Arduino, Microcontrollers and you!

Bret Comnes

web.pdx.edu/~bcomnes

Microcontrollers are small computers

Typcally:

• They use less power than a normal computer
  
• Are small
• Can be battery operated
• Programed to do a few specific tasks
• Read voltages
• Generate signals
  

Examples!

MicroControllers used to be super hard to use

• Difficult to get started
• Poor software support
• Geared towards EE
  

Arduino is a set of tools

aimed to make physical computing

easy for everyone

• Easy to use software
  
• Easy to read documentation
• lots of EXAMPLES
• computer, board, usb cable and your off

Arduino comes in many Shapes

Arduino = Open source

These qualities have

helped make arduino very popular

We are focusing on the common

Uno/Leonardo/Duemilanove 

style boards

What comes on the board?

14 Digital Pins (in and out)

How do I solve problems with arduino?

Think about what you need to do!

Think about how you can do it!

Start by learning how others have done it!

Try to get as far as 

you can following the advice of others

...Then make changes to fit your needs

SHIELDS can save you a HEADACHE

Its easy to Write 

Arduino code

It is a variation of C

But you can use pretty much any language you want using libraries

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly: 
  
}}

 // Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards.
// give it a name:
int led = 13;

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset:
void setup() {                
  // initialize the digital pin as an output.
  pinMode(led, OUTPUT);     
}

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(led, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(led, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
}

Lets try it out

Set up lots of examples

Read through more complex projects

Good resources

I wrote a lab 

Beyond the world of Microcontrollers

• raspberry pi
  
• Beagle Bone
• Mojo board
• Arduino YUN

Find a hackspace!

Thanks!