Arduino

We will be learning to use an Arduino Uno. To program an Arduino you need to use an Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment).  The school has this installed on the school computers.

If you want to use your own computer you can download and install it, or you can use the online IDE (this will work on Chromebooks).

There are a few other tools you may find helpful.

TinkerCAD will let you build an Arduino circuit and simulate your code. It also has a block based programmer that will generate code you can paste into the Arduino IDE,

Arduino Introdution

Learn:
What is an Arduino

Getting started with the IDE

Do:
Log in to the IDE

Get the blinking light sketch working

Extend:
Blink a message in Morse code

Arduino Intro - Nano

Output - Adding  Electronics

Learn:
How to use the breadboard

How to wire up an LED

Do:
Add another LED to pin 13

Add another LED to a different pin

Extend:
What can you do with more LEDs? 

Output - Adding electronics - Nano

Powering the Arduino

Learn:
How to power the Arduino

Do:
Connect a 9V battery to the Arduino

Extend:
Power several components

Powering the Arduino - Nano

Analog Out - Dimming an LED

Learn:
About the  PWM pins (3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and11)

Dimming LEDs with PWM

Do:
Get an LED to glow dim and bright.

Extend:
Fade up and down

Analog out Dimming an LED - Nano

Debugging

Learn:
Some of the things that can go wrong.

What to look for.

Do:
Keep this in mind for the next time you build a circuit

Extend:
Get awesome at it! Help the people around you.

Debugging Arduino

And the same, but in easier to navigate, checklist form.

Debugging Arduino

Making colours - using an RGB LED

Learn:
How to use RGB colour theory to control the RGB LED.

Make different colours

Do:
Mix colours with the RGB LED to make new colours.

Extend:
Fade through all the colours the LED can make

Making color with an RGB LED - Nano

Talking to the Arduino

Learn:
Using the Serial monitor

Do:
Print "Hello world" to the monitor

Count to 10

Extend:
Print from a loop

Talking to the Arduino - Nano

Comp Sci Topic: Operating Systems

Input - Adding a knob (Potentiometer)

Learn:
Voltage splitters

Do:
Add a knob, print the reading

Extend:
Use the knob to control your LEDs

Input - Adding a knob - Nano

Control an LED - with the knob

Learn:
Linking input to output in the code

Do:
Use the knob to choose a pattern to flash

Extend:
Get an LED to change brightness when you turn the knob

Control an LED - nano

Sensing light - using the LDR

Learn:
How an Light Dependent Resistor works


Do:
Make a night light that turns on when it gets dark.

Extend:
Make a sunburn alarm.

Detecting light - Nano

Adding a button

Learn:
How to use the digital IO pin

Do:
Connect a switch

Use it to trigger a pattern

Extend:
Use it to toggle lights on and off

Add a button - Nano

Making noise - Use the piezo buzzer

Learn:
How a piezo buzzer works

Do:
Make a tone with the piezo buzzer

Extend:
Play music with the Arduino

Making noise - Nano

Move things - With a servo motor

Learn:
How a servomotor works

Do:
Make a the servo wave, like windscreen wipers

Extend:
Connect the knob. Turn the knob to turn the servo.

Servo Motor - Nano

Display pictures - with an LED matrix

Learn:
How a the LED matrix works

Do:
Make a your own image display on the matrix

Extend:
Display an animation

Add a button (or other sensor) to trigger the animation

LED Matrix - Nano
Other uses for components - Nano