External Resources

Arduino Programming

Start by visiting the most definitive place for information about Arduino at http://www.arduino.cc/. Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software.

• Home page
• Download Arduino Software (download the software for Windows, OSX, or Linux)
• Installation Guide
• Language Reference
• Example programs
• FAQs
• Arduino Forums (a good place to get some help if you get stuck, but refrain from asking someone else to write your programs)

Links to excellent tutorials and information available at https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/me2011/arduino

I have highlighted the ones that I think are most relevant for your project.

• Arduino Guide (PDF file) -- read this guide first
• Interfacing Devices to the Arduino
  • Hooking up an LED, a switch and a motor
  • DC motor, including bi-directional control
  • Stepper motor
  • Servomotor
  • Relay
  • Microswitche
  • Photocell (light sensor)
  • All about LEDs
  • Sound and speaker
  • Distance sensing with sonar
  • Temperature sensing
  • Reading analog signals
  • Circuit boards
• Troubleshooting
  • Troubleshooting page
  • Debugging a robot

Links to ITP Physical Computing web page at http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/Tutorials/Tutorials

(contains visually detailed, nicely illustrated tutorials on electronics and Arduino programming. All of these are very helpful for your project.)

• Components Some of the basic components
• Breadboard Setting up a breadboard
• Soldering Begining soldering exercise -- soldering a power connector
• Electronics Introduction to electronics
• Switches Switches
• Digital input and output on the Arduino Module
• Analog input and output on the Arduino Module
• Servomotor control
• DC Motor Control using an H-bridge

Jeremy Blum's Arduino video tutorials (highly recommended)

http://www.jeremyblum.com/category/arduino-tutorials/