2. Outline
• Activity and goals
• Arduino introduction
• Parts and Pieces
• Kit supplies list
• Description/function of each part
• Where to purchase needed supplies
3. Activity Overview
Use the Arduino platform to build a simple scientific
instrument to measure temperature, program and
calibrate the instrument, and collect and visualize the
data.
Goals:
1. Exposing the “black box” of a key piece of scientific
instrumentation, the CTD.
2. Hands-on experience building an electrical circuit.
3. Exposure to computer programming.
4. Introduction to, and importance of, calibration.
5. Practice working in Excel to fit and plot data.
4. Arduino
Arduino is a microcontroller that offers a flexible platform that
can be customized for a wide variety of projects.
Arduino can take a variety of inputs and produce various
outputs as illustrated below:
Arduino uses its own Arduino programming language and is
an open-source product allowing users to contribute to the
overall utility of this flexible hardware/software platform.
Arduino
Board
Input:
• Sensor
• Button/Switch
• Digital command
Output:
• View data stream
• Publish online
• Activate motor
• Turn something on/off
5. Kit Supplies
Each student kit should include the following:
1. 1 Arduino uno R3 (Atmega328-assembled) board
2. 1 half size breadboard
3. 1 Arduino/breadboard holder
4. 1 4.7k ohm pull-up resistor
5. 2 male-male jumper wires
6. 1 male-female jumper wire
7. 1 waterproof DS18B20 digital temperature sensor (modified as shown)
8. 1 USB connector
Students will also need
1. Laptop with Arduino IDE software and appropriate libraries (see
separate instructions for “Preparing Student Computers”)
2. Arduino code for this lab (see SERC website for links to code)
6. A completed kit includes:
BreadboardArduino Board
Arduino/Breadboard Holder
Resistor
Jumper Wires (2 x male/male, male/female) USB AB cableTemperature Sensor
2x
7. 1. Arduino uno R3 board
• Common Arduino board
• Relevant for this activity: the Arduino board
contains digital and analog connections, USB
connection, power jack.
8. 2. Breadboard
• Allows connection of wires and building of simple circuits
without the need for soldering
• Good for building prototypes or temporary circuits (such
as in this exercise)
• Each row consists of two conductive metal clips that
connect the five cells (e.g. a-e or f-j) to each other.
Plugging a wire into one cell (e.g. a) in the row
electronically connects it to anything else plugged into
the same row (e.g. b-e), allowing electricity to flow
through the connection.
• A maximum of five things can be connected in a given
row
• Each breadboard typically also has two sets of power rails.
These + and – columns on the left and right of the
breadboard are connected via a similar metal clip.
Typically all cells within a column are connected. When
linked to a power source the power rails allow easy access
to power regardless of which row you are working in.
(note: this exercise does not use the power rails)
Power rails
9. 3. Arduino/Breadboard holder
• Simple plastic plate that provides an organized and
stable platform for the Arduino board and
breadboard.
10. 5. Pull up resistors
• Resistors limit electron flow through a circuit
• The resistance (measured in Ohms, Ω) of a resistor is indicated by
a series of color bands on the resistor itself.
• A pull up resistor is a special type of resistor that helps transfer a
digital signal
• The language of digital signals, such as those used by computers
(such as Arduino) is a binary language. Digital signals can only be
interpreted in two states: 0 and 1 (i.e. ON and OFF). This state is a
function of the voltage passing through the system. If no voltage
is passing through the system this can result in an unknown or
“floating“ state where the digital signal is neither 0 nor 1 and can
easily be changed due to electrical noise. A pull up resistor is
designed to set the default value (of 1) for a circuit. (pull-down
resistors which set the default at 0 are also available, though less
common). Modifications of voltage passing through the resistor
will result in 0 – 1 transitions and corresponding information
transfer.
• This activity uses a through-hole 4.7 k Ω pull-up resistor (5%
tolerance)
Reference: https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/pull-up-resistors
11. 5. Male-male jumper wire
• Wire with male connections at each end
• In this exercise the male ends are plugged into the
breadboard and Arduino board
12. Male end
6. Male-female jumper wire
Female end
• Wire with female connector at one end and male
connector at the other end
• In this exercise the male end is plugged into the
breadboard and the resistor is plugged into the
female end
13. 7. Temperature Sensor
• Waterproof temperature sensor that measures
temperature using a transistor
• Note: must be prepared by instructor prior to use.
Male jumper wires must be soldered to
temperature sensor wires (see video
demonstration)
14. 8. USB connector
• Standard A-B USB connector to connect Arduino
board to computer
Image source: Amazon.com
USB A
USB B
15. 9. Power
• The Arduino board derives power from the USB
connection in this exercise.
• Students may ask if the Arduino must always be
connected to a computer to work. A battery can be
plugged into the Arduino and used as power. In
that case the computer need only be connected to
the Arduino to load the code. Then it can be
disconnected.
• In this lab we need the serial monitor to see the
data, so it makes sense to have the computer
power the Arduino.
16. Materials – Where to purchase
1. Arduino uno R3 (Atmega328- assembled) board
• Source: Adafruit (product ID: 50)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/50
2. Half size breadboard
• Source: Adafruit (product ID: 64)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/64
• ~$5.00 each
3. Arduino/Breadboard holder (1/kit)
• Source: Sparkfun (product ID: DEV-11235)
• https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11235
• $3.95 each
• Source: Adafruit (product ID: 275)
• https://www.adafruit.com/product/275
• $4.00 to $5.00 each depending on quantity
4. Through-hole 4.7k ohm pull-up resistor
• Source: Adafruit (product ID: 2783)
• https://www.adafruit.com/product/2783
• ~$0.75 / 25 pack
5. male-male jumper wires (2/kit)
• Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 758 / 1956)
• https://www.adafruit.com/?q=758
• ~$4.00 / 40 pack; ~$2.00 / 20 pack
6. Male/female jumper wires (1/kit)
• Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 826 / 1954
• https://www.adafruit.com/product/826
• ~$4.00 / 40 pack; ~$2.00 / 20 pack
7. Waterproof DS18B20 digital temperature sensor
and extras
• Source: Adafruit industries (Product ID: 381)
• https://www.adafruit.com/products/381
• ~$10.00 each
8. A-B USB connector
• Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 62)
• https://www.adafruit.com/product/62
• $3.95 each
• Materials available on SERC website
• Arduino IDE software
• Arduino code
• Student/Professor provided
• Laptop with IDE software
