Slides from my "Getting started with Arduino" workshop. Details at http://hardwarefun.com/news/slides-from-getting-started-with-arduino-workshop

1. Getting started with Arduino
Hands-on Workshop
Sudar Muthu
http://hardwarefun.com
@hardwarefun

2. What is an Arduino?
Photo credit: Arduino team

3. Types of Arduino
• Leonardo, Uno (and older ones)
• Yun (Includes a Linux Kernel)
• Due (32-bit)
• Mega (more input pins)
• Arduino BT (includes Bluetooth)
• LilyPad (wearable)
• Arduino Pro
• ADK (supports Android ADK)
• Clones (around 300+)

4. Arduino Shields
http://shieldlist.org/

5. Breadboard Basics
http://hardwarefun.com 5

6. • The first two and the last two rows are
connected
• In all the other rows, columns are connected
• Connect the first and last row to power
• Connect the second and second last row to
ground
http://hardwarefun.com 6
How to use a breadboard

7. Powering Up Arduino
http://hardwarefun.com 7

8. • Using USB cable
• Using DC power jacket
• Giving voltage directly into Vin pin
• Giving regulated voltage directly into 5V pin
http://hardwarefun.com 8
Different ways to power up Arduino

9. Setting Up Arduino
http://hardwarefun.com 9

10. Testing The Setup With A
“Hello World” Program
http://hardwarefun.com 10

11. http://hardwarefun.com 11
Blinking LED

12. • Insert a LED in pin 13
• Open File->Examples->Basics->Blink
• Select Tools->Boards->Arduino Uno
• Select File->Upload (or press ctrl+u)
• You should get the message “Done upload”
• Your Led should blink
• Congrats you can program Arduino now 
http://hardwarefun.com 12
Making a LED blink

13. Anatomy Of An Arduino Sketch
http://hardwarefun.com 13

14. Things you can try
• Vary the frequency at which the LED is
blinking
• Add more LED’s

15. • Uno has one UART hardware port, using which
we can exchange information with computer
• Very useful for debugging
• Works at a specified baud rate
• Use Serial Monitor to read values (Tools ->
Serial Monitor)
• SoftwareSerial is also available
http://hardwarefun.com 15
Printing values through Serial

16. Reading values from Serial
serial.read()
serial.print()
serial.println()
https://github.com/sudar/arduino-
sketches/blob/master/SerialPrint/SerialPrint.ino

17. Digital Input And Output
http://hardwarefun.com 17

18. Digital Input
http://hardwarefun.com 18

19. Code
Open File->Examples->Basics->DigitalReadSerial

20. The LED blink that we did at “setting up
Arduino” is Digital output
http://hardwarefun.com 20
Digital Output

21. Analog Input
http://hardwarefun.com 21

22. • Connect the LDR on pin A0 and Gnd
• LDR’s resistance varies based on the amount
of light present
• Read the current value using analogRead()
• Print the value in Serial Monitor
http://hardwarefun.com 22
Reading Analog values from sensors

23. Code
Open File->Examples->Basics->AnalogReadSerial

24. Analog Output
http://hardwarefun.com 24

25. • What is PWM?
• Analog like behavior using digital output
• Works by switching the LED on and off
regularly
• Changing the brightness of a Led
http://hardwarefun.com 25
Analog Output

26. Code
Open File->Examples->Analog->Fading

27. Combining Input and Output
http://hardwarefun.com 27

28. Control an LED based on light
void setup()
{
pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
int val = analogRead(A0);
if (val > 50) {
digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
} else {
digitalWrite(13, LOW);
}
}

29. Things to try
• Control LED based on button press
• Alternate two LED’s based on button press
• Persist the status of button

30. Moving Forward
• Connect to display devices like 7-segment
display or LCD
• Connect to motion sensors
• Connect to other components like shift
register etc
• Connect to a RTC chip

31. Things which I have tried
• Connecting to mobile Android phones using
– Bluetooth
– Wired and wireless
– Audio Jacket
– NFC
– ADK
• Connected all sorts of display devices including VGA devices like projectors
• Connected external USB devices like keyboard, mouse and even USB Missile
launchers - http://hardwarefun.com/tutorials/controlling-usb-missile-launchers-
using-arduino
• Connected ez430 chronos watch
• Connected IR devices like TV Remotes etc
• Connected bluetooth devices like WiiRemote
• Created small autonomous bots that can be controlled by either a WiiRemote or
Android phones - http://hardwarefun.com/projects/asimi
• Detect motion using PIR, IR and ultrasound motion sensors
• More projects at http://hardwarefun.com