This document discusses the maker movement and platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi that have enabled more people to engage in physical computing and electronics projects. It provides an overview of these open hardware platforms, how they have lowered the barriers to entry for makers, and examples of types of projects people are creating with tools now freely available on the internet. The maker movement has transformed hobbies by giving more people access to technologies that were previously only available to experts.

1. Raspberry Pi, Arduino and
the Maker Movement
Dr. Simon Monk

2. Simon Monk
• Full-time Author - Open Source
Hardware and Electronics

3. Audience
• Who has used an Arduino?
• Who has used a Raspberry Pi?
• Who teaches Electronics?

4. Objectives
• Understanding the Maker Movement
• Post Expert design and manufacture
• Maker Examples
• Platforms for Physical Computing
• Open Source Hardware

5. Demonstration
Arduino Flag

6. ‘Post-Expert’ Making
Why is this possible?
With the advent of the Internet, expert knowledge is now
freely available to all.
Open Source Hardware - designs are not secret, learn by
example and modify.
‘Expert’ amateurs create tools for ‘less expert’ Makers
(Arduino etc.)
Services - PCB fabrication, 3D printing, laser cutting
Very low cost of entry
Hackspaces and FabLabs provide shared tools and

7. Maker Projects

8. Hacking

9. Bubblino

10. Etch-a-sketch

11. Global Show and Tell
• Instructables.com
• Hacknmod.com
• Youtube
• Blogs
• Books

12. Hen-House Door

13. Platforms for Physical
Computing
• Arduino
• Raspberry Pi
• BeagleBone Black
• Spark Core (IoT)
• Microcontroller chip on
homemade PCB

14. What is an Arduino?
USB
Power
Digital Inputs / Outputs
Analog Inputs

15. Arduino Software

16. Types of Arduino
• Uno (standard)
• Bigger ones (Due, Mega)
• Smaller Ones (Nano, Mini)
• Drone Piloting (ArduPilot)
• Wearable (lilypad, flora)
• Built-in Ethernet / WiFi (IoT)

17. Shields
• Ethernet / WiFi
• Motor Driver
• Relay
• LCD Display
• USB Host
• Sensors
• etc.

18. Arduino ECG Shield

19. Demonstration
• LED Cube

20. What is a Raspberry Pi?
• USD 40
• Debian
Linux
• HDMI
• USB

21. Hardware
• 512 MB
RAM
• 700 MHz
• GPIO

22. Computer or Physical
Computing Platform?
• Both
• For many users, its just a very cheap
Linux Computer
• But, also capable of interfacing with
sensors and actuators

23. Demonstration
• Software Radio
• Imperial College

24. Programming Pi
• Python
• Tkinter - GUIs
• PyGame - Games
• Scratch - Visual Programming
• C, Java, Clozure CL, Squeek, LAMP (Linux,
Apache, MySQL and PHP)!

25. Pi Expansion
• GPIO Connector
• I2C
• Serial
• General Purpose IO Pins

26. Pi is not Arduino
• Linux - Not a Real-time OS
• Timing unpredictable
• Not good for
• Servos, PWM
• Pulse measurement
• No Analog Inputs
• Low current (delicate) GPIO pins
• 500mA vs 50mA

27. BeagleBone
• BeagleBone Black
• ‘American Pi’
• More GPIO pins than Pi
• Analog inputs
• Javascript (Node.js)

28. BeagleBone
• Web Programming (Cloud9)

29. Example
• Email Notifier

30. Spark Core
• WiFi (for IoT)
• ARM Cortex M3
• 72MHz
• 128kB Flash
• USB2.0
• 12 bit ADC
• USART, SPI & I2C
• Breadboard Friendly
• 18 I/O pins (3V) logic

31. Open Source
Hardware
OSS-type of License
Electronic Design Files
• Schematic
• PCB Layout
• Firmware OSS
Mechanical Design
• 3D models etc

32. Is it Really?

33. Intellectual Property
• First to market
• Community loyalty
• Often crowd-funded (E.g. Spark Core)
• Keep the trademark release the design
• Sell Kits, educational material
• Sell training, consultancy, education

34. Why don’t individuals
make their own?
• They do, that’s fine
• BUT
• Its easier and probably cheaper to buy
one made using economies of scale

35. OSH Examples
• Microcontroller / Computer Boards
• Arduino
• Raspberry Pi
• .NET Gadgeteer Boards (Even .NET on OSH)
• BeagleBoard
• Spark Core

36. OSH Examples
• Modules
• GPS
• Microphone (Preamp)
• Motor Drivers
• PIR Sensor
• etc.

37. OSH Examples
• Tools
• RepRap - 3D printer
• Maker Bot - 3D printer
• Lasersaur - Laser cutter

38. Where does this leave
the expert?
• Makers often lack deep understanding and
engineering discipline.
• Young Makers attracted to Engineering
disciplines
• ‘Make more value than you take’ (Tim
O’Reilly)

39. Summary
• Hobby Making moving from cakes and
woodwork into high technology
• Tools to help
• Information to help
• Communities to help

40. Contact
• Twitter: @simonmonk2
• Web: www.monkmakes.com
• Email: evilgeniusauthor@gmail.com
• Blog: www.doctormonk.com