Arduino Adventures: Escape from Gemini Station

Arduino Adventures: Escape from Gemini Station

by James Floyd Kelly, Harold Timmis
Released January 2013
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430246053

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Book description

Arduino Adventures: Escape from Gemini Station provides a fun introduction to the Arduino microcontroller by putting you (the reader) into the action of a science fiction adventure story. You'll find yourself following along as Cade and Elle explore Gemini Station—an orbiting museum dedicated to preserving and sharing technology throughout the centuries.

Trouble ensues. The station is evacuated, including Cade and Elle's class that was visiting the station on a field trip. Cade and Elle don't make it aboard their shuttle and are trapped on the station along with a friendly artificial intelligence named Andrew who wants to help them get off the damaged station. Using some old hardware, a laptop, and some toolboxes full of electronics parts, you will follow along and build eight gizmos with Cade and Elle that will help them escape from Gemini Station.

The hardware is Arduino. Each new challenge opens a new area of Arduino and basic electronics knowledge. You'll be taken incrementally from a simple task such as turning on a light through to a complex combination of microcontroller, electronic components, and software programming. By the end of the book you'll be well on your way towards being able to create and implement any sort of electronically controlled device you can imagine, using the stunningly popular Arduino microcontroller.

  • Provides eight challenges, each challenge increasing in complexity

  • Builds around a fictional storyline that keeps the learning fun

  • Leaves you on a solid foundation of electronic skills and knowledge

    • What you'll learn

  • Install and configure Arduino's programming environment

  • Build understanding of LEDs, Resisters, and other basic components

  • Build and test electronic circuits involving breadboarding and basic wiring

  • Program behavior using the Arduino Programming Language

  • Interface and influence the physical world through motors and sensors

    • Who this book is for

    Escape from Gemini Station: An Arduino Hands-On Adventure is suitable for ages 8 and up. No experience is required, and complete instructions are provided on using the Arduino microcontroller. Teachers will find the book useful for the downloadable teacher handouts available from the authors' website. The book is perfect for anyone learning Arduino, or preparing to teach it to first-time users.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Dedication
    3. Contents at a Glance
    4. Contents
    5. About the Authors
    6. About the Technical Reviewers
    7. Acknowledgments
    8. Introduction
    9. Chapter 1: Trouble at Gemini Station
      1. Trouble Begins
      2. On the Level, or Not?
      3. Andrew 5.0
      4. Boom!
      5. Escape, or Not
      6. A Plan
    10. Chapter 2: Challenge 1: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. What Is an Arduino?
      2. Giving an Arduino a Job to Do
      3. Installing the Software
      4. Ready to Build Something?
    11. Chapter 3: Challenge 1: Examining the Hardware
      1. Locating the Parts You’ll Need
      2. Let’s Build Gizmo #1
      3. What’s Next?
    12. Chapter 4: Challenge 1: Examining the Software
      1. The Arduino IDE
      2. The Challenge #1 Sketch
      3. Solving Challenge #1
    13. Chapter 5: Damage Assessment
      1. The Face of Andrew
      2. An Embarrassed Cade
      3. The Unlocking
    14. Chapter 6: Challenge 2: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Let’s Look at a Battery
      2. And Now a Circuit
      3. Current Flow
      4. Ready to Build Something?
    15. Chapter 7: Challenge 2: Examining the Hardware
      1. The Push Button
      2. The Light Emitting Diode
      3. The Resistor
      4. Let’s Build Gizmo #2
      5. What’s Next?
    16. Chapter 8: Challenge 2: Examining the Software
      1. Functions Explained
      2. The Challenge 2 Sketch
      3. Solve Challenge #2
    17. Chapter 9: Feeling The Heat
      1. On a Pedestal
      2. Chutes and Ladders
      3. Green-eyed Hatches
    18. Chapter 10: Challenge 3: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Looking at the Temperature Sensor
      2. Ready to Build Something?
    19. Chapter 11: Challenge 3: Examining the Hardware
      1. What Is a Sensor?
      2. Let’s Build Gizmo 3!
    20. Chapter 12: Challenge 3: Examining the Software
      1. The Conditional If-Else Statement
      2. The Challenge #3 Sketch
      3. Solve Challenge #3
    21. Chapter 13: Uninvited Guest
      1. Upward
      2. Spooky?
      3. Urgency!
      4. Danger!
      5. Bucket
    22. Chapter 14: Challenge 4: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Looking at the Bucket Mover
      2. Understanding the ICs
      3. Ready to Build Something?
    23. Chapter 15: Challenge 4: Examining the Hardware
      1. New Hardware
      2. Let’s Build Gadget #4
    24. Chapter 16: Challenge 4: Examining the Software
      1. The Challenge 4 Sketch
      2. Breaking It Down
      3. Solve Challenge 4
    25. Chapter 17: Hide and Seek
      1. The Crossing
      2. Five Minutes!
      3. Run!
      4. Walk
    26. Chapter 18: Challenge 5: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Let’s Look at the Challenge 5 Gizmo
      2. Ready to Build Something?
    27. Chapter 19: Challenge 5: Examining the Hardware
      1. A Closer Look at the PIR Sensor
      2. Let’s Build The Challenge 5 Gizmo
    28. Chapter 20: Challenge 5: Examining the Software
      1. Thinking Through the Solution
      2. Understanding the Tone Function
      3. The Challenge #5 Sketch
      4. Solve Challenge #5
    29. Chapter 21: Carousel Ride
      1. Close Call
      2. Nothing To See Here
      3. An Engineering Problem
    30. Chapter 22: Challenge 6: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Let’s Look at the Challenge 6 Gizmo
      2. Ready to Build Something?
    31. Chapter 23: Challenge 6: Examining the Hardware
      1. A Closer Look at a Servo Motor
      2. Let’s Build the Challenge 6 Gizmo
    32. Chapter 24: Challenge 6: Examining the Software
      1. Servo Library Explained
      2. The Challenge #6 Sketch
      3. Solve Challenge #6
    33. Chapter 25: Push the Button
      1. Backup Plan
      2. Control Center
      3. Crazy Plan
      4. The Flashlight
    34. Chapter 26: Challenge 7: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. Let’s Look at the Challenge 7 Gizmo
      2. Ready to Build Something?
    35. Chapter 27: Challenge 7: Examining the Hardware
      1. A Closer Look at a Photoresistor
      2. Let’s Build the Challenge 7 Gizmo
    36. Chapter 28: Challenge 7: Examining Software
      1. The Challenge #7 Sketch
      2. Solve Challenge #7
    37. Chapter 29: Off the Station
      1. The Hulk
      2. Launch Problem
      3. The Final Fix
    38. Chapter 30: Challenge 8: Fun Stuff to Know
      1. The Basic Components
      2. Let’s Look at the Challenge 8 Chassis
      3. Ready to Build Something?
    39. Chapter 31: Challenge 8: Examining the Hardware
      1. New Hardware
      2. Let’s Build Gizmo #8
    40. Chapter 32: Challenge 8: Examining Software
      1. Functions Explained
      2. The Challenge #8 Sketch
      3. Solve Challenge #8
      4. You’re Not Done!
    41. Chapter 33: Epilogue
      1. Three Weeks Later
    42. Appendix A: Parts List
      1. Challenge 1: Potentiometer
      2. Challenge 2: LED Flashlight
      3. Challenge 3: Temperature Detector
      4. Challenge 4: Motor Control
      5. Challenge 5: Motion Detector
      6. Challenge 6: Servo Motor Control
      7. Challenge 7: Light-Sensing Motor Control
      8. Challenge 8: Build Your Own Robot
      9. Tools
    43. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Arduino Adventures: Escape from Gemini Station
    • Author(s): James Floyd Kelly, Harold Timmis
    • Release date: January 2013
    • Publisher(s): Apress
    • ISBN: 9781430246053