book

The Arduino Inventor's Guide

by Derek Runberg, Brian Huang

June 2017

Beginner

336 pages

8h 4m

English

No Starch Press

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Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
About Sparkfun Electronics
About the Authors
About the Technical Reviewer
A Note from Brian
A Note from Derek
Contents
Contents in Detail

Introduction
What is this Book About?Why Arduino?How is this Book Different from Others?MaterialsRequired ToolsRequired ComputerWhat’s in this Book?Online ResourcesSpread the Word: Sharing Your Work
Electronics Primer
Electricity, Conductivity, and Basic TermsWhat Is Electricity?Types of ElectricityWhat Is a Circuit?Ohm’s LawVisualizing Electricity as Water in a PipeSchematics, Circuit Blueprints, and Wiring DiagramsPrototyping CircuitsDiscrete Components vs. Breakout BoardsAnalog vs. DigitalWhat Is A Microcontroller?
Project 1: Getting Started with Arduino
Materials to GatherAbout the ArduinoAn Accessible Hardware PlatformAbout the SparkFun RedBoardInstalling the Arduino IDE and DriversInstalling on WindowsInstalling on OS XInstalling on LinuxA Brief IDE TourChanging the Default PreferencesTest Drive: Plugging in the Arduino for the First TimeChoosing Your Board in the IDESelecting the Communication PortAn Arduino “Hello, World!”Basic Arduino TroubleshootingAnatomy of an Arduino SketchKey Sketch ElementsThe setup() FunctionThe loop() FunctionYour First Piece of HardwareGoing FurtherHackModifySaving Your Sketch
Project 2: A Stoplight for Your House
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew Component: The ResistorBuild the Stoplight PrototypeConnect the Red LED to the BreadboardAdd Power to the BreadboardAdd the Yellow and Green LEDsProgram the StoplightConfirm Your IDE SettingsCreate Placeholders for Pin NumbersWrite the setup() FunctionWrite the loop() FunctionUpload the SketchMake the Stoplight PortableBuild the Stoplight EnclosureCardboard ConstructionMake the Stoplight LensesMake the ShadesMount the LEDs and ArduinoGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 3: The Nine-Pixel Animation Machine
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsBuild the Nine-Pixel Animation Machine PrototypeProgram the Nine-Pixel Animation MachineWhat Are Custom Functions?Design Your ArtworkThe Test SketchBuild the Nine-Pixel Animation Machine EnclosureCardboard ConstructionConnect the ElectronicsCreate an Led AnimationPlan the Animation SequenceWrite Custom FunctionsTweak Your loop() FunctionGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 4: Reaction Timer
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew Component: The Push ButtonHow Push Buttons WorkUsing Resistors with Push ButtonsBuild the Reaction Timer PrototypeProgram the Reaction TimerWrite the setup() FunctionWrite the loop() FunctionTest the Reaction Timer SketchPlay Again?Add a Game ElementUpload the Complete Code for the Reaction TimerBuild the Reaction Timer EnclosureCut Out the CardboardAssemble the ElectronicsSpice Up Your Game EnclosureGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 5: A Color-Mixing Night-Light
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew ComponentsThe RGB LEDThe PhotoresistorBuild the Night-Light PrototypeWire the Voltage DividerWire the RGB LEDTest the Night-Light with Basic Color MixingProgram the Night-LightPrepare to Check the Light LevelControl the Night-Light Based on the Light LevelPrevent False AlarmsRecalibrate the Night-LightCreate More Colors with Analogwrite()Create Analog Signals with PWMMix Colors with analogWrite()Find RGB Values with Color PickerThe Custom-Color Night-Light CodeBuild the Night-Light EnclosureCardstock ConstructionPut the Electronics InsideLet It Glow!Going FurtherHackModify
Project 6: Balance Beam
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew ComponentsThe PotentiometerThe Servo MotorBuild the Balance Beam PrototypeProgram the Balance BeamTest the ServoComplete the Balance Beam SketchBuild the Balance BeamCut Out the PartsBuild the BeamBuild the Base and Attach the ServoFinal AssemblyGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 7: Tiny Desktop Greenhouse
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew ComponentsTMP36 Temperature SensorStandard Hobby MotorNPN TransistorTaking a Systems ApproachBuild the Temperature MonitorMeasure Temperature with the TMP36Connect the Temperature SensorProgram the Temperature SensorBuild the Servo Motor AutoventProgram the AutoventBuild the Fan MotorProgram the Fan MotorIsolate the Motor EffectBuild the Tiny Desktop Greenhouse EnclosureAdd the Autovent Window ServoCreate the Paper Clip LinkageAdd the RoofBuild the Fan-Motor BoxConnect It UpGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 8: Drawbot, The Robotic Artist
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew ComponentsThe H-Bridge Motor Driver Integrated CircuitGeared Hobby MotorBuild the Drawbot PrototypeProgram the DrawbotCreate a Custom FunctionClean Up the CodeWire the Second MotorDrive Both MotorsBuild the Drawbot ChassisTest and TroubleshootTurn and Make Patterns: A Robot Square DanceGoing FurtherHackModifyBonus
Project 9: Drag Race Timer
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew Component: The 16 × 2 Character LCDDrag Race Timer OperationBuild the LCD CircuitPower the LCDControl the ContrastConnect the Data and Control WiringTest the LCDAdd the Rest of the ElectronicsProgram the Drag Race TimerA Quick TestBuild the Drag Race TrackBuild the Starting TowerAssemble the Starting GateBuild Your Own TrackAdd the PhotoresistorTest and TroubleshootGoing FurtherHackModify
Project 10: Tiny Electric Piano
Materials to GatherElectronic PartsOther Materials and ToolsNew ComponentsThe SoftPot Membrane PotentiometerThe Piezo BuzzerBuild the CircuitProgram the Tiny Electric PianoTest the BuzzerCreate Specific NotesGenerate Sound with the SoftPotPlay a SongBuild the PianoGoing FurtherHackModifyBonus Project: Binary Trumpet
Appendix: More Electronics Know-How
Measuring Electricity with a MultimeterParts of a MultimeterMeasuring ContinuityMeasuring ResistanceMeasuring VoltageMeasuring CurrentHow to SolderHeating the IronPerfecting Your Soldering TechniqueCleaning the IronSoldering TipsAdditional Soldering ToolsThird HandFlux PenSolder WickSolder VacuumResistors and Bands
Afterword
Additional ResourcesAcknowledgments
Resources

Overview

The Arduino microcontroller makes it easy to learn about electronics, but it can be hard to know where to start. The 10 projects in this book will teach you to build, code, and invent with the super-smart Arduino and a handful of parts.

First, you'll master the basics with a primer that explains how a circuit works, how to read a wiring schematic, and how to build and test projects with a solderless breadboard. Then you'll learn how to make your hardware move, buzz, flash, and interact with the world using motors, LEDs, sensors, and more as you build these 10 projects:

The classic first Arduino project: blinking an LED
A miniature traffic light
An LED screen that displays animated patterns and shapes
A fast-paced button-smashing game to test your reflexes
A light-sensitive, color-changing night-light
A challenging ball-balancing game
A temperature-sensing mini greenhouse with an automated fan and vent
A motorized robot that you can control
A racing timer for toy cars
A tiny electric piano that you can actually play!

With each project, you'll learn real coding skills so you can tell your inventions what to do, like how to store temperature readings with variables, start a timer or spin a motor with functions, and make decisions using loops. You'll even find tips and tricks to put your own twist on each gadget and take things further.

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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