What is Arduino?
Arduino is a small computer that can be programed and connected to a variety of different electronics. The possibilities on what can be done with this small system is almost endless. In this class, we are going to be running through the projects described to us in the Arduino work book.
The Arduino itself is a microcontroller that is the blue and black chip pictured in all of the pictures and video below. The breadboard is the white piece next to it, which is used to build circuits on. Arduino has power pins, which provide power to the breadboard and then to the components on the board, as well as pins that communicate directly with the board and the programs on it. Programing the Arduino is easy with the software. You create code projects called "sketches" which once uploaded to the board, will stay and continuously perform their assigned function.
The Arduino itself is a microcontroller that is the blue and black chip pictured in all of the pictures and video below. The breadboard is the white piece next to it, which is used to build circuits on. Arduino has power pins, which provide power to the breadboard and then to the components on the board, as well as pins that communicate directly with the board and the programs on it. Programing the Arduino is easy with the software. You create code projects called "sketches" which once uploaded to the board, will stay and continuously perform their assigned function.
Project 1.1: Series Circuit
Project 1.2: Parallel Circuit
Project 2: Spaceship Interface
Project 3: Love-o-Meter
Project 4: Color Mixing Lamp
Project 5: Mood Cue
Project 6: Light Therimin
Project 7: Keyboard
Project 8: Digital Hourglass
Project 9: Motorized Pinwheel
Project 10: Zoetrope
Project 11: Crystal Ball
Project 12: Knock Lock
Project 13: Touchy Feely Lamp
Conclusion
Link to video of Crystal Ball project working (my favorite project)
drive.google.com/file/d/1qvgTjWdSL-eUYUXzt-RGYEJkt1p3Zr--/view?usp=sharing
During this semester, learning electronics and programming was very beneficial, especially since my final project utilized Arduino heavily. I definitely did not know as much about electronics as I thought I did, but through the course of making these projects and coding them, I feel I've learned a lot. Arduino is a platform that is very easy to use, and I could see myself using it for projects in the future.
Some projects were definitely more difficult than others. The Color Mixing Lamp and the Crystal Ball were for sure two of the hardest project. The lamp was difficult because components would not stay on the breadboard and it was super finicky to get it working in the right conditions. As for the Crystal Ball, it was difficult due to the mass of wires and components that needed to be placed just right on the breadboard.
Although I did not have a problem finishing these projects, I did have some issues getting the motivation to do them when I would rather be working on my final project which always had work that needed to be done for it. I liked being able to sit down and knock out a couple in a row, but if I were to do something similar to this again I would have tried to finish them as soon as possible so I could get more final project work time.
drive.google.com/file/d/1qvgTjWdSL-eUYUXzt-RGYEJkt1p3Zr--/view?usp=sharing
During this semester, learning electronics and programming was very beneficial, especially since my final project utilized Arduino heavily. I definitely did not know as much about electronics as I thought I did, but through the course of making these projects and coding them, I feel I've learned a lot. Arduino is a platform that is very easy to use, and I could see myself using it for projects in the future.
Some projects were definitely more difficult than others. The Color Mixing Lamp and the Crystal Ball were for sure two of the hardest project. The lamp was difficult because components would not stay on the breadboard and it was super finicky to get it working in the right conditions. As for the Crystal Ball, it was difficult due to the mass of wires and components that needed to be placed just right on the breadboard.
Although I did not have a problem finishing these projects, I did have some issues getting the motivation to do them when I would rather be working on my final project which always had work that needed to be done for it. I liked being able to sit down and knock out a couple in a row, but if I were to do something similar to this again I would have tried to finish them as soon as possible so I could get more final project work time.