1 Microcontrollers

2 Programmers work in the virtual world Machinery works in the physical world Microcontrollers connect the virtual and physical world The inputs and outputs can be manipulated by, and can manipulate, the physical world Microcontrollers

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4 Arduino is software An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for programming Edit code like a word document The platform creates the “process”, compiles it, and uploads it to the Arduino The language is called ‘wiring’, and is based on C

5 Arduino is a platform A physical Input / Output board (I/O) with a programmable Integrated Circuit (IC).

6 Why Arduino? Open Source: anyone who wants can improve upon it Cheap: anyone can produce them for any price (<$15) Common Interface: communicates via USB Low Power: from USB or battery pack Standalone: memory allows it to run even when not connected to a computer

7 What can it do? Sensors [ INPUTS ] – Buttons, touch pads, tilt switches – Variable resistors (e.g.. volume knob / sliders) – Photoresistors (light sensor) – Thermistors (temperature sensor) – Ultrasound (distance sensor) Actuators [ OUTPUTS ] – Lights, LED’s – Motors – Speakers – Displays (LCD) CURRENT LIMITS!!!

8 Autonomous Vehicle

9 Laser Harp

10 Clock

11 Sign Language Glove

12 Interfacing

13 Plugs into pins like a breadboard Interfacing

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17 Inputs and Outputs

18 Concepts: INPUT vs. OUTPUT Referenced from the perspective of the microcontroller (electrical board). Inputs is a signal / information going into the board. Output is any signal exiting the board.

19 Concepts: INPUT vs. OUTPUT Referenced from the perspective of the microcontroller (electrical board). Inputs is a signal / information going into the board. Output is any signal exiting the board. Examples: Buttons Switches, Light Sensors, Flex Sensors, Humidity Sensors, Temperature Sensors… Examples: LEDs, DC motor, servo motor, piezo buzzer, relay, RGB LED

20 Analog vs. Digital

21 Computers communicate in a digital language – “ON” or “OFF”, “HIGH” or “LOW”, “1” or “0”, “5V or 0V” Our physical world is analog – “warm”, “37 mph”, “92 degrees” So how do we create 2.73 volts if all we have is 0 and 5? With a technique called Pulse width Modulation (PWM) Imagine turning a fan off and on every second. It would operate at a “medium” speed. The longer the pulses (ON’s), the higher the average voltage and the actual voltage output. Analog vs. Digital

22 Analog vs. Digital

23 Analog vs. Digital Fixed cycle length: constant number of cycles/sec

24 BIG 4 CONCEPTS digitalWrite() analogWrite() digitalRead() analogRead()

25 Components Push Button Digital Input Switch - Closes or opens circuit Potentiometer Analog Input Variable resistor Photoresistor Analog Input Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) Relay Digital Output Switch driven by a small signal Temp Sensor Analog Input Temp Dependent Resistor Flex Sensor Analog Input Variable resistor Soft Trimpot Analog Input Variable resistor RGB LED Dig & Analog Output 16,777,216 different colors Name ImageTypeFunction Digital Input Analog Input Digital Output Analog Input Dig & Analog Output

26 Scales

27 Scales