1. Instructor Resources

2. Outline Activity and goals Arduino introduction Parts and Pieces
Kit supplies list
Description/function of each part
Where to purchase needed supplies

3. Activity Overview
Use the Arduino platform to build a simple scientific instrument to measure temperature, program and calibrate the instrument, and collect and visualize the data.
Goals:
Exposing the “black box” of a key piece of scientific instrumentation, the CTD.
Hands-on experience building an electrical circuit.
Exposure to computer programming.
Introduction to, and importance of, calibration.
Practice working in Excel to fit and plot data.

4. Arduino
Arduino is a microcontroller that offers a flexible platform that can be customized for a wide variety of projects. Arduino can take a variety of inputs and produce various outputs as illustrated below: Arduino uses its own Arduino programming language and is an open-source product allowing users to contribute to the overall utility of this flexible hardware/software platform.
Arduino Board
Input:
Sensor
Button/Switch
Digital command
Output:
View data stream
Publish online
Activate motor
Turn something on/off

5. Kit Supplies Each student kit should include the following:
1 Arduino uno R3 (Atmega328-assembled) board
1 half size breadboard
1 Arduino/breadboard holder
1 4.7k ohm pull-up resistor
2 male-male jumper wires
1 male-female jumper wire
1 waterproof DS18B20 digital temperature sensor (modified as shown)
1 USB connector
Students will also need
Laptop with Arduino IDE software and appropriate libraries (see separate instructions for “Preparing Student Computers”)
Arduino code for this lab (see SERC website for links to code)

6. A completed kit includes:
Resistor
Arduino/Breadboard Holder
Arduino Board
Breadboard 2x
Jumper Wires (2 x male/male, male/female)
Temperature Sensor
USB AB cable

7. 1. Arduino uno R3 board Common Arduino board
Relevant for this activity: the Arduino board contains digital and analog connections, USB connection, power jack.

8. 2. Breadboard
Allows connection of wires and building of simple circuits without the need for soldering
Good for building prototypes or temporary circuits (such as in this exercise)
Each row consists of two conductive metal clips that connect the five cells (e.g. a-e or f-j) to each other. Plugging a wire into one cell (e.g. a) in the row electronically connects it to anything else plugged into the same row (e.g. b-e), allowing electricity to flow through the connection.
A maximum of five things can be connected in a given row
Each breadboard typically also has two sets of power rails. These + and – columns on the left and right of the breadboard are connected via a similar metal clip. Typically all cells within a column are connected. When linked to a power source the power rails allow easy access to power regardless of which row you are working in. (note: this exercise does not use the power rails)
Power rails

9. 3. Arduino/Breadboard holder
Simple plastic plate that provides an organized and stable platform for the Arduino board and breadboard.
Image source: Sparkfun.com

10. 5. Pull up resistors Resistors limit electron flow through a circuit
The resistance (measured in Ohms, Ω) of a resistor is indicated by a series of color bands on the resistor itself.
A pull up resistor is a special type of resistor that helps transfer a digital signal
The language of digital signals, such as those used by computers (such as Arduino) is a binary language. Digital signals can only be interpreted in two states: 0 and 1 (i.e. ON and OFF). This state is a function of the voltage passing through the system. If no voltage is passing through the system this can result in an unknown or “floating“ state where the digital signal is neither 0 nor 1 and can easily be changed due to electrical noise. A pull up resistor is designed to set the default value (of 1) for a circuit. (pull-down resistors which set the default at 0 are also available, though less common). Modifications of voltage passing through the resistor will result in 0 – 1 transitions and corresponding information transfer.
This activity uses a through-hole 4.7 k Ω pull-up resistor (5% tolerance)
Reference:

11. 5. Male-male jumper wire Wire with male connections at each end
In this exercise the male ends are plugged into the breadboard and Arduino board

12. 6. Male-female jumper wire
Wire with female connector at one end and male connector at the other end
In this exercise the male end is plugged into the breadboard and the resistor is plugged into the female end
Male end
Female end

13. 7. Temperature Sensor
Waterproof temperature sensor that measures temperature using a transistor
Note: must be prepared by instructor prior to use. Male jumper wires must be soldered to temperature sensor wires (see video demonstration)

14. 8. USB connector
Standard A-B USB connector to connect Arduino board to computer
Image source: Amazon.com
USB A
USB B

15. 9. Power
The Arduino board derives power from the USB connection in this exercise.
Students may ask if the Arduino must always be connected to a computer to work. A battery can be plugged into the Arduino and used as power. In that case the computer need only be connected to the Arduino to load the code. Then it can be disconnected.
In this lab we need the serial monitor to see the data, so it makes sense to have the computer power the Arduino.

16. Materials – Where to purchase
Arduino uno R3 (Atmega328- assembled) board
Source: Adafruit (product ID: 50)
Half size breadboard
Source: Adafruit (product ID: 64)
~$5.00 each
Arduino/Breadboard holder (1/kit)
Source: Sparkfun (product ID: DEV-11235)
$3.95 each
Source: Adafruit (product ID: 275)
$4.00 to $5.00 each depending on quantity
Through-hole 4.7k ohm pull-up resistor
Source: Adafruit (product ID: 2783)
~$0.75 / 25 pack
male-male jumper wires (2/kit)
Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 758 / 1956)
~$4.00 / 40 pack; ~$2.00 / 20 pack
Male/female jumper wires (1/kit)
Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 826 / 1954
~$4.00 / 40 pack; ~$2.00 / 20 pack
Waterproof DS18B20 digital temperature sensor and extras
Source: Adafruit industries (Product ID: 381)
~$10.00 each
A-B USB connector
Source: Adafruit (Product ID: 62)
$3.95 each
Materials available on SERC website
Arduino IDE software
Arduino code
Student/Professor provided
Laptop with IDE software