This entry level kit contains the basics you'll need to get started in the world of Arduino & features projects that set the foundations for putting your own ideas into action.
Arduino refers to an open-source electronics platform or board and the software used to program it. Arduino is designed to make electronics more accessible to artists, designers, hobbyists and ayone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
The Arduino IDE can be found on the official Arduino website at https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
Download the version suitable for your computer and follow the prompts to install the software package.
Opening the Arduino IDE for the first time, you will be presented with the following screen.
This is where you will write or paste in the code for your project.
Now that you have prepared your code, it's time to upload it onto the board.
You'll need to select the entry in the Tools > Board menu that corresponds to your Arduino board. For the duinotech Uno, you will select Arduino/Genuino Uno.
Select the serial device of the board from the Tools | Serial Port menu. This is likely to be COM3 or higher (COM1 and COM2 are usually reserved for hardware serial ports). To find out, you can disconnect your board and re-open the menu; the entry that disappears should be the duinotech Uno board. Reconnect the board and select that serial port.
Now, simply click the "Upload" button in the environment. Wait a few seconds - you should see the RX and TX LEDs on the board flashing. If the upload is successful, the message "Done uploading." will appear in the status bar.
The example projects in this kit are free of errors, however, if you write your own code you may find an error when uploading your code. The software will show a message indicating the type of error and the location in which it appears in the code.
Now that you have the Arduino IDE setup and ready to use you can begin working through our beginner projects.
Project | Outcome |
---|---|
Using an LED | This basic project will introduce the beginner Arduino user to simple code & circuits by turning on & off an LED. |
Using a Potentiometer | Use a potentiometer to adjust the brightness of the in-built LED on the Arduino Uno. |
Using Buttons | Use feedback from an analogue sensor to activate a buzzer via the Arduino board. |
Fan Speed Controller | Use variable feedback from a potentiometer to adjust the speed of the motor. |
Traffic Lights | Simulate traffic lights using multiple LEDs & a loop circuit in Arduino. |