Make: Basic Arduino Projects - 26 Experiments with Microcontrollers and Electronics (2014)

Preface

So, you’ve bought the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack to build some cool and fun Arduino projects. Now all you need are some sample projects to build with it! The Basic Arduino Projects book is here to help you! It’s got a wealth of cool devices and gadgets to build with your Ultimate Microcontroller Pack. The projects in the book explain the world of electronics using a fun and hands-on approach.

The motivation behind writing this book is based on several conversations with Brian Jepson (Make: Books Senior Editor) and the need for a book that allows people to explore the electronic parts and the Arduino within the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack. The Arduino is a very popular Maker platform that allows you to explore electronics with an interactive approach. As awesome as a box of parts is, it’s difficult for people with little electronics experience to begin making things with it. This book solves that problem by letting you learn more about electronics while you make fun projects with the parts in this kit. Basic Arduino Projects is a practical guide that illustrates how a bunch of electronic parts, coupled with Arduino, can be transformed into awesome devices and gadgets for education and play.

In addition, being an electrical engineer and educator, I’m very sensitive to delivering good instructional content to my students (adults and teenagers). This book was written to attract young readers to the exciting world of electronics by building cool and creative projects using the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack. This book is also intended for Makers and novices who have heard about the Arduino but never experienced the fun and excitement that comes from building cool electronic gadgets and devices with this open hardware platform.

By building and experimenting with the projects in this book, young readers, Makers, and electronic novices will learn how to:

§ Read electronic circuit schematic and block diagrams.

§ Assemble electronic circuits using the MakerShield prototyping board.

§ Build basic logic circuits using the Arduino as a programmable computer brain.

§ Use an LCD display for displaying text and special characters.

§ Create simple electronic controllers for LEDs and servo motors.

Last, you will learn how to create gadgets and devices for education and play using imagination and the parts from the Ultimate Microcontroller Pack. Enjoy the Maker adventure!

Conventions Used in This Book

The following typographical conventions are used in this book:

Italic

Indicates new terms, URLs, email addresses, filenames, and file extensions.

Constant width

Used for program listings, as well as within paragraphs to refer to program elements such as variable or function names, databases, data types, environment variables, statements, and keywords.

Constant width bold

Shows commands or other text that should be typed literally by the user.

Constant width italic

Shows text that should be replaced with user-supplied values or by values determined by context.

TIP

This icon signifies a tip, suggestion, or general note.

WARNING

This icon indicates a warning or caution.