What is a "microcontroller"? This slideshow is an introduction to the concept of a micro, an overview of several types and finally, a focused intro to Arduino and how to program one.

2. Our methods so far:
This circuit is a “one-liner”
Not many possibilities for interaction
Circuits hard-wired for specific purposes
Making changes requires you to re-wire, snip, de-solder, etc...

3. What is a “microcontroller” ?
•A small, inexpensive computer. Less sophisticated than your mac...
think calculator
•Good for taking INPUT data, processing it, OUTPUTTING something.
•Route several different inputs to outputs, one input to many outputs,
etc...
•Many electronic devices with any “smarts” whatsoever have some
microcontroller.
•Higher level vs. Lower lever (Arduino is mid)
Wiring Gainer BX 24 PIC micro

4. Where does the
microcontroller fit in?
As an input...
Count button clicks
Sense pressure
Multiple switches
How long switch is held down

5. As an output...
Automate the lights
Animate multiple lights in a sequence

6. Put em together...
Interactive Devices

7. The “Big 4”
Concepts
-Digital Output
-Digital Input
-Analog Output
-Analog Input

8. WHAT IS ARDUINO?

10. Arduino
-A “single board” microcontroller and a software
suite for programming it.
-Programming language is based on WIRING
(similar to C++)
-IDE is based on PROCESSING, so it looks
friendly.
-An Italian production (IVREA Institute)
-USB to Serial interface. I/O pins. Accepts
shields and components easily. Inexpensive &
open-source
-Loaded with Atmel AVR microcontroller chips.
Preinstalled “bootloader” makes it easy to
program right out of the box!
-Clones exist.

11. Anatomy of an Uno
- 28 pin IC (brain). ATmega168, 328 or similar.
- A variety of components, LEDs, a crystal oscillator, a 5V
regulator, etc.
- FTDI chip that converts USB to Serial for easy
communication with your pute.
- 14 Digital I/O pins. (0-13)
- 6 Analog In pins (0-5)
- 6 pins can be used as Analog Out (3,5,6,9,10,11)

12. DIGITAL I/O PINS
USB
5V
REGULATOR MICROCONTROLLER
EXTERNAL
POWER
POWER ANALOG IN

14. Each DIGITAL OUT pin acts like a mini 5V power supply.
Don’t forget about Ground!
+ 9V
470
instead of...

15. 220Ω
LED

16. Now we need to give the board instructions on what to do...

17. What is Code?
A set of instructions (“an algorithm”)
that tells the board exactly what to do,
for how long and in what order. A
procedure, a program.
Knitting a scarf:
Row 1: (RS) *K2, P2* across
Rows 2, 3 & 4: Repeat Row 1
Row 5: (RS0 *K2, P2, C8F* Repeat to last 4 sts, K2, P2
Row 6: Repeat Row 1
Repeat rows 1-6 for desired length, ending with row 4
Bind off in K2, P2 pattern

18. Hiking directions to Point Break
From the North:
-Follow the trail from the Nature Center
-Turn right at the Water Tower, walk up to the Old Oak Tree
-Follow directions from the Old Oak Tree.
From the South:
-From the hPicnic Grove, follow the Botany Trail
-Turn right on the South Meadow Trail
-Turn right on the Meadow Ranch Trail, walk until you see the Old
Oak Tree
-Follow directions from the Old Oak Tree.
From the Old Oak Tree:
-Follow the path under the tree
-Turn right onto the Long Hill Trail
-Follow the trail until you reach Point Break

19. A code snippet from PROCESSING
Produces This:
* Arduino is based off ofsimilar. Don’t
IDE. So they look very
Processing’s
mix the two up though.

20. Anatomy of an
Arduino Program
Buttons for common tasks
Comments
Variables
Setup & Loop
Functions
Message Area
Console

21. Structure
Up Top:
“Declare” and “Assign” any variables
you’re going to be using.
SETUP:
The code in this block runs only once
when the program begins.
LOOP:
The code in this block runs after the
setup, 100’s of times a second.
Each line of code runs once from top to
bottom.
Once the loops is entered, we stay there
until the Arduino is unplugged.

22. Breakdown
Make a few notes to myself, so when I
return to this later, I can remember more
easily...
Give the #13 a nickname so I can use it
multiple times. If I change 13 to 10 now,
I only have to change it once, here!
Make sure Arduino knows pin 13 (nicknamed
“led”) is going to serve as OUTPUT.
Specify some instructions for how long to
turn the LED on/off. This part will
repeat over and over again.
If you remove the last delay(1000); what
happens?
Can you make the LED blink “SOS”?

23. A few definitions
Variable: Store a value (integer, decimal number, true/false value, etc.) in
computer memory so you can use it many times throughout the life of the program.
Variables have two steps: declare and assign. Sometimes these happen on one line,
like you see below.
So this:
Declare that that Assign it a value of
you’re making a 13, representing the
variable called pin that the LED is
“led” of type int. connected to!
Is identical to this:
... gets assigned to
what’s on the left.
= What’s on the right
hand side of the As far as the Arduino
equals sign... is concerned.

24. A few definitions
Function: Code modules that can be “called” in your program. A function is actually
a ‘nickname’ given to other lines of code, written and stored elsewhere. Arduino has
a large selection of existing functions. Each one does something specific like “send
5v to pin X” or “delay for one second”. Functions can be customized sometimes, with
“parameters”
You can write your own
functions too! These are
just the ones that come
digitalWrite takes with Arduino.
the name of the
two parameters,
function begin
which pin? and what
called. Note the ()
state?
It’s like saying
“set ‘led’ (13) to
HIGH”.
Meaning...
“Send 5V to pin 13”

25. For more, visit the Arduino website:
arduino.cc
and check out their tutorials:
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Foundations