The Arduino hobby has come to turn the world of electronics upside down. What was not possible in the past without great knowledge, now even novice enthusiasts can get by, thanks to a range of affordable microcontrollers available and the vast community surrounding the project.
Building your own electronic items has become almost childish, and it costs no more than any other hobby. Thanks Arduino!
Arduino, what is it?
Arduino is many things: a brand, hardware, a programming language and a whole range of products. But generally, when we talk about Arduino, we are talking about an open-source electronic prototyping platform.
It was in Italy, in 2005, that the first Arduino board was produced in small series with the aim of introducing design students to the use (and programming possibilities) of microcontrollers. Experimentation enthusiasts with a strong affinity for the technology, and emerging manufacturers enthusiastically welcomed the new project, as it was affordable and easy to use.
Long story short, the Arduino is a tiny computer that you can program to do all sorts of things. If you connect it to the sensor as input it can receive data, and interact by connecting actuators (motors), LED’s and other things as output.
6 Projects Getting Started With Arduino
Want to explore the world of Arduino and see what you can do with this technology? Below are some beginner projects that are perfect if you are new to programming.
These projects can also give you an idea of ​​the potential of Arduino and maybe give you the inspiration you need to get started or want to learn more about this versatile platform.
Arduino is open-source hardware: anyone with enough knowledge can build their own project. There are certainly many kits for beginners that include an Arduino board and basic components, such as sensors, a breadboard (this is the breadboard), relays, controllers, LEDs, wire linkages and motors.
All the projects mentioned below use some of the most common Arduino components.
1. Light Follow Robot
The “Light Follower Robot” is one of the Arduino projects that is easy to build, so it’s pretty cool. In addition, only a few components are needed to implement it.
To build this robot, you just need to mount two photosensitive resistors on your breadboard, each connected to a motor, so that the sensor will have a field of its own. Two photosensitive resistors measure the light at regular intervals, while the motors allow the assembly to proceed.
2. Music Feedback LED Strip
Still using only a few components, you can turn a room into a (mini)disco with your LED strip that responds to music.
In this Arduino project, you will need a microphone that measures the intensity of the music and transmits this information to the Arduino. The latter acts on an LED strip, so that it glows different colors according to the music.
3. Electronic Dice
Have you planned a “board game” evening with your friends but you can’t find the dice? What would you say if, by passing your hand to your Arduino, you randomly generate a number between one and six, like a roll of a dice? Here is a tutorial on making electronic dice.
4. Lie Detector (well, almost)
Here is another nifty Arduino project that is quick to make and requires minimal hardware. Of course, this isn’t a true lie detector, as it doesn’t actually measure whether someone is lying: it actually measures the electrical conductivity of their skin. This is the parameter that indicates the degree of nervousness of the subject, which may indicate a possible lie. However, don’t take it seriously!
Learn now how to build your own lie detector with Arduino.
5. Digital Clock
In this project you will need a screen to make your clock! Keep in mind that every time you turn on the Arduino, you will need to set the time, (this would be like turning the battery into a clock). This is a fun project for beginners and the result is satisfying. But you can also look at your watch…
6. Thermometer and Hygrometer
You can choose to buy a thermometer/hygrometer, but why not build it yourself?
Now that you have a screen and know the basics of using it, you have to go ahead! It can actually be used with a graphics library that supports many different monochrome displays. Simply add a humidity and temperature sensor to your setup and you’re done!
our tip
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