Arduino projects

Welcome to Arduino! Arduino makes programming small computers called microcontrollers as easy as possible. These are what make objects interactive. You are surrounded by dozens of such microcontrollers every day: they are integrated into timers, thermostats, toys, remote controls, microwave ovens and even some toothbrushes. These devices perform one specific task, and if you don't even notice them - which is often the case - it means they are doing their job very well. They are programmed to detect and control activity using sensors and actuators. Sensors listen to the physical world. They convert the energy you emit when you press buttons, move your arms or shout into electrical signals. Buttons and rotary knobs are sensors that you touch with your fingers, but there are many other types of sensors. Actuators act in the physical world. They convert electrical energy back into physical energy such as light, heat, and motion. Microcontrollers listen to sensors and communicate with actuators. They decide what to do based on a program you write. Microcontrollers and the electronics you attach to them are just the skeleton of your projects. To bring them to life, you'll need to use skills you probably already have. For example, in one of the suggested projects, you'll create an arrow attached to a motor, which you'll place in a box with a rotary knob, to build an indicator that shows whether you're busy or not. In another project, you'll use lights and a tilt sensor on a cardboard frame to create an electronic hourglass. Arduino can make your projects interactive, but only you can make them beautiful. Along the way, we'll give you some suggestions on how you can do this. Arduino was designed to help you make things. To make this simpler, I've kept basic programming and electronics information to a minimum. If you want to learn more about these areas, there are many useful guides available. We will provide some references, and others you can find online at: arduino.cc/starterkit