Arduino & Physical Computing

An Arduino is a tool that we will use to learn about how microcontrollers work and attached electronics can interact with them to control the world.

Arduino Basics

• Hookup guide [Arduino & breadboard]
• Hello world/ Basic program structure
• Types of feedback for troubleshooting
• A simple Sketch: blink_13.ino
• A little OOP in your life: OOP_fade.ino
• IDE error messages
• print(...); & println(...); [written feedback]
• println(...); [numerical/graphical]
• LED/output
• Boolean/ Digital logic (generic, beyond Arduino)

• if/else
• or
• and
• not
• nor
• Arduino core digital & logic operations
• #define (‘macro’ also called ‘IDE-swap’)
• Variables/Constants
• Variable types
• Variable scope
• If(...){...;}else{...;} and If(...){...;}
• digitalRead(...); and digitalWrite(...);
• for(int ...; ...; ...;){...;}
• while(...){...;}
• delay(...);
• Arduino analog simulation operations
• analogRead(...); and analogWrite(...);
• map(..., ..., ..., ..., ...);
• **calibration & offset
• **debounce & machine time
• Considerations for building real circuits
• Analog >>> Digital Voltages
• ‘floating’ input pins
• Pull down resistors
• Built-in pull up resistors
• Maximum current limits on each pin
• ‘half-brained’ circuits
• Transistors for small circuit control
• MOSFETs for medium circuit control
• Relays for huge DC & AC circuit control
• Functions
• Object Oriented Programming
• Libraries

Hardware (digitally controlled & other specialty)

• Still need to make a list…