Ubuntu and the arduino.

The Arduino is a great little micro-controller. Originally developed in Italy, ir became sort of an open source project. You can get just the micro-controller themselves are you can get a pre-fabricated setup with the needed interfaces and simple connections. Such brand names are Arduino uno, Osepp uno, and a host of others.  I have both the microcontrollers themselves and the Osepp uno. You can make everything from a simple light blinker to a robot. Only your imagination is your limitation. Hopefully we will give you something to start with.

The arduino has the ability to digitally turn things on or off, Check digitally whether something is on or off, and it can measure low analog voltages. That means you can use it for home automation, science projects,  automatic plant watering system, an autonomous vehicle, or laser harp and a host of other uses. Traditionally you could do this with a computer, but for the inexperienced that can be daunting.



Note: I have it working on Fedora 16 also.

Step 1 Getting information for the Uno.

There are several good web sites, publications and books that can give you information about the arduino:

www.arduino.cc
http://www.ladyada.net/learn/arduino/
http://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/182
http://www.instructables.com/tag/type-id/category-technology/channel-arduino/

Make: magazine (aka makezine)
Linux Format
Robot magazines

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Started-Arduino-Make-Projects/dp/0596155514

Robot Builder's Bonanza, 4th Edition by Gordon McComb

Arduino-Cookbook-by Michael-Margolis

Comments

[buteman]

Two other sources of tuition and help are :

http://tronixstuff.wordpress.com/tutorials/

and the tronixstuff google group.