Arduino Basic Tutorial

Hello everybody. I am Zubayer Tahmid from Bangladesh,
representing Rajuk Uttara Model College.

Today I am writing a very basic tutorial on Arduino. I have searched a lot in different websites browsing through internet, but I didn’t get any tutorial which explains or discusses about the basic concepts of Arduino. So, let’s get started.

Step 1: What Is an Arduino?

Arduino is an open-source hardware development board which uses an AVR microcontroller as its main controlling unit. Arduino is generally used for making embedded electronics or robotics projects. Arduino is the best product for the newbies to learn about the basics of embedded electronics and robotics.

Step 2: Arduino Board and Installation

Before starting work with Arduino, we need an Arduino board.

There are many kinds of Arduino boards, namely, Arduino Uno, Arduino Mega, Arduino Nano, Arduino Due, Arduino Fio etc. But I guess, Arduino Uno is the best board for learning the basics.

For uploading our written codes in Arduino board, we have to download the Arduino IDE from its website. I am providing you the link: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

After completing the installation process, when we well open the Arduino, it will look something like the above photo.

Step 3: Arduino IDE

Now let us know about the different parts of the Arduino IDE.

1: It’s the button for verifying your written code you are
going to upload in the Arduino Board.

2: It’s the button for uploading your code in the Arduino Board.

3: This is for opening a new unit.

4: This is for opening your previous codes.

5: This is for saving your code.

In the tools section, we have to select the Arduino board we
are using.

After selecting the Arduino board, we have to select the
port of our computer detecting the Arduino Board. But this port should be selected after plugging the Arduino board in the computer.

Step 4: Parts of Arduino Programming

In this step we will learn about the different parts of an Arduino program.

The code which we will write in the first part will be run by Arduino only for one time.

Let us take an example. If we want the 13 no. pin of the Arduino as Output, then we will write pinMode(13, OUTPUT) in this part. And again if we want it as Input, then we will write pinMode(13, INPUT). If the Arduino read this command for one time, then it will set its 13 no. pin as directed, Input or Output.

On the other hand, we will write the code which we want to run continuously by the Arduino in the second part.

Step 5: Parts of Arduino

In this step we will know about the different parts of the Arduino.

1: These are all the digital pins of Arduino Uno.

2: These are the ICSP headers of Arduino by which we can boot load Arduino Firmware on any AVR Microcontroller.

3: This is main AVR microcontroller of the Arduino.

4: This pins are the power supply pins of the Arduino.

5: These are the Analog pins.

6: This IC is the USB to Serial Converter.

7: These are the Tx Rx LEDs.

8: This is the built-in LEDs for the users connected to digital pin 13.

9: This is the USB port for connecting to the computer.

10: This is the power port for giving power to the Arduino.

11: This is the button for restarting the Arduino board.

Step 6: LED Blinking Project

We will be able to successfully learn Arduino by making different creative projects and by sharpening our own creativity. Now let us make a simple blinking LED project.

Basic circuit and working process of our project:

An LED will be connected by a 2k resistor in the digital pin no. 13 of the Arduino. The led will blink for a second, and will stop blink for a second.

Programming:

/* Arduino Blinking Project

*by Zubayer Tahmid

*/

void setup(){

pinMode(13, OUTPUT);

}

void loop(){

digitalWrite(13, HIGH);

delay(1000);

digitalWrite(13, LOW);

delay(1000);

}

In the void setup() function, we have declared the 13 no. pin as output. Then in the void loop() function we commanded the Arduino to give a HIGH value in the 13 no. pin. Then we have given a delay of 1000 milliseconds. Then we have commanded the Arduino to give LOW value in the 13 no. pin. Then we have again gave a delay of 1000 milliseconds. After uploading the code in the Arduino, it will work as we have directed in the code.

Step 7: Conclusion

I hope that you have been able to learn some basics of Arduino. You must keep practicing Arduino for mastering it. If you find any mistake in my tutorial, then please advise me through my e-mail or comment it in the comments section. If I get a good response in this tutorial, then I will make a complete series tutorial on the basics of Arduino robotics and also some advanced tutorials on Arduino. Wish you a very happy experience in the world of embedded electronics.

My E-mail: [e-mail]