Introduction: How to Simulate a Project on the Arduino IO Simulator

By xevro.be
About: I'm Louis D'Hont, I am 20 years old and I live in Belgium. I am a programmer, an electronics hobbyist and junior developer. In the past few years, I have worked on projects like a function generator, self-driv…

Simulating an Arduino project is very useful to test your creation without or with a few hardware parts. In this instructable we will explain step by step how you use the Xevro simulator.

Our simulator is available in 2 versions, for each version is a video added that explains the basics.

* Note: Our software simulating system changed with an update: We don't use the code changes anymore like writing a Capital letter for the instructions…*

More information about the simulator can be found on xevro.be: https://xevro.be/support/simulator-manual-support...

The simulator is available for Windows and macOS: https://xevro.be/products/index.html

Step 1: Step 1: What Do You Need?

For the first step you need an Arduino board, this may be an UNO, mega or another board. Note: the simulator was originally developed for the Arduino UNO but the other Arduino boards will also work. Only the provided pins on the simulator will work. The pins that are not in the uno like on a mega will not work (for example: D14-D53).

You need:

The Arduino Simulator can be downloaded from the xevro support website. More information about how to install can be found on the support page.

There are 2 simulators available.

The first is free to use, but has fewer components and functions available than the paid simulator.

The Arduino Simulator Drag & Draw is available for $ 14.99 and uses a graphic drawing area to draw and drag the components into it. The Arduino Simulator 1.6 has all parts directly on one workspace, which means that a limited number of parts can be present. The Drag & Draw simulator has a Servo, stepper motor, motor wheels, 2 servo's, RGB led and lots more included.

Step 2: Step 2: Connect the Arduino Board

Connect the Arduino board with your computer.

The Arduino Simulator works with a lot of Arduino boards:

  • Arduino UNO
  • Arduino Mega
  • Arduino Nano
  • Arduino Micro
  • Arduino Leonardo
  • Arduino …

Only the digital and analog pins that are available on the Simulator can be used! Disconnect the Arduino Simulator before uploading the Arduino code with the Arduino IDE.

Step 3: Step 3: Create Your Own Project

The first time you open the simulator, you will have to click on the 'Libraries' tab and install the libraries one by one. this only has to be done ones at the very first time.

Start by opening an Arduino file with the simulator library with which you can now create your own project.

The easiest way is to open a new sketch is to click on 'Help -> Arduino UNO programming code -> Arduino UNO programming code (Ino)'. This will open an Arduino (ino) file with the simulator library and Serial.begin code init.

Step 4: Step 4: Upload to the Arduino Board

Upload your code with the library to the Arduino Simulator.

The codes with a capital letter aren't supported anymore, just use the normal instructions provided by the Arduino IDE.

Step 5: Step 5: Select the Simulator Parts

Now select the used parts in the simulator and connect the part with the correct pin.

Each input and output on the Simulator has a selection box where the used digital or analog pin can be connected.
With the Arduino Simulator Drag & Draw it's possible to draw lines, different shapes or add texts with custom fonts on it to make it easier to simulate your projects.

Step 6: Step 6: Connect the Arduino and Simulate

Connect the Arduino board in the simulator after the upload. Make sure you disconnect the simulator software when you want to upload.

if you have any questions or problems you can always contact us by filing in the contact form on our contact page.

Created by Mac Van Den Berge & Louis D'Hont

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