Arduino Hacking 101: Importing the Universe

So, you have learned the essentials of the Arduino platform, its software package, and completed a few tutorials – learned some basic electronics in the process, including blinking the inevitable LED. Now what?

This session aims to give you the tools to import the real world into the programming scope of your trusty $30 microcontroller, by covering the technology fundamentals and Arduino integration essentials of a wide variety of sensors and actuators, including:

• Ultrasonic and IR rangefinders
• Force sensing resistors (FSR), flex bending sensors, positional feedback
• Photocells, IR Reflectors, IR Line finders, PIR motion sensors
• Tilt sensors
• Sensing magnets (Hall effect)
• Sensing sound
• Location (GPS, Compass, accelerometers)
• Humidity and smoke sensors
• Floor mat switches
• ...and more

In the actuator space we will examine the following:

• Stepper motors
• Servos
• Linear actuators
• Relays
• Buzzers
• Roving on 4 wheels

Interfacing with digital input and control devices, such as joysticks, softpot linear and circular sliders, switches and toggle buttons, rotary dials and IR Remotes, will also be demonstrated.

The aim is to give attendees a fundamental understanding of how all these components operate, and of how to operationally interface with them from the Arduino programming environment in practical sensing and control applications. We will demonstrate these parts in operational designs, live where appropriate, and provide references, purchasing advice and sample part numbers to get you started using them in your own projects.

We will round up your arsenal of design techniques with alternative power schemes (solar panels, battery packs, USB, etc) and a few mobility options to increase the variety of alternative choices at your disposal.

This session is suitable for Arduino hackers that have completed basic projects in the environment, or micro-controller users with good understanding of similar other platforms.