An Arduino is a cheap, relatively simple microprocessor which makes a great introduction to controlling electronic circuits with a computer program. There are a lot of great tutorials online to help you learn how to use an Arduino. However, sometimes all of the information can be overwhelming. Here is a simple introduction to get started.
What to get:
There are actually many different types of Arduinos, each with their own pros and cons. The main differences among them are the number of ports, the amount of memory and processing power, the amount of power they consume and the physical size.
For your very first Arduino, just go with the original Arduino Uno. It has the right combination of features to get you started.
However, you don’t have to buy an actual Arduino. There are many different companies that make similar, compatible boards that have the same features.
A description of the Arduino Uno and its features can be found here:
UNO R3 | Arduino Documentation
Where to buy the Arduino:
You can buy an original Arduino Uno from the Arduino website for $27 + shipping here: Arduino Uno Rev3 — Arduino Online Shop
However, you can buy a similar board off eBay for under $10. I won’t recommend a specific one because they can come and go. But I recommend you look on eBay and Amazon. Again, there are a lot of different options which can get a little confusing. Make sure that it is a development board compatible with Arduino Uno. Make sure that you are not buying a board intended to be connected to an Arduino Uno.
Be warned that a cheaper knockoff of the original Arduino Uno may occasionally be a dud or lack a minor feature. But they can certainly be a good option and one worth knowing about.
One of the reasons that these can be cheaper is that they may not come with a USB cable. If you do not have the proper cable to connect the Arduino Uno to your computer, then certain make sure the board that you buy includes a cable.
Should you buy a kit:
One option is to buy a kit which will contain additional components which you may need to build some projects. These components may include resistors, LEDs, etc. It can be helpful to read through some tutorials to see what components you might need.
If you are certain that you are going to use the Arduino (instead of quickly getting discouraged), and you don’t have any of the components that you need, then investing in a kit can be a good way to go.
The various components themselves are mostly very inexpensive and it can be a better value to buy them individually. But you will often have to buy more than you will initially need.
If you plan to do all of Simon Monk’s tutorials (see below), you will need the components listed on this page:
Parts | Arduino Lesson 0. Getting Started | Adafruit Learning System
Install the IDE:
In order to program the Arduino, you will need to write the program on your computer and then download the program onto the Arduino. The program that you use to write your programs is called an IDE, which stands for Integrated Development Environment. The Arduino IDE can be found here: Software | Arduino
An overview of the IDE’s features can be found here:
Getting Started with Arduino IDE 2 | Arduino Documentation
Write your first program:
Almost universally, the first program that anyone runs on their new Arduino is the blink program. This simply makes an LED blink.
Here is a link to the blink tutorial: Blink | Arduino Documentation
Where to find tutorials:
Two great places to find online tutorials are:
- UNO R3 | Arduino Documentation
- Tutorials | Arduino Documentation – A lot more tutorials
- 3 tutorials by Lady Ada | Adafruit Learning System
- 18 tutorials by Simon Monk | Adafruit Learning System
A great beginning reference book is:
Programming Arduino: Getting Started with Sketches, Third Edition by Simon Monk
Things you should know:
If you are just getting started and want to get a board and get going, then that’s all you need to know.
However, if you have a little knowledge of programming and electronics, there are a couple of things to be aware of. First, the Arduino Uno does not have Wi-Fi capability. There are other options that do and you may want to look into those. Second, programs written with the Arduino IDE are written with a version of C++. However, there are other options that allow you to write with a version of Python instead.
CoMo Science 
Leave a comment