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Intro to Arduino and Hardware Workshop

Colin Szechy, MHacks 6 Core Team

Pick up one of each of the supplies at the front on your way in!

Please don’t sit at a soldering iron!

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Before we get started...

  • Go to the Arduino website (arduino.cc)
  • Click Download in the top toolbar
  • Select the appropriate version of Arduino 1.6.5
  • Download that version.

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What is hardware?

  • Any sort of physical device (preferably one that runs code)
  • Huge variation in software that runs on and with hardware

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Higher-level hardware

  • Oculus Rift
  • Google Glass
  • Moto 360
  • Amazon Echo
  • Microsoft Kinect

this may be my favorite stock image of all time

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Low-level hardware

  • Arduino
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Intel Edison
  • MHacks Hacker Boards

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What are Arduinos?

  • Open-source hardware and software platform
    • Contains a small computer - or “microprocessor”/”microcontroller”
  • Interact with the real world
  • Lots of support online - very popular, great community

The traditional Arduino Uno

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MHacks Hacker Boards

  • Arduino-compatible clone
  • LED matrix
  • Button
  • “Analog” knob (potentiometer)

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Connecting Everything

miniUSB to Pocket Programmer

(can also use the USB port on the Hacker Board to power the board)

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The “Hello World” of hardware

A blinking light, using the on-board lights

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Using the library’s “helloworld” example

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“Hello World” Demo

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What is an LED?

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Multiplexing

- Digital

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Multiplexing

- Digital

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Animations - “basicGrid” demo

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Button - Digital

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Potentiometer - Analog

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Soldering

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKbJxytERvg

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Go give soldering a shot!

While waiting, try your hand at making more fun animations!

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MHacks Hardware Resources

  • Hardware Lab (with MLH and HackWare)
  • Mentoring (mentorship form)
  • Soldering stations
  • Limited 3D printing, high-precision machining, and laser cutting

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Special thanks to

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“You’re still a hacker on Monday.”

-- Otto Sipe, Michigan Hackers (now Microsoft)