Arduino is a prototype platform (open-source) based on an
easy-to-use hardware and software. It consists of a circuit
board, which can be programed (referred to as a
microcontroller) and a ready-made software called Arduino
IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which is used to
write and upload the computer code to the physical board.
The key features are −
Arduino boards are able to read analog or digital input signals from
different sensors and turn it into an output such as activating a motor,
turning LED on/off, connect to the cloud and many other actions.
You can control your board functions by sending a set of instructions to
the microcontroller on the board via Arduino IDE (referred to as
uploading software).
Unlike most previous programmable circuit boards, Arduino does not
need an extra piece of hardware in order to load a new code onto the
board. You can simply use a USB cable.
Board Types
Various kinds of Arduino boards are available depending on different
microcontrollers used. However, all Arduino boards have one thing in
common: they are programed through the Arduino IDE.
The differences are based on the number of inputs and outputs (the
number of sensors, LEDs, and buttons you can use on a single board),
speed, operating voltage, form factor etc. Some boards are designed to
be embedded and have no programming interface (hardware), which
you would need to buy separately. Some can run directly from a 3.7V
battery, others need at least 5V.
We will study the Arduino UNO board
because it is the most popular board in the
Arduino board family. In addition, it is the
best board to get started with electronics
and coding. Some boards look a bit different
from the one given below, but most Arduinos
have majority of these components in
common.
Structure:
Arduino programs can be divided in three main parts:
Structure, Values (variables and constants), and Functions. In this
lesson, we will learn about the Arduino software program, step by step
and how we can write the program without any syntax or compilation
error.
Software structure consist of two main functions:
Setup( ) function
Loop( ) function
Main Functions
• setup(){} • loop(){}
• The setup() function is called • After creating a setup() function,
when a sketch starts. Use it to which initializes and sets the
initialize the variables, pin initial values, the loop() function
modes, start using libraries, etc. does precisely what its name
The setup function will only run suggests, and loops
once, after each power up or consecutively, allowing your
reset of the Arduino board. program to change and respond.
Use it to actively control the
Arduino board.
Arduino-Data Types
• Data types in C refers to an extensive system used for
declaring variables or functions of different types. The type
of a variable determines how much space it occupies in the
storage and how the bit pattern stored is interpreted.
• The table in the next slide provides all the data types that
you will use during Arduino programming.
Arduino- Data Types
void Boolean char Unsigned byte int Unsigned word
char int
long Unsigned short float double array String- String-
long char array object
Variable Scope
• Before we start explaining the variable types, a very important subject we
need to make sure, you fully understand what is called the variable scope.
• What is Variable Scope?
• Variables in C++ programming language, which Arduino uses, have a
property called scope. A scope is a region of the program and there are
three places where variables can be declared. They are −
• Inside a function or a block, which is called local variables.
• In the definition of function parameters, which is called formal
parameters.
• Outside of all functions, which is called global variables.
