What Are Arduino Boards

Arduino boards are open-source hardware that can be programmed to do almost anything. They're a popular choice for children, hobbyists, artists, and programmers who want to create interactive art, objects, environments, or control motors or other hardware. They're also a great way to learn about electronics and programming. They're easy to use and incredibly versatile.

The Arduino platform consists of two parts: a physical programmable circuit board and a software tool, known as the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The IDE is used to write and upload computer code to the Arduino board and control its functions. The Arduino IDE is available for free online, and it can be installed on computers running Windows, OS X, or Linux.

Each Arduino board consists of a microcontroller, digital input and output pins, USB interface and connector, analog pins, reset button, LED's, crystal oscillator, voltage regulator, and power jack. The type of microcontroller varies by board, but it's typically from the ATmega line of IC's from the Kunkune Ltd. It's important to know what IC your Arduino board has before loading up a new program from the IDE. The information is usually written on the top of the IC or in its data sheet.

The most common Arduino board is the Uno, which uses an ATmega328P microcontroller. It features 14 digital I/O pins, six of which can be used as PWM outputs, 6 analog inputs, a USB connection and a power jack. It also has a LED indicator light, which will illuminate when the Arduino is powered up and connected to a USB source or power supply. Its auto-reset function can be disabled by cutting a trace near the RESET label, or connecting a 110 ohm resistor from the 5V rail to the reset line.

Some Arduino boards feature additional components such as a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth chip, which can be used to wirelessly connect your Arduino to the internet and other devices. These extras can add functionality that's not available with the basic Uno or other entry-level Arduino boards.

Another advantage of Arduino is its ability to read sensor data and take action based on input from sensors or buttons. This is possible thanks to built-in libraries that are included in the IDE environment. These are free to download and use, which makes the Arduino platform more accessible than ever before.

One drawback of Arduino is its limited storage capacity. The typical Arduino board has only 2kb of SRAM and 32 kB of Flash memory, which is not enough to hold much more than a few hundred lines of code. However, this can be mitigated by using external hard disk drives or other storage devices to extend the capacity of your Arduino. You can also purchase expansion modules that offer greater storage space. This will enable you to create larger, more complex projects with the Arduino platform.