Arduino 101

For something new outside the normal 3D printing stuff I post here, I have now started experimenting with the Freetronics Eleven Kit (essentially an Arduino). This has been something I’ve wanted to try for a long time now, and I’ve finally found an excuse through my PhD research to make time to learn about the electronics and coding of this system. Admittedly I feel like a child when it comes to my knowledge of circuits, so I’m starting out nice and simple!

Pictured above are photos of the first 3 projects supplied with the kit:

1. Firstly creating a basic LED circuit with coding to control blinking.
2. Controlling 8 LED’s and using coding to control a ‘scanning’ effect progressing through the LED’s.
3. Adding a button to allow pausing of the LED’s during scanning (reminds of of arcade games where you have to stop the lights in a certain spot to win a prize).

Now I admit it’s far from exciting like a robot would be, but for someone with no electronic skills it’s a great way to get started with an understanding of both circuitry and coding. As a designer used to using 3D modelling tools to produce what I imagine, using text-based code to control this is quite a side-step, requiring a new way of thinking. But what I like about the Arduino is the community surrounding it – there is a tutorial and free code for almost anything you need to create. I don’t know how well I’ll pick it up, but it’s great to begin learning something totally new! Stay tuned, I’m sure there will be some 3D printed enclosures or something coming very soon.

– Posted by James Novak