Resources

Software Downloads

• Arduino IDE
• Adobe Illustrator(Free trial or paid license)
• Inkscape(Free Illustrator alternative)
• Fusion 360(Free license for students)

Fundamental Electronics

Breadboard Connections
Resistor Color Codes: 4- and 5-band
ELEGOO Starter Kit Information + Tutorials

Coding Terms and Definitions

• Variables: a method to store numerical information as a word, such as led = 13
  • int: a whole number value, such as 1, 13, or -5
  • float: a decimal value (also called a floating point number), such as 1.5, 3.14, or -6.0
• Functions: blocks of code that do something, usually defined by their name; identified by a specific word followed by two parentheses (examples below)
  • void setup(): a function that runs one time when the Arduino is powered on or reset
  • void loop(): a function that runs a block of code as fast as possible, up to hundreds or thousands of times per second, as long as the Arduino is ON
  • Function arguments: special values that are included inside parentheses when a function is used
  • pinMode(variable, INPUT/OUTPUT): a function that tells the Arduino if a physical component will receive (INPUT) or send (OUTPUT) data from/to the real world
  • digitalWrite(variable, HIGH/LOW): a function that sends a 1 (HIGH) or 0 (LOW) signal to a component, such as turning ON or OFF an LED
  • delay(time in milliseconds): a function that delays the next instruction by a number of milliseconds; helpful for slowing down the process of the Arduino
  • digitalRead(variable): reads the value of a digital input, such as a Pushbutton
  • analogWrite(variable, value): sends a specific value to an output pin, usually a PWM, that emulates an analog output; often used to fade LEDs
  • analogRead(variable): receives input from an analog device, such as a potentiometer, joystick, or photoresistor
• Symbols: special characters that tell our computer how to read certain lines of code
  • ””( )”“: opening and closing parentheses follow a function name, and often include arguments for a function to use
  • ””{ }”“: opening and closing curly brackets contain instructions for functions setup() and loop() as well as other special functions
  • ”;”: the semicolon closes a line of code and informs the computer to move on to the next instruction

Arduino Copy-Paste Code

• Read Potentiometer
• Pushbutton Toggle