ARDUINO
WORKSHOP
An Introduction to
Programming and Arduino
Sam Knox
Keith Anderson
WHAT IS AN
ARDUINO?
It's a computer.
WHAT IS AN
ARDUINO?
Like a desktop/laptop, it has:
A CPU (Central Processing Unit)
Plugs to connect components
Ability to run programs
The Arduino Ecosystem
Arduino is the brand name of
a family of microcontroller
boards
They come in all shapes and
sizes
There's a large community of
hobbyists and professionals
using the Arduino platform
There's a large number of
compatible attachments and
components
WHAT CAN WE
DO WITH ONE?
Make a heartbeat sensor
Control RGB lights
Make a flight controller for a drone
WHAT CAN WE
DO WITH ONE?
Build a Bluetooth-controlled Nerf turret
Build a system monitor
for your vehicle
What are some useful things that
we could measure and display?
Build a system monitor
for your vehicle
Speed
Battery Temperature
Motor Temperature
GPS Location
Battery Voltage
Battery Current
Lap Timing
Efficiency
EVolocity Rules
Your Arduino Kit
Check that your kit has these
items:
Arduino Nano (In a bag)
NTC Thermistor
USB C Cable
Barrel Jack Terminal Adapter
LCD Screen
EVolocity Arduino Motherboard (AMB)
ELECTRONICS
FUNDAMENTALS
Electricity
Ohm's Law
What is electricity?
What is electricity?
Flow of electrons
What is electricity?
Flow of electrons A form of energy
OHM'S LAW
Voltage(V) = Current(I) x Resistance(R)
More simply V=IxR
Describes the relationship between electrical properties
PROGRAMMING
FUNDAMENTALS
Analog vs Digital
Variables & Data Types
Conditionals
Functions
Analog vs Digital
We can measure the voltage at any point of an analog signal
and have an infinite number of possible values (depending
on our measuring equipment)
A digital signal will only ever measure one of two values,
AKA binary
Digital Signals
We can read:
On/Off
High/Low
1/0
Digital Signals
We can use this principle to transmit messages:
We communicate with binary digits or bits
8 bits make a byte
How many bits
in a gigabyte?
Digital Signals
So if we have two devices programmed to understand one
another’s bit sequences, then they can talk to each other.
For example, we tell both devices that:
01101011 = launch
01101010 = land
Then we send the byte from device 1 to device 2 and have it
react accordingly.
Variables & Data Types
Variables are numbers that we identify using a name.
They can change, hence variable.
We declare (or initialise) them like so:
int my_integer = 1;
Now the variable "my_integer" can be used throughout the program by
typing its name.
Variables & Data Types
Variables always have a “data type”, which tells the Arduino what
kind of data it should contain.
int - holds values between -32,768 and 32,767
unsigned int - holds values between 0 and 65,535
char - holds a letter
float - holds a decimal
bool - holds either a true or a false (a 1 or a 0)
An Arduino Program
Variable Comments
Program
functions
Conditional
statement
Equation
Conditional Statements
We use logic operators to make decisions.
Equal (A == B) Not equal (A != B)
Greater than (A > B) Less than (A < B)
AND (A && B) OR (A || B)
Conditional Statements
"if" statement
What will this do?
Conditional Statements
"while" loop
And this?
Conditional Statements
"for" loop
What about this?
Functions
A way for us to tidy up and reuse our code.
Functions are called from within our main
loop (or from within other functions).
Libraries
Another way for us to tidy up our code.
Provides us with functions and tools to operate hardware
without us having to know exactly how the hardware works.
This operation adds code to our program behind the
scenes, i.e. we don't see it but we can still call its functions.
We read the library documentation to find out what those
functions are.
The Arduino IDE
If you are using your own computer, and you haven’t
already, you should download and install the IDE now:
https://www.arduino.cc/en/software/
TASKS
Open Arduino IDE on your computer.
Go to evolocity.co.nz > Workshops > Introduction to Arduino.
Download the Arduino Workshop Guidebook.
Turn to the Getting Started section.
Start working through the exercises.
Attach the Arduino
Test your kit
1. Connect the Arduino to your
computer
2. Load the example sketch “Blink”
(File>Examples>01.Basics>Blink)
3. Click “Select Board” and search
for “Arduino Nano”
4. Click the right arrow (the
“Upload” button)
5. Watch the LED on the Arduino
1.1 Blinking an LED
1. Run example 1.1
2. Try to explain what you think
the code is doing to a partner
3. Do the “Try This” section
1.2 Reading a Button
1. Run example 1.2
2. Try to explain what you think
the code is doing to a partner
3. Do the “Try This” section
2.1 Sending a Serial Message
2.1 Sending a Serial Message
3.1 Reading the Dial
3.1 Reading the Dial
3.2 Using a
Potentiometer to
Control LEDs
3.3 Measuring Battery Voltage
Pretend that your dial is the battery voltage sensor.
Have a go at programming this yourself, using this
equation to calculate the battery voltage.
Use one of the previous examples to help you!
3.3 Measuring Battery Voltage
3.4 Measuring Battery
Temperature
Connect your thermistor to the JST
XH connector on your motherboard.
Have a go at programming this
yourself.
Use the guidebook for the required
maths.
3.4 Measuring Battery
Temperature
4.1 Communicating
with an LCD
4.2 Measuring Data from
the BME280 Sensor
4.2 Measuring Data from
the BME280 Sensor
1. Click the books icon on the left of
your screen
2. Search for and install the
“Adafruit BME280” library
Make sure to use version 2.3.0 to avoid
compatibility issues during the workshop.
4.2 Measuring Data from
the BME280 Sensor
Find the documentation.
Use the link in the guidebook, or google “Adafruit
BME280 library Arduino”.
Note that we are using SPI, not I2C.
See if you can get a temperature reading from the
BME280 sensor.
4.2 Measuring Data from
the BME280 Sensor
5 Putting It All Together
You can now:
Measure battery voltage
Measure battery temperature
Measure ambient (BME280) temperature
Display it all on-screen
Try to combine this into one program.
THANK YOU FOR
COMING
