Arduino For Beginners - 2023 Complete Course

Packt via Coursera

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Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Free Online Course (Audit)
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

18 hours 1 minute
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

English

Found in

Overview

Class Central Tips

Unlock the world of electronics and microcontrollers with this beginner-friendly Arduino course. The course starts by guiding you through the setup of the Arduino IDE and teaching you how to simulate projects in Tinkercad. You'll gradually move from basic circuit design, such as blinking an LED, to more advanced projects involving sensors, displays, and remote controllers. Each section is packed with clear instructions and hands-on activities to ensure you get practical experience. As you progress, you'll dive into the core concepts of programming, learning how to handle variables, loops, and functions. You'll gain confidence by building circuits with LEDs, push buttons, potentiometers, and even ultrasonic sensors to measure distances. The course ensures that your learning is interactive with regular activities and simulations, encouraging you to apply what you've learned in real-time. By the end of the course, you'll have mastered Arduino's digital and analog capabilities. From setting up serial communication to controlling LEDs based on environmental input, this course gives you everything you need to create your own Arduino-based projects. Whether you're interested in home automation, robotics, or simply enhancing your electronics knowledge, this course will set you on the path to success. This course is designed for beginners with no prior experience in electronics or programming. It’s also ideal for hobbyists, students, or professionals looking to enhance their technical skills. Basic computer literacy is recommended, but no prior knowledge of Arduino is required.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce you to the Arduino platform and explain its significance in electronics and programming. You will learn about the key materials needed to follow along, along with recommendations for getting started. Additionally, you'll explore how to make the most of online simulation tools and tips for optimizing your learning experience throughout the course.

Install and Set Up Arduino IDE + Tinkercad Simulation

In this module, we will walk you through installing the Arduino IDE on your computer and customizing it for an optimal experience. You'll also learn how to connect your Arduino board and ensure it is properly recognized by the software. Finally, we'll introduce you to Tinkercad, a powerful online tool for simulating Arduino projects, and guide you through creating your account and starting your first simulation.

Your First Arduino Project

In this module, we will guide you through creating your first Arduino project by making an LED blink. You'll learn about the key functions that control Arduino programs and how to debug issues using the Serial Monitor. Additionally, you will explore different methods to restart your program, both in hardware and software. Through hands-on activities, you'll adjust the blink rate of the LED and print messages when it turns on or off, reinforcing your understanding of debugging and code modification.

Create an Arduino Circuit

In this module, we will dive into the fundamentals of building physical circuits for your Arduino projects. You’ll gain a solid understanding of how breadboards work and learn to read resistor color codes accurately. We’ll provide tips for safely manipulating hardware components, then guide you through creating a simple circuit using an LED and a resistor, followed by programming the LED to blink.

Programming Basics for Arduino

In this module, we will explore the foundational programming concepts necessary for Arduino development. You'll learn how to declare and use variables, understand different data types, and structure your code with functions. We’ll also cover conditions and loops, allowing your Arduino to make decisions and perform repetitive tasks. Lastly, you’ll work with arrays to manage collections of data, rounding off with a recap to reinforce these essential coding skills.

LEDs - Digital Pins as Output Pins

In this module, we will focus on using Arduino’s digital pins to control LEDs. You'll learn how digital pins work, both with binary output (on/off) and analog output using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to set varying levels of brightness. By the end of the module, you’ll apply these concepts to create a fading effect for an LED, giving you practical experience in using digital pins and PWM in your projects.

Push Button - Digital Pins as Input Pins

In this module, we will explore how to use digital pins as input pins by adding a push button to your Arduino circuit. You’ll learn how to detect button presses by reading digital signals and use that input to control an LED. Through a hands-on activity, you’ll create a circuit where the LED lights up only when the button is pressed. Additionally, we’ll introduce the Serial Plotter, a useful tool for visualizing input data directly in the Arduino IDE.

Potentiometer - Analog Pins

In this module, we will focus on using analog pins with a potentiometer, a device that provides variable resistance. You’ll learn how to read analog values from the potentiometer and use them to control an LED’s brightness. By the end of the module, you’ll complete a practical activity where the LED’s brightness adjusts based on the potentiometer’s position, and we’ll also introduce an extra tip on using analog pins as digital pins for added flexibility in your projects.

Practice More with Arduino Pins

In this module, we will recap the different uses of Arduino pins before moving into more advanced hands-on projects. You’ll start by adding two more LEDs to your circuit and building a small traffic light system. Through various activities, you’ll program multiple LEDs to blink based on button input and improve your code by utilizing functions and arrays, making your projects more efficient and organized.

Serial Communication - Send and Receive Data

In this module, we will explore the fundamentals of serial communication, allowing your Arduino to send and receive data with your computer. You’ll learn how to transmit and receive data using the Serial Monitor and adjust the baud rate to improve communication speed. The module concludes with a practical activity where you'll control the blink rate of an LED by sending data from the Serial Monitor, giving you hands-on experience with real-time data transmission and control.

Time Functionalities - Improve Your Programs and Multitask

In this module, we will delve into time management functions to improve the efficiency of your Arduino programs. You’ll learn how to pause execution with delay() and understand the drawbacks of using it. By using alternatives like millis() and micros(), you’ll avoid blocking code execution, enabling multitasking. Through hands-on activities, you’ll rewrite previous programs without using delay() and create projects that run multiple tasks, such as blinking multiple LEDs or executing different actions at the same time.

Debounce the Push Button

In this module, we will explore the bounce issue commonly encountered with push buttons, where multiple unintended signals are sent during a single press. You’ll experiment with this problem to see its effects firsthand and then learn the theory behind it. By applying a debouncing technique, you’ll ensure accurate signal reading from the button. The module wraps up with an activity where you’ll use a debounced button press to toggle a different LED, improving the reliability of your button-controlled projects.

Arduino Interrupts

In this module, we will explore interrupts, a powerful feature that allows your Arduino to respond instantly to external events. You’ll learn when and why to use interrupts and how to set them up in your program. We will also discuss software debouncing within interrupts to handle button inputs reliably. By the end of the module, you’ll complete an activity where you use interrupts to count how many times a button is pressed, ensuring precise and efficient input detection.

EEPROM - Save Values on the Arduino

In this module, we will introduce the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a feature that allows you to store data on your Arduino, even after it’s powered off. You’ll learn when and how to use EEPROM to save and retrieve values for your projects. Through a hands-on activity, you’ll save the maximum brightness of an LED, ensuring that the value persists across program runs and providing a valuable technique for maintaining settings in long-term projects.

Ultrasonic Sensor - Measure Distances

In this module, we will explore how to use an ultrasonic sensor to measure distances in your Arduino projects. You’ll learn how the sensor works, using the pulseIn() function to calculate the time it takes for sound pulses to return after hitting an obstacle. We'll also demonstrate how to improve sensor responsiveness by using interrupts. Through practical activities, you'll create a project where different LEDs are powered on based on the detected distance, and we’ll provide extra tips to stabilize sensor readings for more reliable measurements.

LCD Screen - Display Text Directly on Your Circuit/Robot

In this module, we will teach you how to integrate an LCD screen into your Arduino circuit to display text and data in real-time. You’ll learn how to print text on the screen and adjust its contrast with a potentiometer. By experimenting with the cursor position, you can enhance how information is presented. Through activities, you'll display user input from the Serial Monitor and real-time distance measurements from an ultrasonic sensor directly on the LCD screen, making your projects more interactive and informative.

IR Remote Controller - Make Your Projects More Interactive

In this module, we will guide you through adding an IR remote control to your Arduino projects for enhanced interactivity. You’ll learn how to install and use different versions of the IR library to receive and map data from the remote. We’ll demonstrate how to create a switch-case structure to respond to various button commands, allowing you to control different components like LEDs. Through a hands-on activity, you’ll program the remote to choose which LED to power on, making your projects more dynamic and user-friendly.

Photoresistor - Measure Luminosity

In this module, we will explore how to use a photoresistor to detect changes in ambient light. You’ll learn how to connect the photoresistor to your Arduino circuit and read real-time luminosity data. Through hands-on activities, you’ll program the LEDs to automatically turn on when it gets too dark and compute the average light level over a period of time, making your projects more responsive to environmental conditions.

Final Project - Interactive Obstacle Detection

In this final module, we will guide you through building an interactive obstacle detection system, combining all the skills you've developed. You’ll use an ultrasonic sensor to measure distances, adjust LED blink rates based on proximity, and lock/unlock the system with a debounced push button and IR remote controller. The LCD screen will display real-time data, including distance and warning messages, while EEPROM will save user preferences. The project concludes with tips on improving and customizing the system, helping you apply best practices to future Arduino projects.

Conclusion

In this final module, we will reflect on everything you’ve learned, from basic Arduino setup and programming to advanced topics like serial communication, interrupts, and sensor integration. You now have the skills to build interactive and complex projects. We’ll also discuss recommendations on what to explore next, whether it’s diving deeper into Arduino libraries, working on personal projects, or experimenting with more advanced sensors and components.