"Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments." (from arduino.cc)

Designed for absolute beginers, by the end of this class you will make an Arduino based interactive object.

The Arduino system consists of free software that you will install on your laptop, and a small microcontroller board that runs your program and interfaces to sensors, lights, speakers, motors, etc.

A limited number of laptops available for loan.

Arduino boards will be available for sale at $30.

An accessory kit of LEDs, resistors, sensors, transistors, a relay, a motor, and a solderless breadboard will be available for sale at about $25.

Students who already own any of these may bring them to possibly save on the materials fee.

Workshop Series
Workshops are 4 hours long and $25 each

Workshop 1:
Electronics, programming,  and Arduino IDE installation. The four basic interfaces of Arduino will be explained and explored: Inputs and Outputs; Analog and Digital.

Workshop 2:
Interfacing to and controlling motors: current, heat, how transistors help, and how to control the speed of a motor (or the brightness of a lamp) with PWM. Positional motors (hobby servo motors).

NEXT WORKSHOP ON SEPTEMBER 18
Workshop 3:
Arduino is not an island! Communication between your laptop and Arduino, and how programs on each can collaborate. Introduction to the Processing programming language.

Workshop 4:
Sensors! Light, sound, gas, bend, stretch, move, twist, magnet, heat, acceleration, direction, etc.
Sound! Making sounds with Arduino

Robotics workshop (flexible):
Combine sensors, motors, and other actuators to make a robot, and learn the fundamentals of robotic programming

Workshop 5:
Arduino Add-ons: Shields: Audio playback, wireless, Ethernet, extended motor control, prototyping, relays, screw connectors, clock, LCD, memory, etc.

Workshop 6:
Arduino is really not an island: Interfacing Arduino to the Internet.

Workshop 7:
Advanced topics: Timers, interrupts, and parallel processing

More workshops!
Want to hear about future workshops? Want a workshop at your school/club/workplace/home/party? Email us atteachers AT teachmetomake DOT com

What to Bring:
If you want to perform the activities in the workshop, you will need the following:

• Your Arduino board, if you have one, or purchase one ($30) at the meeting.
• A USB cable for your Arduino
• A laptop on which to install and run the Arduino IDE. We can provide a few with advance notice.
• Any accessories (sensors, LEDs, motors, speakers, robots) you might have
• Curiosity and interest!

Before the meeting:
If you can, please install, or at least download, the Arduio IDE before the meeting. Thumbdrives with the Arduino IDE will be available at the meeting. The Arduino IDE is available here, is completely free, and runs on Mac OS, Linux, and Windows.