Arduino – Frequently Asked Questions

All students of technical universities and all other people, who are at least a little bit interested in electronics, must have come across the name “Arduino” more than once. It is an extremely useful and versatile tool that acts as a logic element in many electronic devices. However, not everyone knows what Arduino really is or where you can learn how to use it. The answers to these (and many other) questions can be found below.

What is Arduino?

In general, Arduino is a small PCB (the size of a credit card) with a large number of components soldered on it. It is basically a ready-to-use development kit and an excellent learning base for beginners who are getting into electronics. However, it is also an excellent tool for professionals. The device has its own microprocessor and a number of useful connectors. It is even more special because it is ready for use almost immediately when you buy it. It should be remembered that the name “Arduino” does not refer to a specific model, but to more than thirty variants of boards created for different purposes and with different functions. The first Arduino was launched on the market in 2005, in Italy; it was intended to make the work easier for all do-it-yourselfers, students and electronic beginners, and also for use in professional robotics. The aim was to make it easier to learn programming for all people interested in it. In simple terms, Arduino boards are modules with microcontrollers that can be easily programmed using public libraries. The programming language used for this hardware is very similar to the popular C++.

We also recommend “Kanał o Wszystkim” (the Channel About Everything) on YouTube, where you can find a playlist of Arduino training course and some projects – see the first video in the series here.

What is Arduino made of?

Physically, Arduino is a PCB with a large number of tracks and soldered components on it. The board is available in many versions, but they all have some common features. They usually differ in the size and type of components used (for example, a slower microprocessor or no Bluetooth interface). The key element of the Arduino Uno R3, the most popular board in the series, is an 8-bit Atmel microprocessor (ATmega328), with a maximum operating frequency of 16MHz. The device has standard USB ports that allow the board to communicate with or be powered by a computer. Power can also be supplied via a standard 5.5mm x 2.5mm or 5.5mm x 2.1mm DC power socket (with the voltage between 7V and 12V). On the top side, there is a special reset button that restarts the entire board when pressed. In addition, when looking at the device, you can easily identify a microcontroller responsible for proper communication with the computer, as well as Arduino programming connectors, signal connectors, or LEDs (both programmable and signaling ones).

Where can you buy the Arduino board?

The device is available in many stationary and online electronics stores and on the official website of the manufacturer. It is often sold in sets with accessories that make it easier to get started with a particular model of the board, or to realize a specific electronics project. The main advantage of this solution is its convenience and attractive price. You can also be sure that such a set contains elements that are fully compatible with the board – this is especially important for beginners who may find it difficult to select the right components on their own. The price depends on the shop and the chosen module variant.

Is Arduino suitable for beginners?

Yes, Arduino is one of the most recommended devices for beginners due to several aspects. First of all, they will appreciate the easy programming, the large number of available knowledge sources, the high compatibility with different devices and interfaces, and the wide range of available add-ons and extensions. The attractive price is another big and undoubted advantage, especially for young people, such as students of technical universities or high schools.

The price of the board depends on its model, the distributor and the contents of the set. On average, the cost of the original main module ranges from a few dozen zloty (e.g. Arduino Uno) to a few hundred zloty (e.g. advanced Arduino MKR models). It should be remembered that a suspiciously low price may indicate that you are about to buy a fake! Therefore it is a good idea to buy Arduino only from verified sellers who are on the official list of Arduino distributors.

What types of Arduino are available and how do they differ?

There are currently over thirty versions of the Arduino board available on the market. They differ in the central systems used, the number and position of the pins, supported interfaces or additionally installed modules (e.g. Ethernet or Bluetooth). The most popular versions of Arduino used for electronic projects include Arduino Uno R33, Arduino Leonardo and Arduino Zero. Before you buy the board you need for a particular project, it is worth finding out which model has the most compatible parameters for that purpose. However, if you are buying an Arduino to learn programming or electronics in general, it is best to choose one of the most popular basic versions. They are also available in sets with other electronic components.

What will be useful to learn how to use Arduino?

First of all, the necessary accessories include the appropriate power supply (an AC adapter or a USB A-B cable to connect the board to your computer). The breadboard, connection cables and electronic components in THT technology will also prove useful (at the beginning, resistors with different values and diodes are mainly worth buying). Arduino is often sold in kits with accessories – it is worth taking a look at such kits if you want to be sure that the parameters of the accessories match the parameters of the board itself. Moreover, the price of the whole set is usually lower than the total value of its elements when purchased separately. A simple display screen can also be useful, especially for learning the basics of electronics and programming. You will then be able to program it to display results in real-time, such as received sensory data. Good and inexpensive learning accessories also include motors and servos. They will help you to find out more about the use of such devices (commonly used in robotics) and learn how to control a motor using the digital PWM outputs or create a PID controller using, for example, a magnetic encoder (to measure the number of motor shaft revolutions). It is also worth trying different types of analog sensors that work perfectly with the board.

What accessories can be used with Arduino?

Arduino boards have analog and digital pins to which you can connect many other electronic components and devices, including displays, motors and sensors. Arduino Shields also allows you to extend the functionality of the board by adding options such as a Wi-Fi or Ethernet interface. There are also pin expanders to increase the number of outputs. The most basic and necessary accessories also include a stabilized power supply with appropriate current capability. Of course you can also install different types of feet, cases or pads to increase the comfort of using the board.

Arduino Shields are expansion modules intended for use with the Arduino board. Since the name “Arduino Shield” is reserved, it can only be used in relation to the original accessories released by the authors of Arduino. Among the shields you will find e.g. controllers for motors and servos, keyboards, displays, sensors, loudspeakers, microphones, measuring devices, communication interfaces, network modules, output expanders and many other expansions. Just like when buying a board, it is always worth checking if it is an original product from Arduino or other good and reliable shield designers (e.g. Adafruit or SparkFun).

With Arduino you can create a virtually unlimited number of projects. The device works perfectly as a driver or controller, so you can use it for intelligent clothing, building automation systems, lighting systems, alarms, security systems, remote controlled vehicles, robots, drones, homemade measuring devices and many other projects. A wide range of projects using different versions of the Arduino board are available on the Forbot technology blog and on YouTube channels for electronics, for example. There are also many books describing how the board works and how to use it – one of the most interesting is a series of guides from Simon Monk.

What languages can be used for programming Arduino?

The Arduino programming language is based on the Wiring environment and is therefore similar to C and C++. Once you have connected the card to the computer and configured it correctly, you can also use other programming languages such as Java, C #, ActionScript, Perl or VBScript, so that you can choose the environment that you find most convenient.

Can Arduino be connected to a computer?

Yes, most Arduino boards support UART and USB interfaces, so you can connect them to a computer and then use it to configure or program your board. Your computer can also become the central module of a larger system combining several Arduino boards and other electronic components, for example in a home automation system. In this example, Arduino boards are used as controls that receive data from sensors built into individual devices (e.g. a shutter control or an intelligent LED lighting system), while the entire system is controlled by a computer.

What does it mean that Arduino is an open hardware device?

This means that Arduino devices are not protected by patent law – they can be copied and distributed (even commercially), and their schematics are provided free of charge by their creators. Arduino clones include i.e. Freeduino boards and shields that are compatible with the original devices. You should keep in mind that – even if the devices can be copied – the name Arduino is a registered trademark (e.g. it cannot be used to describe homemade shields for sale). Some of the software is also proprietary. So before you create a commercial design using the board, it is a good idea to carefully check which components can be used free of charge.

While both devices are referred to as minicomputers, Arduino and Raspberry Pi are quite different. The main difference is their purpose. Arduino works best as a controller for analog systems, e.g. motors in mechanical devices, or for receiving and transmitting data from analog sensors to the display. Meanwhile, Raspberry Pi is a more complex device, better suited for working with digital components. It can be used, for example, as a logic component in a homemade computer or as an IoT gate in a building automation system. Although Arduino has a lower operational capability, it is a simpler device and therefore better suited for creating simple projects based on analog elements, which are not handled at all by Raspberry Pi without additional extensions.

How is Arduino powered?

The board can be powered via a USB interface as soon as it is connected to a computer or via a DC switching power supply with a 5.5 mm x 2.5 mm or 5.5 mm x 2.1 mm plug. The second solution is especially recommended for projects with higher power requirements, e.g. some projects using motors or larger displays.

What current can Arduino provide?

Analog and digital pins allow you to draw about 40 mA per pin, while the 5 V pin allows you to draw a maximum of 1 A (this depends on the power supply used and the amount of power supplied by the source).

What makes Arduino so popular?

The Arduino board is characterized by a careful design and excellent parameters. It also has a relatively low price, especially compared to other similar devices. Also important is the large number of compatible elements, including other devices, extensions and accessories. Moreover, Arduino is easy to program, which makes it a particularly friendly solution for these enthusiasts who are just starting their adventure with electronics. It is also important that users have access to a wide range of source literature and ready-made projects.

Is it worth investing in Arduino clones?

The answer to this question depends on the quality of the clones. Arduino is open-hardware – this means that anyone can legally build their own Arduino or create a compatible device. However, before you buy a device, you should check if it is an original board or a fake or just a device that is compatible with the Arduino standards. There are many accessories and replacement products on the market that are fully functional and ready to use. Unfortunately, you can also find some products that only look like the original on the outside. They are often made of inferior materials and only imitate the original. Most of the time these types of products have a significantly lower price than the products offered by Arduino. In summary, hardware that is not an official Arduino product is usually high-quality hardware designed and made by electronics enthusiasts and often designed for a very specific purpose. However, you should be careful to choose the so-called clones and not some low-quality fakes.