Arduino

We were introduced to Arduino by Rob canning. Arduino is a open source software that is free to download and use. On the right is a link to the Arduino website where I downloaded the software and it has links to tutorials which can help you experiment.

Below is my research and experimentation using Arduino.

Generating AC


AC can be produced using a device called an alternator.
This device is a electrical generator produced to alternate the current.

one example of an AC current is in water pipes.

To generate AC in a set of water pipes, we connect a mechanical crank to a piston that moves water in the pipes back and forth (our “alternating” current)

Direct Current (DC)

Direct current is a bit easier to understand than alternating current. Rather than oscillating back and forth, DC provides a constant voltage or current.

Generating DC

DC can be generated in a number of ways:
For Example, Batteries provide DC, which is generated from a chemical reaction inside of the battery
Using our water analogy again, DC is similar to a tank of water with a hose at the end.

The tank can only push water one way: out the hose.
Similar to our DC-producing battery, once the tank is empty, water no longer flows through the pipes. However looking at AC, water will always flow through.

The Arduino integrated development environment (IDE) is a cross-platform application.

It is designed to introduce programming to artists and other newcomers unfamiliar with software development.

Anything that is written on Arduino is called a 'sketch'.

Arduino programs are written in C or C++.


setup(): a function run once at the start of a program that can initialize settings

loop(): a function called repeatedly until the board powers off

IDE

IO Sensors

Difference in AC and DC:

Devices which perform an "Input" function are commonly called Sensors because they "sense" a physical change in some characteristic that changes in response to some excitation, for example heat or force and covert that into an electrical signal. Devices which perform an "Output" function are generally called Actuators and are used to control some external device, for example movement or sound.

Examples of IO Sensors :

potentiometer --- speakers --- humidity

joystick --- synthesizers--- flex --- ultrasonic --- solenoids

accelerometer --- WIFI --- tempreture --- bluetooth --- servo-motors

light --- ethernet --- relays --- electromagnets --- WEB IO --- switch

Hardware Development Community

Building my circuit

Alternating Current (AC)

Alternating current describes the flow of charge that changes direction periodically.Subsequently, the voltage level additionally inverts along with the current. AC is used to deliver power to houses, office buildings, etc.

In order for an electronic circuit or system to work or carry out an sort of task, it needs to communicate. this can be done by reading an input signal. for example ON/OFF, or activating some form of output signal. in other words the electronic system/circuit must be able to 'do' something.








There are many different types of both analogue and digital input and output devices available to choose from.

The word "Transducer" is the collective term used for both Sensors which can be used to sense a wide range of different energy forms such as movement, electrical signals, radiant energy, thermal or magnetic energy etc, and Actuators which can be used to switch voltages or currents.

An actuator is the mechanism by which a control system acts upon an environment.

To build the circuit, attach a 220-ohm resistor to pin 13.


Then attach the anode to the resistor. An anode is the positive leg of an LED and the short leg which is the negative would be the cathode. Attach the cathode to ground.
Then plug your Arduino board into your computer, start the Arduino program, and enter the code.

Looking at my sketch you can see that I have applied the normal blink test and the LED light turns on and off. However I have delayed this by 5 seconds, so it turns off then after 5 seconds the light will come back on again.

Looking the first LED worked successfully i decided to add another LED, in my Arduino program i used coding so that the red light comes on then off then the green repeats and then the red again.

I then decided to add another LED light to my circuit. On the right is a video to demonstrate how coding has been used to turn the lights on and off with a delay.

Rob Canning introduced us two websites below. The website on the right helps you with interpreting the resistor. on the right hand side of the website is gives you a table which is very east to use. And the one on the left allows you to buy Arduino products and it includes tutorials and theory to help you.