User manual
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2. ARDUINO General Description
2.1. Who or what is ARDUINO?
Arduino is an open source- single board microcontroller, which pro-
vides an easy access to programming, microcontrollers and project-
platforms for interactive objects for artists, designer, hobbyists and
others.
The Arduino-platform has been based on an Atmel’s ATmega168 or
ATmega328 microcontroller. The system provides users with digital
I/O-ports and analog input channels, which allow the Arduino-sy-
stem to receive and respond to signals from the environment.
The market supplies us with several Arduino-boards such as Arduino
Uno, Arduino LilyPad and Arduino Mega 2560. Each Arduino-board
has been designed for specied purposes and users obviously may
choose an ideal Arduino-assembly for almost any project.
For example input signals may be delivered by switches, light sen-
sors, speed and acceleration sensors, proximity sensors and tem-
perature sensors. Additionally commands will be allowed from any
web-sources. Output-signals will be used to control motors, pumps
and screen displays.
The system has been equipped with a compiler for a standardized
programming language and a boot-loader. The programming lan-
guage has been based on Wiring- language, which corresponds to
C++.
Originally the Arduino project started 2005 in Ivrea, Italy. The con-
cept aimed to support students in projects, in which the prototyping
should be cheaper and more efcient as in most standard methods.
The developer group under Massimo Banzi and David Cuartielles
decided to name the project after a historical character named
‘Arduin of Ivrea’. “Arduino” is the Italian version of the name,
meaning “strong friend”.
The English version of the name is “Hardwin”.