Data Sheet
IOREF
RESET
RESET
7-15V
SCL
SDA
AREF
GND
13
12
~11
~10
~9
8
7
~6
~5
4
~3
2
1
0
TX
RX
13
3.3V
5V
GND
GND
VIN
A0
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
POWER ANALOG IN
DIGITAL (PWM~)
ON
ISP
TX
RX
START SOMETHING
2 : intro
A COMPUTER FOR THE
PHYSICAL WORLD
The SparkFun RedBoard is your
development platform. At its roots, the
RedBoard is essentially a small, portable
computer, also known as a microcontroller.
It is capable of taking inputs (such as the
push of a button or a reading from a light
sensor) and interpreting that information
to control various outputs (like blinking an
LED light or spinning an electric motor).
That’s where the term “physical computing”
comes in; this board is capable of taking the
world of electronics and relating it to the
physical world in a real and tangible way.
THE SPARKFUN REDBOARD is one of a multitude of development boards based on
the ATmega328 microprocessor. It has 14 digital input/output pins (six of which can be
PWM outputs), six analog inputs, a 16MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power
jack, and a reset button. You’ll learn more about each of the RedBoard's features as you
progress through this guide.
The RedBoard Platform
THE DIY REVOLUTION: At SparkFun we believe that an understanding of electronics
is a core literacy that opens up a world of opportunities in the fields of robotics, Internet
of Things (IoT), engineering, fashion, medical industries, environmental sciences,
performing arts and more. This guide is designed to explore the connection between
software and hardware, introducing Arduino code and SparkFun parts as they are
used in the context of building engaging projects. The circuits in this guide progress
in difficulty as new concepts and components are introduced. Completing each circuit
means much more than just “experimenting”; you will walk away with a fun project you
can use — and a sense of accomplishment that is just the beginning of your electronics
journey. At the end of each circuit, you'll find coding challenges that extend your learning
and fuel ongoing innovation.
SIK v4 Book Oct 13.indb 2 10/18/17 9:58 AM