Everyone Can Build A Robot.

First Step To Learn Robotics - ARDUINO MICRO CONTROLLER

INTRODUCTION

Hi to Arduino robot makers. Today I’m going to share with you about the arduino platform using ARDUINO MEGA 2560 development board.  I have selected the MEGA, because it has more pins. You can choose any arduino compatible board. Here is my board.. It is a cheapest clone from this model I think.It cost me about 16 dollars.

Are you a beginner to electronics? It's not a problem for this start.Actually it is not need to know anything about this platform before you start. At start I'm also like you.Only thing you need is the thirst for electronics. If you know C language, it will help you to program this board. But it is not a must.Must is unique ideas for new programs.Share each other what you learn.

Here is small description about this platform.The Arduino Mega 2560 is a microcontroller board based on the chip ATmega2560 .It has 54 digital input output pins (of which 14 can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (hardware serial ports), a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to the laptop with a USB cable to power it and for programming or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. Its input voltage should be 6 to 20 volts. Recommended is 7 to 12 volts. Maximum DC current from input output pin is 40 mille ampere .

Technical Specifications

 Microcontroller -   ATmega2560

Operating Voltage -   5V

Input Voltage (recommended)-    7-12V

Input Voltage (limits)-    6-20V

Digital I / O Pins -   54 (of which 14 provide PWM output)

Analog Input Pins -  16

DC Current per I / O Pin -  40 mA

DC Current for 3.3V Pin -  50 mA

Flash Memory -  256 KB of which 4 KB used by bootloader

SRAM -  8 KB

EEPROM -  4 KB

Clock Speed  -  16MHz

CONNECTING THE MEGA 2560 TO PC

Ok, let’s see how to start. First download the arduino IDE through the <<link>> because you should install the drivers for the arduino board. Then extract the downloaded file using WINRAR. Then connect the board to the laptop using usb cable.

Then Xp users right click on MY COMPUTER icon and go to properties and then HARDWARE after that device manager and PORTS. Now you can see your name of the Arduino board With YELLOW MARK.

Then right click on the board NAME and select UPDATE DRIVER.   

After, select YES,THIS TIME ONLY and then select ADVANCED then select BROWS and select the Drivers folder in the arduino ide extracted file.After installing the drivers correctly ,the YELLOW MARK disappears.

In WIN 7 go to DEVICE MANAGER and do the same thing

Upload The Code To The Arduino Mega 2560 

Now open the Arduino IDE. While the board is connected go to tools and then board and select your board.Then go to TOOLS and select your SERIAL PORT.

Ok. Now lets try to Upload a simple LED blinking program to the board. It is easy because its is open source. First go to FILE, then EXAMPLES, then BASICS and select BLINK.

/*
  Blink
  Turns on an LED on for one second, then off for one second, repeatedly.

  This example code is in the public domain.
 */

// Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards.
// give it a name:
int led = 13;

// the setup routine runs once when you press reset:
void setup() {                
  // initialize the digital pin as an output.
  pinMode(led, OUTPUT);     
}

// the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
void loop() {
  digitalWrite(led, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
  digitalWrite(led, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
  delay(1000);               // wait for a second
}

Now you have the Arduino software. If you like, buy a arduino mega or Arduino UNO is also ok.UNO is is cheaper than MEGA.About 8 - 12 dollars. Thats all for today.Share each other if you learn something.