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A Beginners Guide to Arduino Kits

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Microduino, Inc
A Beginners Guide to Arduino Kits

Young and aspiring coders, are you interested in improving your tech and electronics skills? Want to sharpen your coding talent? Then the best place to start is with Arduino compatible kits and starter kits. What are they? How can they help improve your coding skills? How to get started? Let’s help you understand the basics.

What is Arduino?

Arduino is the most commonly used open-source hardware platform used for building electronic projects. It is widely incorporated in educational STEM kits and toys. Arduino boards merge both hardware and software, comprising a circuit board (programmable microcontroller) and a software or Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The IDE is installed in the computer enabling the writing and uploading of code to the circuit board.  

Arduino boards can read simple inputs like putting a finger on any button, converting it to output which leads to motor activation. The input can be changed at any point in time using the IDE to rewrite the initial code. Being easy to understand and learn, Arduino kits have become quite popular among young coders and students interested in dabbling with electronics. It is also extensively used in designing STEM kits for young learners. 

Why is Arduino a Popular Choice?

  • Previously, the programmable circuit boards came with separate hardware or programmer for loading the new code. An Arduino can be connected to the computer via the software easily, making changing the code a seamless task.
  • The Arduino board IDE is designed with a basic version of C++, which is easier to understand and learn for even young students. 
  • It offers a regular form factor, which breaks out the microcontroller functions, making it more accessible.

What does an Arduino kit do?

The question should be, what can an Arduino kit not do? This exceptional hardware-software combination was innovated and developed for anyone interested in building interactive environments and objects. It’s the reason why these are so widely used in educational STEM kits for children and students. 

Arduino makes for easy interaction and engagement with LEDs, motors, buttons, speakers, cameras, the internet, GPS units, and any smart device. The flexibility that it contributes to electronics and coding is unlike any other. The fact that it is quite affordable and available with free software makes it an even more appealing beginners’ kit. It is the brains behind any quality STEM DIY project. 

What are the Different Components of Arduino Boards?

A standard Arduino board comprises:

  • Power jack or USB port
  • Pins (3.3V, 5V, Analog, GNV, PWM, AREF, Digital)
  • Power LED indicator
  • Reset button
  • Main IC
  • Voltage regulator

These are the usual board components found in any Arduino kit. The rest may vary as per the version and advanced level of the kit. 

Conclusion

The simplicity and intuitive attributes of Arduino compatible kits make it a perfect match for STEM toys used for children and student learning or DIY activity. When sourcing these kits, you need to make sure that the manufacturer and the supplier are reliable so that you get the cutting-edge quality product worth the price. 

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