​Characteristics of a Microcontroller

• Small and Low-Cost – Affordable and compact.

• Dedicated – Performs one specific task.

• Low-Powered – Uses very little electricity (about 50 milliwatts).

• Embedded – Can be built into other devices.

​Applications

• Used in:

  • Home appliances

  • Automobiles

  • Industrial machines

  • Mobile devices

  • Robotics

  • IoT (Internet of Things)

Popular Microcontroller Examples

• Arduino Uno R3 – Widely used in education and robotics.

• Raspberry Pi – For computing and programming projects.

• Intel Galileo – Compatible with Arduino.

• Asus Tinker Board – Advanced board by Asus.

• GizDuino – A Filipino-made microcontroller.

Arduino Microcontroller: Focus of the Lesson

Brief History

• Arduino is an open-source electronic platform used to design and build digital devices.

• Developed in 2005 in Italy to help students learn interactive design.

• Founded by Massimo Banzi and team.

• Named after a pub in Ivrea, Italy.

Why Use Arduino?

• Affordable

• Simple and beginner-friendly

• Cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux)

• Strong online community support

Arduino Uno—Key Parts

• <iframe style="max-width:100%" src="https://wordwall.net/embed/play/94760/384/199" width="500" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Please click the link above and answer the first activity.

Arduino Uno—Key Parts

• Microprocessor (ATmega328P) – Executes the code.

• USB Port – Transfers code and provides power.

• Barrel Jack – Power via adapter (6–20V).

• Reset Button – Restarts the board.

• Power Header – Sends power to external parts.

• Digital Pins (0–13) – For digital input/output.

• Analog Pins (A0–A5) – For reading analog signals.

• PWM Pins (~3, ~5, ~6, ~9, ~10, ~11) – Mimics analog output.

Download and install locally.

2. Desktop IDE

• No installation needed.

• Requires internet and Arduino account.

1. Web Editor (online via Arduino Create)

💻 Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment)
🖥️ Options:

🧰 Features of Web Editor:

• Sketchbook – Saved codes.

• Examples – Sample projects.

• Libraries – Extra tools/functions.

• Serial Monitor – Data exchange with board.

• Preferences – Customize appearance.