Skip to main content

Arduino

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that makes it easy to build interactive projects. It's two things: hardware (microcontroller boards) and software (the Arduino IDE) that lets you program those boards to sense and control the physical world via sensors, motors, displays, and more.

Brief history​

Arduino was created in 2005 by Hernando Barragán at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea in Italy. It was developed as a tool for students and designers to prototype interactive objects without extensive electronics or programming knowledge. The platform was inspired by earlier open-source projects like Wiring and Processing. The first Arduino board (Arduino Serial) was released in 2005, followed by the popular Arduino Uno in 2010. Arduino has since grown into a global community with thousands of contributors and millions of users.

Key features​

  • User-friendly hardware - simple microcontroller boards with digital and analog I/O, USB, and power options.
  • Arduino IDE - free, cross-platform editor for writing, compiling, and uploading code.
  • Extensive library ecosystem - pre-written code for sensors, displays, motors, and communication protocols.
  • Community support - large online forums, tutorials, and shared projects.
  • Modular - works with "shields" (add-on boards) for expanded capability.
  • Open-source - all designs and software are open, encouraging customisation and forks.

Resources​

Adapted from the CardanoThings project, originally produced under Project Catalyst Fund 11. Source: github.com/CardanoThings.