Arduino: A Technical Reference: A Handbook for Technicians, Engineers, and Makers (In a Nutshell)

For beginners, Arduino is a great starting point that doesn't demand a lot of technical knowledge. But if you're an engineer or maker looking to use Arduino to prototype your innovative hardware product, you need to know precisely how and why it works. This unique technical reference and handbook thoroughly describes the internal and external operating details of this open-source electronics prototyping platform.Because Arduinos don't require manuals or datasheets at the outset, author and embedded systems engineer J. M. Hughes assembled every detail he could find in one convenient place. You'll get details on AVR microcontrollers, Arduino libraries, shields, modules, and other components. This book also describes four advanced projects that highlight specific ideas you can apply to other applications.• Physical characteristics and interface functions of Arduino boards• Various AVR microcontrollers used with Arduino• Arduino's unique programming environment, including "sketches"• Programming Arduino without using the Arduino IDE• Shields such as flash memory, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and ZigBee• Sensors, relay modules, keypads, and other add-ons that work well with Arduino• Steps for creating your own custom shield from scratch• Ways to analyze a design problem and define solid, testable requirements to help ensure success J. M. Hughes is an embedded systems engineer with over 30 years of experience in electronics, aerospace systems, and scientific applications programming. He was responsible for the surface imaging software on the Phoenix Mars Lander and was part of the team that developed a novel synthetic heterodyne laser interferometer for calibrating the position control of the mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope. Rather than yet another project-based workbook, Arduino: A Technical Reference is a reference and handbook that thoroughly describes the electrical and performance aspects of an Arduino board and its software. This book brings together in one place all the information you need to get something done with Arduino. It will save you from endless web searches and digging through translations of datasheets or notes in project-based texts to find the information that corresponds to your own particular setup and question. Reference features include pinout diagrams, a discussion of the AVR microcontrollers used with Arduino boards, a look under the hood at the firmware and run-time libraries that make the Arduino unique, and extensive coverage of the various shields and add-on sensors that can be used with an Arduino. One chapter is devoted to creating a new shield from scratch. The book wraps up with detailed descriptions of three different projects: a programmable signal generator, a "smart" thermostat, and a programmable launch sequencer for model rockets. Each project highlights one or more topics that can be applied to other applications.