Arduinos and mBots
What is an Arduino? How does it relate to the mBot? What are all the kinds of Arduinos that exist?

Families of computers

  • Common threads
    • Large user community
    • Relatively cheap
    • Large set of add-on hardware and software
  • Microcontroler or Microprocessor
    • Usually means a single chip
    • SOC - System On Chip
    • Some of the key chips are
      • ARM architecture (cellphone quality chip)
      • AtMel Chip (lower power, cheaper)
      • MSP430 (Super low power)
  • Microcomputers
    • Boards, e.g. Arduino, Raspbery Pi
  • Arduino Family
    • Most well known family of microcomputers
    • Used in automation, art, hobby etc
    • Some people say they are a bit dated?
    • Models
      • Uno
      • Mega
      • Nano
      • Due
    • All have compatible layout but different degree of resources
    • Shields
      • General term in Arduino land for add-on boards
  • BeagleBone Family
    • More Powerful
    • Can run Linux
    • Less Rich community
    • Models
      • Regular
      • Blue
      • Black
    • Capes
      • General term for add-on boards
    • BeagleBone
  • Raspberry PI Family
  • mBed
    • Claim to fame: Web based IDE
    • More of a software platform
    • Huge compatabiloty with boards from different vendors
    • mBed

Arduino

  • What’s on it
  • What are pins
    • Are numbered, e.g. from 1 to 20
    • Vary from model to model
    • Analog “pins”
      • read a range from e.g. 0-255
      • Used e.g. for motor speed
    • Digital “pins”
      • set/read 0 or 1
      • Used e.g. for turn on LED
    • Notes
      • Generally you need to know the pins to use
      • And a library provided by device/sensor/motor handles “encoding”
      • To output analog data, digital pins are used, with PWM
      • PWM = “Pulse Width Modulation”
    • New devices
      • Have to be connected to “the right pin”
      • Documentation will specify
  • How can I fry it?
    • Never connect a device to your arduino at all
    • Unless you have verified documentation of how exactly to connect it
    • “Measure Twice, Cut once”
    • Have another pair of eyes check
    • Otherwise: SMOKE!

mBot Component

  • “MCore” board, which is essentiall an Arduino Uno plus the following:
    • dual motor controller
    • two serial RGB LEDs (WS2812 aka “NeoPixels”)
    • piezo buzzer
    • light sensor
    • IR LED
    • IR receiver
    • button
    • header block for either a bluetooth or 2.4GHz radio
    • four RJ25 connectors for external peripherals
      • Correspond to some combination of pins
    • Details about MCore
  • MBot itself has
    • MCore Board
    • Chassis
    • Wheels
    • Motor