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| ====Digital signals==== | | ====Digital signals==== |
| A digital signal is a signal that represents information as a series of discrete binary values. Digital signals are used in all modern electronic applications, including communication and network devices. When plotted in a voltage-time graph, the signal is discrete, and ranges from 0 V to VCC (usually 1.8V, 3.3 V, or 5V). | | A digital signal is a signal that represents information as a series of discrete binary values. Digital signals are used in all modern electronic applications, including communication and network devices. When plotted in a voltage-time graph, the signal is discrete, and ranges from 0 V to VCC (usually 1.8V, 3.3 V, or 5V). |
| + | |
| + | === Connecting to an Arduino === |
| + | Step 1: Download the Arduino IDE from <nowiki>https://www.arduino.cc/en/software</nowiki>,. Make sure to choose the version that is appropriate for your operating system. |
| + | |
| + | Step 2: Connect the Arduino to your computer via an A/B type USB cable. |
| + | |
| + | Step 3: Once the Arduino is connected, your computer will recognize the Arduino board as a generic COM port. The power LEDs onboard the Arduino should light up. |
| + | |
| + | Step 4: Time to find out what port number is assigned so that the Arduino and computer can properly communicate with one another. To do so, go to “Device Manager” in your computer settings and look for a device under “Ports (COM & LPT)”. The COM number should be shown beside the USB name. |
| + | |
| + | Step 5: Open the Arduino IDE. Under Tools>Board, ensure that the correct type of Arduino board is selected. |
| + | |
| + | Step 6: Under Tools> COM, ensure that the “port” is the one shown in the step above. Check that the programmer is set as “AVRISP AKII” |
| + | |
| + | ==== Possible bugs: ==== |
| + | The Arduino may not be recognized automatically, in which case, the following procedure adapted from <nowiki>https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/ArduinoUno</nowiki> should be followed. |
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| ==Basic Understanding of Programming== | | ==Basic Understanding of Programming== |
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| |} | | |} |
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− | === Conditionals === | + | ===Conditionals=== |
| + | Conditional statements are programming operations that tells the computer to perform an action for a certain set of conditions. An "if" statement is the most common, and tells the computer to perform a set of actions only if the condition is fullfilled. The syntax is the followoing: |
| + | if (condition) { |
| + | |
| + | /// a set of instructions } |
| + | Common alteration of the if statements are the "if...else" and "if... else if". The "if...else" conditionals first checks the "if" conditional, in the case that its true, the compiler will ignore the "else" set of instructions. In the case that the condition(s) declared in the "if" statement are not fulfilled, the "else" instructions will automatically run. The syntax for an "if...else" statement is: |
| + | if (condition){ |
| + | |
| + | ///instructions;} |
| + | |
| + | else { |
| + | |
| + | ///instructions that will ONLY run in the case the "if" conditions are not fulfilled } |
| + | In the case of the "if...else if" set of instructions, the program will only run if the conditions specified in the "if" or "else if" are true. The syntax is the following: |
| + | if (condition){ |
| + | |
| + | ///instructions } |
| + | |
| + | else if (condition) { |
| + | |
| + | ///instructions } |
| | | |
| ==Basic Understanding of Sensors== | | ==Basic Understanding of Sensors== |
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| ===Arduino in Tinkercad=== | | ===Arduino in Tinkercad=== |
− | Tinkercad is an online platform that enables users to virtually model 3D designs and circuits. Its user friendly interface and functionality encourages students and hobbyists to investigate the functionality of the arduino boards virtually, as well as start building their designs.To sign up, create an account on: <nowiki>https://www.tinkercad.com</nowiki> , or alternatively, login with google, facebook etc… | + | Tinkercad is an online platform that enables users to virtually model 3D designs and circuits. Its user friendly interface and functionality encourages students and hobbyists to investigate the functionality of the Arduino boards virtually, as well as start building their designs. To sign up, create an account on: <nowiki>https://www.tinkercad.com</nowiki> , or alternatively, login with google, facebook etc… |
| | | |
| Once your account is created, the user can navigate to the “circuits” tab in the left-hand menu, and click on “ Create new circuit”. This opens a new tab, where the available circuit components can be viewed in the right-hand menu. | | Once your account is created, the user can navigate to the “circuits” tab in the left-hand menu, and click on “ Create new circuit”. This opens a new tab, where the available circuit components can be viewed in the right-hand menu. |
| | | |
− | To start putting a circuit together, the user can drag the components from the library and place it in the “building zone”, noted above. In addition, note the “Code” button in the top bar; this button enables the users to program the arduino to perform specific functions. To start the simulation, the “start simulation” is available in the top tab. | + | To start putting a circuit together, the user can drag the components from the library and place it in the “building zone”, noted above. In addition, note the “Code” button in the top bar; this button enables the users to program the Arduino to perform specific functions. To start the simulation, the “start simulation” is available in the top tab. |