Thursday, October 11, 2012

My Arduino UNO R3

Finally after what seemed forever my Arduino UNO arrived just as I had ordered. Here in Kenya, Arduinos are just making the breakthrough and they're hot cake. So before I go further, let me explain what exactly an Arduino is.

In the simplest of terms, an Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.
Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The micro-controller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

To summarize the above, when you are working with Arduino you'll have 2 things, the Arduino Board and your PC. On your PC you'll be running the ADE (Arduino Development Environment) which when you've written the code, will be sent to the Arduino. Secondly you'll have the Arduino board connected to your PC via the cable that comes with it. (Same cable that is used for HP Printers)

Arduino can greatly enhance your creativity since it can run anything from a simple connection of a LED to a robot. Its completely open-source so you can do whatever your mind can do in terms to hacking and modding it. I've had mine for 8 Days so far and i cant remember a day passing without casting a glance at it or reading something new.

▲MY ARDUINO UNO: Note I've had to mount it on a cardboard to reduce chances of shorting the contacts on the underside of the board.




So that's all about the Arduino UNO that I have. In the next post am going to explain how to get your board here in Kenya and Getting started, what you will need and definitely where to get the crucial components.

I've gotten numerous email and comments about the KenGen application for attachment, and I would like to help you all guys but you have to stop placing your email address online, or it shall get spammed :-|.  I'll make another post for exactly how to apply to the KenGen Geothermal Plant.
So just write a comment and add your email address in the email field, NOT the comments field. Have an electrifying day, wont you?

9 comments:

  1. Awesome stuff!

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  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. arduino is cheaper at nerokas, thika mjahkoh [at] mayahoo dot com

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    Replies
    1. pia nirvana ltd,techno international

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  4. We have acquired an Arduino R3 board to use in launching a HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOON (HAB) on 12th December 2013. Our plan to to get the Kenyan flag near outer space and then use the publicity to start an educational satellite (cubesat) veture in mid-2014.

    We invite anyone with skills in Arduino programming environment to join our combined STEM 2030 Ltd/ Kenya Meteorological Department team in ensuring that our Pi computer and camera are able to transmit images as our HAB makes its 3 hour flight to start Kenya's space ambitions.

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    Replies
    1. kioko dennisApril 13, 2016

      intrested in that . how can i join you guys??

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  5. Also available at www.ktechnics.com Nairobi

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