Practical Arduino: Cool Projects for Open Source Hardware (Technology in Action)

Create your own Arduino-based designs, gain in-depth knowledge of the architecture of Arduino, and learn the user-friendly Arduino language all in the context of practical projects that you can build yourself at home. Get hands-on experience using a variety of projects and recipes for everything from home automation to test equipment.

Arduino has taken off as an incredibly popular building block among ubicomp (ubiquitous computing) enthusiasts, robotics hobbyists, and DIY home automation developers. Authors Jonathan Oxer and Hugh Blemings provide detailed instructions for building a wide range of both practical and fun Arduino-related projects, covering areas such as hobbies, automotive, communications, home automation, and instrumentation.

• Take Arduino beyond "blink" to a wide variety of projects from simple to challenging
• Hands-on recipes for everything from home automation to interfacing with your car engine management system
• Explanations of techniques and references to handy resources for ubiquitous computing projects

Supplementary material includes a circuit schematic reference, introductions to a range of electronic engineering principles and general hints & tips. These combine with the projects themselves to make Practical Arduino: Cool Projects for Open Source Hardware an invaluable reference for Arduino users of all levels. You'll learn a wide variety of techniques that can be applied to your own projects.

What you’ll learn

• Communication with serial devices including RFID readers, temperature sensors, and GPS modules
• Connecting Arduino to Ethernet and WiFi networks
• Adding synthesized speech to Arduino
• Linking Arduino to web services
• Decoding data streams from commercial wireless devices
• How to make DIY prototyping shields for only a couple of dollars

Who this book is for

This book is for hobbyists and developers interested in physical computing using a low-cost, easy-to-learn platform.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Appliance Remote Control
3. Time-Lapse Camera Controller
4. Virtual USB Keyboard
5. PS/2 Keyboard or Mouse Input
6. Security/Automation Sensors
7. Online Thermometer
8. Touch Control Panel
9. Speech Synthesizer
10. Water Flow Gauge
11. Oscilloscope/Logic Analyzer
12. Water Tank Depth Sensor
13. Weather Station Receiver
14. RFID Access Control System
15. Vehicle Telemetry Platform
16. Resources