Introduction to Arduino

Click here for my version 1.0 of Introduction to Arduino comic as a PDF. For a slightly revised version, click here (updated to software version 1.05).
panel one

The Arduino Playground has a version of the PDF I prepared with blank word balloons and text fields, and also my script with notes if you want to translate it.http://arduino.cc/playground/Main/ArduinoComic. They also have versions in other languages. If you translate it, please let me know.

Here are links to some of the translations, there’s more on the Arduino site. Thanks everyone!

143 thoughts on “Introduction to Arduino

  1. jodyc Post author

    Thank you, I will adjust. I need to make a couple of little changes, hopefully will do it soon.

  2. Toni

    This is the most friendly and practical guide I’ve found.
    Thanks for sharing it, it’s helped me a lot!

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  4. Cefn Hoile

    Hi, Jody. Great resource. I think I’ll be using it with our workshop participants at http://shrimping.it , although we don’t have the blue boards with our delegates for cost reasons, I think it will be really useful anyway.

    Couple of comments. I think the analogy with electricity and water is a good one (I use it a lot) but some parts of the comic seemed a bit inaccurate on the analogy. In particular you mention that resistance “increases and decreases” flow. It always decreases it. Also the diagram of increased potential should show the water reservoir higher (in other words each Litre of water has more potential energy). I couldn’t figure this out from the diagram.

    I’ll add some other comments as I read and reread it. On a deadline right now I’m afraid.

  5. jodyc Post author

    Thank you for your comments! I need to make some revisions at some point and I really appreciate the feedback.

  6. Kathy Moseler

    Hi Judy, I love your comics. We just became an Arduino distributor. I would like to find a way to bundle your comics with boards and kits. Can you contact me? You can find me on Twitter @TheRobotLady.

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  8. Patrick McCarthy

    Love the Arduino guide, with 1 tiny little flaw…

    Electron flow is NOT from + to –
    It’s from – to +
    (Yes, I know that’s not what your high school shop teacher told you… He was wrong)
    And I know there’s people running about waving their arms and saying… No. the teacher was right, it’s not the electrons that matter, it’s the proton availability and such….
    http://mste.illinois.edu/murphy/HoleFlow/default.html

  9. Robert Watson

    That was wonderful.. I’ve been thinking of getting into the arduino and your comic explained the basics wonderfully. Only possible addon I see is that it doesn’t explain why use use a 220 resistor or a larger one or why? Other than that I loved it and it has made me consider going further with it..

    Anyone have a good link for info on resisters and understanding which to use and why?

    Thanks
    Rob

  10. jodyc Post author

    Thank you, and that is a very good comment. When I got to that section I was getting ready to be done, later on I realized I should have explained which resistor and why in more depth.

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  12. Gavin Precious

    Hi Jody
    Thanks for your guide. I’ll be using it to help my young son with his arduino understanding. I found it clear and informative and think you should consider a full book.
    One thing, it may be worth giving a minimum ohm value for the pot to avoid damage to the supply.
    Best regards,
    Gavin

  13. Quique

    Incredible. Thank you Jody for this fantastic resource! You have shown what is possible in the teaching of technical ideas.

  14. varada shiradkar

    i wanted to know how to pass parameter from java ide to arduino uno ide?? is it possible hoping to make a project out of it! thanks in advance

  15. jodyc Post author

    The Arduino IDE is based on C, not Java, so to my knowledge you cannot do this. You can program the Arduino using C, though, and I think there are some resources available online. Check out the Arduino Forum, I’m sure there are many other places as well. http://arduino.cc/forum/

  16. Nick

    Jody,

    This is fantastic, do you think we could mention it on our site, blog, or social networks? If you have any questions please let me know.

    Thanks,

    Nick

    Circuit Specialists Inc.

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  18. Peter

    The LED pin 2 project on page 11 isn’t working for me. Whenever I upload the code to the board and press the button, the LED lights up for a second, turns off, and stays turned off. Also, the tiny yellow LED integrated onto the board stays lit. My setup is wired correctly (same as in the comic) and I’ve got the right USB port selected. Can you help me, please?

  19. Peter

    The project on page 11 isn’t working for me. Whenever I press the button on the board (with the program uploaded to it), the LED at pin 2 lights up once for a second and never turns back on. Then, the tiny, integrated, yellow LED at pin 13 come on and stays lit forever. I’m sure that I have it wired and coded correctly. I also checked that the correct port (COM4 in this case) was selected.

    I would like some help with this.

    Thanks,
    Peter.

  20. tuxun

    french translation started: I would love have the original english svg.

    It’s easier to translate: click on case, translate text. click on case, translate text.
    An external script means so lot of copy paste^^

  21. Ali Mahdi

    Hi Jody,
    I think the comic is a great idea to introduce Arduino to people of different age groups and backgrounds.
    I noticed that you don’t have an Arabic translation. I would like to volunteer. Is there a procedure I should follow?

    Kind regards
    Ali

  22. tuxun

    Hi, Jody, thank you for your reply.

    But I didn’t receive anything and the original isn’t on the arduino website.

    Please mail it to tuxuntrash (at) gmail.com !
    i’ll find a way to post it on the arduino wiki as I posted our translation details.
    Thx again 4 all!

  23. tuxun

    LetterOmatic is not covered under Creative Commons. And modifying the font is not allowed. Commercial use requires a license:

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  24. Marisano

    Hi Jody,

    Big props on the Arduino comic! I’ve finally started to use the thing! [I bought one for a friend for Christmas and thought I’d better get one for me too so I’d be able to discuss whatever projects he got into. Now I’ll have to send your introduction to him too!]

    I think it would be useful to mention that it’s a good idea to unplug the Arduino from its power source when building or modifying circuits. (Excuse me if someone already mentioned this. I looked through several comments and did not see it.)

    Cheers!

  25. Oren Mutz

    Hey Judy,
    I liked your tutorial. Started translating it into Hebrew for my students. The only problem, that we write Right to left in Israel and it needs a change of graphics. The box flow needs to be RTL and the comic balloons need to be on the left side. How did you edit the graphics?

  26. Jennifer

    I want to thank you so much for creating and sharing your Arduino comic. I found it on the Adafruit site and it is pure genius! Using it in my intro to engineering course. It is refreshing offer this informative and colorful tutorial to the students.

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  29. jodyc Post author

    I did all of the graphics in Adobe Illustrator. The Arduino site has a version with empty word balloons, I just looked there and someone has put up SVG files that are flipped. He did a translation int Arabic. Look there for the files

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