A free introduction to the Arduino

Enter a world of electronics, prototyping and programming with this free video course.

I have created this free introductory course to the Arduino for anyone interested in this amazing tool, but was confused, and perhaps even a little scared, about all the different options that are available today.

Arduino Step by Step Getting Started

This course is for the new Arduino Maker. It will teach you how to use the Arduino and learn about electronics and programming.

We designed this course for people just starting now. With our dedicated forum and help desk, you can be sure that you'll have the help you need, when you need it.

Arduino Step by Step Getting Serious

Completed Arduino Step by Step Getting Started? Already familiar with the Arduino and looking for something more challenging?

This course picks up where Arduino Step by Step Getting Started left off and shows you how to use dozens of external components and advanced build-in features.

Arduino IoT Cloud for Busy People

Learn Arduino IoT Cloud to create IoT applications based on the Arduino MKR1010, the Arduino Nano 33 IoT, and the ESP32. This course is for anyone wanting to create secure and scalable IoT applications.

The Arduino IoT Cloud is a development platform and infrastructure that makes it easy to create scalable Internet of Things application.

The objective of this course is to help you leverage your existing knowledge of Arduino programming and simple electronics so that you can build your first IoT application on the Arduino IoT Cloud.

Arduino Mobile Development with Blynk

Learn how to use the Blynk platform to create apps for iOS and Android that work with the Arduino Nano 33 IoT and the ESP32 or any other supported device.

With a Blynk smartphone app, you will be able to create powerful applications that integrate your smartphone with any supported device to read data from sensors, control motors, log data, and send out notifications.

This course will introduce you to the Blynk platform through a series of projects based on an Arduino Nano 33 IoT and an ESP32.

Arduino for Beginners with Grove

This course will introduce you to the Arduino by teaching you how to use all of the hardware that comes with the innovative Grove Beginner Kit for Arduino.

The Grove Beginner Kit consists of a single printed circuit board which contains an Arduino board and many common sensors and actuators.

This Kit is ideal for beginners who want to learn electronics and programming without worrying about wires and loose connections.

Grove For Busy People

Grove for Arduino is a system of cables and components that always match.

This course will teach you how to use the Arduino but without the frustration of wires and components that don’t match.

Instead of messing around with breadboards and jumper wires, and struggling to find matching hardware, you can simply use more than 300 Grove standard components, plug them together, and within seconds you have a circuit ready to program with the standard Arduino IDE.

 Advanced Arduino Boards and Tools

A tour of advanced Arduinos boards, and the tools that will supercharge your projects.

Learn about some of the best currently available advanced Arduino boards.

Understand what is special about each one, how you can use them in your projects, and what to look out for when you migrate from the Arduino Uno.

Learn about these advanced Arduino boards:

* Arduino Mega 2560
* Arduino Due
* Arduino 101
* Arduino Zero
* Arduino Galileo Gen 2

Arduino IoT Environment Monitor Project

The perfect project for the new Arduino maker looking for an IoT challenge.

This course gives you the opportunity to complete your first Arduino project that is non-trivial, combines modern hardware and software components, and includes an Internet of Things element.

Arduino: Make an IoT environment monitor  RETIRED

We have retired this course, and replaced it with Arduino IoT Environment Monitor Project.

Arduino Remote Controlled Car Projects

Arduino Car Projects is ideal for new Arduino Makers and graduates of Arduino Step by Step Getting Started.

Use your Arduino Uno and programs to control a car fitted with motors and sensors.

Make an Arduino remote controlled car RETIRED

Make an Arduino Wheeled Robot

Make an autonomous wheeled robot that is attracted to light and can avoid obstacles.

By the end of the course, you will have created an Arduino wheeled robot that can navigate towards a light source and avoid obstacles along the way, on its own.

But more than that, you will have become a better problem solver with experience in analysing problems and designing solutions.

Arduino Robotics with the mBot

An introduction to robotics with the world's friendliest learning robot.

The mBot is an Arduino-based, two-wheel robot that comes with build-in sensors and actuators, and that you can program using mBlock, a graphical programming language.

The main project of Arduino Robotics with the mBot involves programming the mBot to follow an arbitrary black line on the floor. In this project, we combine our robot’s sensors and actuators efficiently to enable it to stay on the line while it travels on it as quickly as possible.

Arduino Step by Step Draft Notes (Free)

The documentation companion from Arduino Step By Step.

This document contains lecture notes from the original Arduino Step by Step video course.

Please be aware that this is a draft document, and has not been thoroughly edited.

It is a complement to the Arduino Step by Step video lectures.

Arduino Bootcamp for Teachers Classroom Resources

The learning resource from the Tech Explorations Arduino Bootcamp for Teachers, licensed to you so that you can use it in your own classroom.

This book contains all of the learning resources included in the Tech Explorations Arduino Bootcamp for Teachers, licensed to you so that you can utilize it in your own classroom.

Getting Started with mBot (eBook)

Make an autonomous wheeled robot that is attracted to light and can avoid obstacles.

The mBot is an Arduino-based, two-wheel robot that comes with build-in sensors and actuators, and that you can program using mBlock, a graphical programming language.

The main project of Arduino Robotics with the mBot involves programming the mBot to follow an arbitrary black line on the floor. In this project, we combine our robot’s sensors and actuators efficiently to enable it to stay on the line while it travels on it as quickly as possible.

Basic electronics for Arduino Makers

An introduction to electronics to help you make the most from your Arduino or other prototyping platform.

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to use commonly used components found in Arduino projects. You will also have learned how to do the relevant measurements and calculations to help you select appropriate components for your projects.

To complete this course, you will need a few cheap and common components and tools: resistors, capacitors, transistors, LED, diodes, and batteries. You will also need a multimeter, a small breadboard and jumper wires. All of these are probably things that you already have.

Basic Mathematics for Electronics

Learn the mathematics you need to be able to solve simple electronic circuits for attributes like voltage, current and power.

Even if you haven't solved a single equation since high-school, this book will help you learn (or re-learn) exactly the mathematics you need to be able to comfortably calculate the main attributes of simple (and more complicated) linear circuits.

This skill is vital for anyone wanting to really understand what is going on in a circuit.

We wrote this book specifically for people that are working with simple electronic circuits such as those that you find in Arduino projects.

 The Electronics Workbench: a Setup Guide

Setting up your electronics lab at home can be a daunting. This course will help you navigate through the maze of options.

If you are a new Maker, one of the first things you will need to do is to setup your workbench.

This includes setting up your work area, selecting tools and instruments, and sourcing the components, and how to work with electricity and electronic components safely.

This course will show you how to setup your electronics workbench so you can start making your first Arduino or Raspberry Pi gadget with comfort and safety.

Basic electronics for Arduino Makers

An introduction to electronics to help you make the most from your Arduino or other prototyping platform.

By the end of this course, you will have learned how to use commonly used components found in Arduino projects. You will also have learned how to do the relevant measurements and calculations to help you select appropriate components for your projects.

To complete this course, you will need a few cheap and common components and tools: resistors, capacitors, transistors, LED, diodes, and batteries. You will also need a multimeter, a small breadboard and jumper wires. All of these are probably things that you already have.

Arduino Mastery Projects

Fine-tune your Arduino knowledge and skills by building 10 gadgets of increasing difficulty. If you have already taken, or are in the process of taking my Arduino Step by Step Getting Started course, or if you already know the basics of the Arduino platform, then with a little practice you can create very interesting and fun projects on your own!

Node-RED and ESP32 Make a Terrarium Controller.

This course will teach you to design and build an automated control system using Node-RED, hosted on a Raspberry Pi, with sensing and controlling on an ESP32.

Node-RED is a lightweight graphical programming tool. You can use it to join of hardware and software components and create applications such as the automated terrarium controller in this course.

Node-RED and Raspberry Pi Pico W

This eBook and video course is a learning guide and a reference.

Use it to learn Node-RED, Raspberry Pi Pico W, and MicroPython, and add these state-of-the-art tools to your technology toolkit.

This course will also introduce you to virtual machines, Docker, and MySQL in support of IoT projects based on Node-RED and the Raspberry Pi Pico W.

ESP32 for Busy People

Use this powerful microcontroller to turbo-charge your Arduino projects.

The ESP32 is a powerful, low-cost microcontroller that fits well in the Arduino ecosystem.

If you are already using the Arduino in your projects, then you'll love what the ESP32 can do. The ESP32 packs a lot of power: lots of processing power, GPIO's communications options, including a full array of wireless capabilities, and integrated sensor.

This course will help you get up and running with the ESP32 quickly.

ESP32 Unleashed

Take the ESP32 Devkit, add powerful development tools, Cloud services and a bit of creativity, and make an amazing Internet of Things gadget.

If you are a graduate of ESP32 For Busy People, or are already familiar with the ESP32, then ESP32 Unleashed will take your skills to the next level.

ESP32 Unleashed is a project course.

In this course, you will learn how to make an IoT gadget.

You will learn and use the advanced development environment PlatformIO with VS Code, AdafruitIO, IFTTT and Google Assistant to deliver an exciting connected gadget.

MicroPython with the ESP32

With this video course, you will learn how to use the
MicroPython programming language with the ESP32 microcontroller.

With this video course, you will learn how to use the MicroPython programming language with the ESP32 microcontroller.

MicroPython is a high-level programming language specifically designed for microcontrollers and resource-limited embedded devices. Think of MicroPython as "Python for Microcontrollers".

Node-RED and ESP32 Make a Terrarium Controller.

This course will teach you how to design and build an automated control system using Node-RED, hosted on a Raspberry Pi, with sensing and controlling on an ESP32.

Node-RED is a lightweight graphical programming tool. You can use it to join a variety of hardware and software components and create applications such as the automated terrarium controller in this course.

ESP8266: Getting Started

Use this powerful microcontroller to turbo-charge your Arduino projects.

Getting Started with the ESP8266 is a step-by-step course designed to help you create projects using the amazing ESP8266 WiFi microcontroller board even if you are an absolute beginner in electronics, programming, or both.

Raspberry Pi Full Stack

A whirlwind tour of full-stack web application development on the Raspberry Pi.

Raspberry Pi: Full Stack, is a hands-on project designed to teach you how to build an Internet-of-Things application based on the world’s most popular embedded computer.

This course will expose you to the full process of developing a web application.

You will learn about how to setup your Raspberry Pi as a web server using a minimal version of the Raspbian operating system, and use the console only to interact with it (no graphical user interface to consume your RPi's limited resources).

Raspberry Pi Full Stack Upgrade Project

Raspberry Pi Full Stack Upgrade Project is an opportunity to take the Raspberry Pi Full Stack application to the next level.

Learn how to upgrade the hardware and software of the original Full Stack application as well as your Maker soft and hard skills and knowledge.

The upgraded Full Stack application utilises the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W single-board computer and the ESP32 microcontroller - although you can use any Raspberry Pi and Arduino-compatible board.

Raspberry Pi: Make a Workbench Automation Computer

Build a touch-screen driven application and control appliances and devices using a Raspberry Pi.

With this course you will learn how to use a touch screen connected to your Raspberry Pi to control appliances, a camera and sensor.

In this project, you will build a Bench Computer that can control appliances on your workbench.

Of course, but your Bench Computer to control anything that has an on/off switch. You will also learn how to customise the software to do other tasks.

This is a challenging project for dedicated and determined makers.

Mine cryptocurrencies with your Raspberry Pi

Use your Raspberry Pi to mine Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, ByteCoin, MagiCoin, and TurtleCoin.

With this course, you have the opportunity to learn the how to use your Raspberry Pi to mine (a term than means to create through calculations) several cryptocurrencies.

Use your Raspberry Pi to mine Bitcoin, Litecoin, Monero, ByteCoin, MagiCoin, and TurtleCoin.

Your Raspberry Pi does not have the capability to mine cryptocurrencies profitably, but it can help you understand the basics of cryptography, the process of mining, how to setup a crypto-wallet (and what a crypto-wallet is), and much more.

This is an unprofitable but rewarding weekend experiment for curious minds.

KiCad Like a Pro

Learn the world's favorite open-source PCB design tool with the world's most comprehensive course and book.

KiCad is an open source and free tool that you can use to design your own PCBs.

It is perhaps the world’s most popular (and, in my opinion, the best) computer-aided design tool for making printed circuit boards. It’s the perfect tool for electronics engineers and hobbyists alike.

Learn KiCad by working on three real-life projects. With each project, you will learn new skills. Create single, to double and quad-layer boards, manually or automatically routed, with rich features that are both practical and beautiful.

Whether you are a hobbyist or an electronics engineer, this course and book will help you become productive quickly, and start designing your own boards.

The eBook has been fully updated for KiCad 8. I am now updating the video course.

Design for 3D Printing with Fusion 360

Learn the fundamentals of Fusion 360 while designing practical parts that can be 3D printed.

Learn how to use Autodesk Fusion 360 to create custom, one-of-a-kind 3-D printed objects for your projects.

This course is concise and practical so that you can get started creating your own designs quickly.

Though a series of 10 projects, you will gradually build up your skills so that you can create increasingly precise and complicated objects.

Oscilloscopes for Busy People

With this course, you will learn how to use the oscilloscope and take your understanding of electronics to the next level.

This course is suitable for Makers that:

* ... are ready to ready to move beyond their multimeter.
* ... are ready to dig deeper and understand what is going on in their circuits over time.
* ... want to understand what is an oscilloscope and how it works before they purchase one.
*  ... already have an oscilloscope but are not sure how to use it.

The oscilloscope is an amazing instrument that can help you gain a deeper understanding of electronics and how devices work.

Being able to see a capacitor charging, or how a PWM signal’s duty cycle changes, can be a powerful tool in your learning journey.

Beyond learning, an oscilloscope is a very useful tool when you work to verify, maintain and troubleshoot electronic devices.

It addition to the multimeter, it gives you the ability to literally probe a circuit and see it working (or not working). Over time, as you become more proficient in using it, the oscilloscope will allow you to know exactly what is going on in a circuit instead of only guessing.

Data acquisition and automation with LabJack

With this video course, you will learn how to use the
LabJack device to perform data acquisition and control (DaQ) operations.

This course is ideal if you want to record a lot of data about the real world from sensors so that you can analyze it later.

For example, you may want to record the volume of water that flows through a pipe, the temperature of a fridge, or the movement of a high-rise building due to winds. And, you may want to do this for ten years without any human intervention.

This course is also ideal if you want to control the environment based on the data collected from sensors.

For example, you may want to adjust the pressure in a water pipe using a variable valve if the pressure sensor shows it is above a certain threshold. Or, you may want to raise an alarm if the temperature of a fridge rises above 0°C.

The Electronics Workbench: a Setup Guide

Setting up your electronics lab at home can be a daunting. This course will help you navigate through the maze of options.

If you are a new Maker, one of the first things you will need to do is to setup your workbench.

This includes setting up your work area, selecting tools and instruments, and sourcing the components, and how to work with electricity and electronic components safely.

This course will show you how to setup your electronics workbench so you can start making your first Arduino or Raspberry Pi gadget with comfort and safety.

Make an Open Source Drone
(updated August 2023)

A fun project in which you learn about drones by making one. Use the MATEK F405TE, Pixhawk 4 or Multiwii AIO flight controllers.

In this course you will learn how to build your own quadcopter drone, from components that you understand their function and operation. You will also use open source firmware that gives you impressive scope for functionality.

You will learn about their mechanical and electronic components and how they interact. You will learn about the software that provides semi-autonomous flight capabilities to drones.

Make an Open Source Drone: More Fun

Go past the basics and explore some of the most exciting features and capabilities of your drone.

In this course, you’ll take your knowledge and skill to the next level. You’ll go past the basics and explore some of the most exciting features and capabilities of your drone.

Your drone, from simply reacting to your radio instructions, will look as if it has a mind of its own, and fly itself.

I promise, the first time you experience your drone flawlessly execute a mission, you will feel proud and thrilled.