RS Components First to Bring New Open-Source Arduino Starter Kit to Market
Poster: SySAdmin
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 2:28:01 AM
RS Components First to Bring New Open-Source Arduino Starter Kit to Market
LONDON, October 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Based on the open-source Arduino Uno board, this new educational kit,
currently available only from RS, aids entry-level electronics design
RS Components [http://uk.rs-online.com/web ] (RS), the trading brand of
Electrocomponents plc [http://www.electrocomponents.com ] (LSE:ECM), the world's leading
high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has announced exclusive
stock availability of a new starter kit for Uno, the well-known Arduino
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=arduino ] low-cost and open-source
electronics prototyping board for professional embedded system engineers, students, and
enthusiasts.
The new starter kit has been developed together with a series of ten video tutorials
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=videos/arduino ] hosted by Arduino
co-founder Massimo Banzi. Ideally used in conjunction with the videos, the kit provides an
open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and
software. It contains all of the essential components required to start programming with
the Arduino Uno board, and a guidebook featuring 15 different projects, which are designed
to evolve the user from beginner to professional level. Comprising a motor, servomotor and
driver, the kit also offers particular benefits to users wishing to apply mechatronics to
their designs.
The Arduino Uno is based on the Atmel ATmega328 32-bit microcontroller, with 32KB of
Flash memory, 2KB of SRAM and 1KB of EEPROM. It supports Windows, OS X and Linux operating
systems, in common with the open-source IDE, which can be downloaded free-of-charge. The
Uno has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analogue
inputs, a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a
reset button. There are 3 different options to power the board: via a USB cable, an AC-DC
adapter or a battery.
A series of peripheral boards, known as shields, are available to plug into the top of
the main Arduino PCB, providing an interface to components for a gamut of applications,
including the Motor Shield, which enables the control of DC motors and read encoders, and
the Ethernet Shield for connectivity.
"Arduino has been a pioneer in low-cost open-source development, creating an
accessible environment for both skilled and budding electronics engineers," said Glenn
Jarrett, Head of Product Marketing, RS. "This new kit, along with the practical and
instructive video series, is set to enthuse and inform a whole raft of users, from
qualified engineers to those just embarking on their first taste of electronics design."
Massimo Banzi, Arduino Co-Founder, commented, "RS has clearly demonstrated, through
initiatives like DesignSpark [http://www.designspark.com ], that supporting today's and
tomorrow's engineers is at the core of their business ethos. This commitment to
electronics design, along with their global presence, service excellence and ongoing
projects to ease the online sourcing and ordering process, makes them the ideal
distribution partner to take our new Arduino kit to users worldwide."
The new Arduino starter kit is available exclusively from RS Components until October
16th, 2012, with continued RS stock availability after this date. To order the
competitively priced kit from RS for same-day despatch, visit the RS Components Arduino
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=arduino ] page online.
Video Synopses:
Video 1 Learning the Tool
Difficulty level: Beginner
You'll make a simple circuit with some switches, an LED, and a resistor. In doing so,
you'll learn about the basics of electricity and how to wire up components on a
breadboard.
Video 2 Spaceship Interface
Difficulty level: Beginner
Your Arduino is going to act as the backdrop to a science fiction movie. You'll get a
couple of lights to blink, only to be interrupted by a switch that will turn a
different light on
Video 3 Love-o-meter
Difficulty level: Beginner
Turning the Arduino into a love machine! Using an analog input, you're going to
register just how hot you really are!
Video 4 Light Theremin
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Using a photoresistor and a piezo element, you're going to make a light-based theremin.
Video 5 Keyboard
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Time to make some noise! With a couple resistors and buttons you're going to build a
small musical instrument.
Video 6 Motorized Pinwheel
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Getting the Arduino to spin a colorful pinwheel using a motor.
Video 7 Crystal Ball
Difficulty level: Advanced
Create a crystal ball to tell your future.
Video 8 Touch Sensor Lamp
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Using a third party library, you will create a lamp that turns a light on and off just
by touching some conductive material, no buttons required!
Video 9 Tweak the Arduino Logo
Difficulty level: Advanced
You've done a lot of cool stuff with the physical world, now it's toe to control your
computer with your Arduino.
Video 10 Twitter-controlled Mood Lamp
Difficulty level: Advanced
Let's control the color of a rgb led with a peculiar hashtag. With Arduino, a wifi
shield, an rgb led and 3 220 ohm resistors we will learn how to parse twitter looking
for #arduinoRGB and an hex of the color.
About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc,
the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products. With
operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 550,000 products through the internet,
catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 46,000
parcels on the same day the orders are received. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading
suppliers, include electronics, automation and control, test and measurement, electrical
and mechanical components.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial
year ended 31 March 2012 had revenues of GBP1.27bn.
For more information, please visit the website at http://uk.rs-online.com.
Further information is available via these links:
Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components
Relevant Links:
Electrocomponents plc
http://www.electrocomponents.com
RS Components
http://www.rs-components.com
DesignSpark
http://www.designspark.com
RS Components
CONTACT: Editorial Contact: Joanne Youson, RS Components, Joanne.youson@rs-components.com , +44(0)1536-405752; PR Agency Contact: Janice Fenton, Publitek Technology PR, janice.fenton@publitek, +44(0)1225-470000
LONDON, October 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Based on the open-source Arduino Uno board, this new educational kit,
currently available only from RS, aids entry-level electronics design
RS Components [http://uk.rs-online.com/web ] (RS), the trading brand of
Electrocomponents plc [http://www.electrocomponents.com ] (LSE:ECM), the world's leading
high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, has announced exclusive
stock availability of a new starter kit for Uno, the well-known Arduino
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=arduino ] low-cost and open-source
electronics prototyping board for professional embedded system engineers, students, and
enthusiasts.
The new starter kit has been developed together with a series of ten video tutorials
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=videos/arduino ] hosted by Arduino
co-founder Massimo Banzi. Ideally used in conjunction with the videos, the kit provides an
open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and
software. It contains all of the essential components required to start programming with
the Arduino Uno board, and a guidebook featuring 15 different projects, which are designed
to evolve the user from beginner to professional level. Comprising a motor, servomotor and
driver, the kit also offers particular benefits to users wishing to apply mechatronics to
their designs.
The Arduino Uno is based on the Atmel ATmega328 32-bit microcontroller, with 32KB of
Flash memory, 2KB of SRAM and 1KB of EEPROM. It supports Windows, OS X and Linux operating
systems, in common with the open-source IDE, which can be downloaded free-of-charge. The
Uno has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analogue
inputs, a 16 MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a
reset button. There are 3 different options to power the board: via a USB cable, an AC-DC
adapter or a battery.
A series of peripheral boards, known as shields, are available to plug into the top of
the main Arduino PCB, providing an interface to components for a gamut of applications,
including the Motor Shield, which enables the control of DC motors and read encoders, and
the Ethernet Shield for connectivity.
"Arduino has been a pioneer in low-cost open-source development, creating an
accessible environment for both skilled and budding electronics engineers," said Glenn
Jarrett, Head of Product Marketing, RS. "This new kit, along with the practical and
instructive video series, is set to enthuse and inform a whole raft of users, from
qualified engineers to those just embarking on their first taste of electronics design."
Massimo Banzi, Arduino Co-Founder, commented, "RS has clearly demonstrated, through
initiatives like DesignSpark [http://www.designspark.com ], that supporting today's and
tomorrow's engineers is at the core of their business ethos. This commitment to
electronics design, along with their global presence, service excellence and ongoing
projects to ease the online sourcing and ordering process, makes them the ideal
distribution partner to take our new Arduino kit to users worldwide."
The new Arduino starter kit is available exclusively from RS Components until October
16th, 2012, with continued RS stock availability after this date. To order the
competitively priced kit from RS for same-day despatch, visit the RS Components Arduino
[http://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=arduino ] page online.
Video Synopses:
Video 1 Learning the Tool
Difficulty level: Beginner
You'll make a simple circuit with some switches, an LED, and a resistor. In doing so,
you'll learn about the basics of electricity and how to wire up components on a
breadboard.
Video 2 Spaceship Interface
Difficulty level: Beginner
Your Arduino is going to act as the backdrop to a science fiction movie. You'll get a
couple of lights to blink, only to be interrupted by a switch that will turn a
different light on
Video 3 Love-o-meter
Difficulty level: Beginner
Turning the Arduino into a love machine! Using an analog input, you're going to
register just how hot you really are!
Video 4 Light Theremin
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Using a photoresistor and a piezo element, you're going to make a light-based theremin.
Video 5 Keyboard
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Time to make some noise! With a couple resistors and buttons you're going to build a
small musical instrument.
Video 6 Motorized Pinwheel
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Getting the Arduino to spin a colorful pinwheel using a motor.
Video 7 Crystal Ball
Difficulty level: Advanced
Create a crystal ball to tell your future.
Video 8 Touch Sensor Lamp
Difficulty level: Intermediate/Advanced
Using a third party library, you will create a lamp that turns a light on and off just
by touching some conductive material, no buttons required!
Video 9 Tweak the Arduino Logo
Difficulty level: Advanced
You've done a lot of cool stuff with the physical world, now it's toe to control your
computer with your Arduino.
Video 10 Twitter-controlled Mood Lamp
Difficulty level: Advanced
Let's control the color of a rgb led with a peculiar hashtag. With Arduino, a wifi
shield, an rgb led and 3 220 ohm resistors we will learn how to parse twitter looking
for #arduinoRGB and an hex of the color.
About RS Components
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc,
the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products. With
operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 550,000 products through the internet,
catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 46,000
parcels on the same day the orders are received. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading
suppliers, include electronics, automation and control, test and measurement, electrical
and mechanical components.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial
year ended 31 March 2012 had revenues of GBP1.27bn.
For more information, please visit the website at http://uk.rs-online.com.
Further information is available via these links:
Twitter: @RSElectronics; @alliedelec; @designsparkRS
RS Components on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components
Relevant Links:
Electrocomponents plc
http://www.electrocomponents.com
RS Components
http://www.rs-components.com
DesignSpark
http://www.designspark.com
RS Components
CONTACT: Editorial Contact: Joanne Youson, RS Components, Joanne.youson@rs-components.com , +44(0)1536-405752; PR Agency Contact: Janice Fenton, Publitek Technology PR, janice.fenton@publitek, +44(0)1225-470000