5 super cool modules you need to learn Arduino like a pro
These days all the Arduino starter kits are super boring, look the same and don't really spark ones imagination. This leads to mass boredom in maker spaces and now suddenly, you helplessly can't decide which modules and parts you actually need to learn Arduino.
Well, stress no more! Here are 5 modules you need for a successful Arduino endeavor.
1. An Arduino board
There's a bunch of Arduino boards to chose from. One of them is the Uno R3. The Uno is the most common and widely used board in Arduino. This one below is a clone Uno R3 from China with the CH340g chip. It works just like the original Arduino Uno but at 1/3 the price. If you're super new to Arduino, a clone board is a cost-effective way to tinker and start.
Next is the Mega 2560 board, the Uno's big brother...
This is a very fun board as it has plenty of pins to connect many modules and sensors for bigger and more complex projects such as robotics control or 3D printers. You can be a "super cool Mega pro Arduino robotics guy" with this board and bigger is always better.
Another cool Arduino board is the Nano V3, or as we call it, The Little One. This guy can fit in the smallest and tightest of places.
The Nano V3 board is very useful for small and compact projects. The Nano need a breadboard or a Nano expansion shield because the Nano does not have pins to plug jumper wires into. Although it does not have a 9v power jack on it, the Nano is still very useful in tight situations.
Together, the Uno, Mega and Nano boards can be your best friends and ultimate tools for a great path to building your best ideas and sharing it with all your fans.
2. A 1602 LCD... with or without the i2c backpack.
This one here has an i2c backpack. The backpack makes it easier to connect, less wires, less chances for a mistake. Once you go with the backpack, you will never look back. Don't worry, the LCD in The Monster comes with an i2c backpack.
3. Solderless Breadboard
There is nothing more important than a breadboard if you're looking to learn Arduino. Most Arduino kits today come with a breadboard so don't worry. You can use the breadboard pins to plug most sensors on it and also the Nano board. We like lining up LEDS and watching them blink from time to time. Don't forget the jumper cables!
4. HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Range Sensor
This cool looking piece of hardware emits a high-frequency pulse to a target object and, with a few lines of code in Arduino, we can determine the targets distance from the sensor. This sensor (or something similar) is commonly used for distance measuring, obstacle detection, liquid level control and many other industrial and robotics applications.
5. Servo Motor
Its all about input and output in Arduino. For example, your ultrasonic sensor detects an object in its vicinity (input), the code you wrote is going to determine what happens after that (output). Your system could print information on an LCD screen, light an LED or even rotate a servo motor.
You can get all these modules and MUCH MORE in the amazing A&R Nano Uno Mega Monster Starter Kit.
The future is here and you can learn to automate and control it.