Anyone with an interest in electronics has probably heard of Arduinos. Now is your chance to see what all the fuss is about!

This workshop will teach you how to use these simple yet powerful microcontroller platforms to have code you write interact with physical objects in the real world. Read in data from sensors and buttons, process it, and output to devices like LEDs, LCD displays, speakers, and more! Each participant will get their own Arduino Uno to use during the workshop and take home afterward.

Lunch is included in the workshop, and there will be plenty of time at the end to cover individual questions from people that have specific projects in mind and want to get pointed in the right direction.

In this workshop you'll learn:

• The basics about the Arduino prototyping platform and its capabilities
• How to setup the software to communicate with and program the Arduino
• How to run your first program, "Blink", the "Hello, World!" of physical computing
• How to connect components like LEDs, switches, LCDs, and sensors
• How to read inputs (both digital and analog) and control outputs
• How to display text on a 16x2 LCD screen using a custom library
• How to control the color of RGB LEDs with PWM outputs.

You will leave this workshop with:

• The ability to design projects with an Arduino
  
• An Arduino UNO R3 microcontroller board
• Breadboard for Prototyping
  
• A 16x2 LCD screen and connector board
• LEDs, resistors, wires, and other electronic bits to use with your Arduino
  

If you have a laptop, you are strongly encouraged to bring it to the workshop!

This way you will leave the workshop with a properly set up and configured design environment to use at home with your Arduino. If you don't have a laptop, we have plenty of desktop machines available for use at MakeIt.

Makers of all ages are welcome, but a parent will need to accompany anyone under 14 (you will share 1 ticket). Ages 12+ is recommended, though we have seen even younger makers learn the platform and run with it.

Instructors:

Adam Shrey and Rob Riel both work as R&D Electrical Engineers as well as serving on the board of directors for MakeIt Labs. They have experience with a variety of microcontrollers, programming languages, and electronics of all types. Adam also teaches the Introduction to Electronics and Soldering class, and Rob teaches MIG Welding at MakeIt.