Well, what is Arduino ?

Arduino is an open-source platform for microprocessor projects, or as the Arduino website puts it:

“Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.”

Basically its a little CPU that you can program in C, and easily attach servos and sensors to. The open-source nature means there’s a wealth of example code and libraries out there to modify for your own use.

Available in the UK from oomlout for around £50

So what do you get ?

• Arduino Prototyping Bundle (Arduino Uno board (328), breadboard & acrylic holder)
• 75 Piece Jumper Wire Bundle
• Printed 29 page Experimenter’s Guide
• 11+1 Breadboard Layout Sheets
• USB Cable
• Multi-compartment Plastic Storage Box
• 9v Battery – Arduino Adapter
• Loads of components
  • 5mm Red LEDs (x10)
  • 5mm Green LEDs (x10)
  • 10mm Red LED (x1)
  • Toy Motor (x1)
  • Mini Servo Motor (x1)
  • 8-Bit Shift Register (74HC595) (x1)
  • Piezo Element (x1)
  • Pushbuttons (x2)
  • Potentiometer (10k) (x1)
  • Photo Resistor (x1)
  • Temperature Sensor (TMP36) (x1)
  • Relay (5v DPDT) (x1)
  • Transistors (2N222A) (x2)
  • Resistors (560 Ohm x25, 2.2k Ohm x3, 10k Ohm x3)
  • Diodes (1N4001) (x2)

The manual goes through 11 projects, from a simple blinking LED to using shift registers and relays, as well as giving a brief overview of how to program for the board and some more complicated tasks after you’ve built each of the individual projects (such as making the blinking LED fade instead).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa_-MtAFwZw