Arduino is an open-source-based prototype development board developed by Interaction Design Institute in Ivera, Italy. The Arduino project aims to provide a low-cost, easy-to-use prototype board that can interact with physical environments using sensors and actuators.
This Arduino Prototype board comprises a wide variety of microprocessors and controllers. These boards are standard now among hardware hackers, Maker hobbyists, etc.
Arduino Boards Types
Various Kinds of Arduino Boards are available in the market depending on the microcontrollers used. All the boards are Programmed using Arduino IDE.
For Learn how to install Arduino IDE refer to this: Installation Guide for Arduino IDE in Windows OS
The difference in the board is based on the number of input and output ( number of sensors and actuators you can use in a single panel), Speed, Operating voltage, and form Factor. Some Board does not come with a program interface for that board. It would help if you bought that separately.
Here is a list of different Arduino boards available
Arduino Uno (R3)
The Uno is a massive option for your initial Arduino. This Arduino board depends on an ATmega328P based microcontroller. Compared with other Arduino boards, it is straightforward to use, like the Arduino Mega type board. It consists of 14-digital I/O pins, where 6-pins can be used as PWM, 6-analog inputs, a reset button, a power jack, a USB connection, an In-Circuit Serial Programming header (ICSP), etc. It includes everything required to hold up the microcontroller, attach it to a PC with the help of a USB cable and give the supply to get started with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery.
Arduino Uno is the most frequently used board, and it is the standard form apart from all the existing Arduino Boards.
Arduino Nano
The small board is based on ATmega328P / ATmega628, but the connection of this board same as that of the Arduino UNO board. This kind of microcontroller board is very small in size, sustainable, flexible, and reliable.
As compared with the Arduino Uno board, it is small in size. The devices like mini USB and Arduino IDE are necessary to build the projects. This board mainly includes analogue pins-8, digital pins-14 with the set of an I/O pin, power pins-6 & RST (reset) pins-2.
Arduino Micro
The Arduino Micro board mainly depends on the ATmega32U4 based microcontroller that includes 20-sets of pins where the 7-pins are PWM pins, 12-analog input pins. This board contains components like an ICSP header, RST button, remote USB connection, crystal oscillator-16MHz.
Arduino Due
This Arduino board depends on the ARM Cortex-M3, the first Arduino microcontroller board. This board includes digital I/O pins-54 where 12-pins are PWM o/p pins, analogue pins -12, UARTs-4, a CLK with 84 MHz.This board works with 3.3V, where the highest voltage that the pins of input/output can stand is 3.3V because providing a high voltage to any I/O pin can damage the board. This Arduino Due board is suitable with all shields of Arduino at 3.3V.
LilyPad Arduino Board
The Lily Pad Arduino board is a wearable e-textile technology that Leah “ Buechley” expanded and considerately designed by “Leah and SparkFun”. Each panel was imaginatively designed with huge connecting pads & a smooth back to let them be sewn into clothing using conductive thread. This Arduino also comprises I/O, power, and sensor boards built especially for e-textiles. These are even washable!
Arduino Diecimila
The microcontroller board like Arduino Diecimila mainly depends on the ATmega168. This board includes digital I/O pins -14 where 6-pins can be used like PWM outputs & analogue inputs-6, a USB connection, a crystal oscillator-16 MHz, an ICSP header, a reset button & a power jack. This board can be connected to a computer through a USB cable, and it can be activated using a battery and an AC-DC adapter.
As the name suggests, the meaning of Diecimila in Italian is 10,000, which means that marks the truth that above 10k Arduino boards have been designed.
RedBoard Arduino Board
The RedBoard Arduino board can be programmed using a Mini-B USB cable using the Arduino IDE. It will work on Windows 8 without having to modify your security settings. It is more constant due to the USB or FTDI chip we used, and also, it is entirely flat on the back. Creating it is very simple to utilize in the project design. Just plug the board, select the menu option to choose an Arduino UNO, and you are ready to upload the program. You can control the RedBoard over a USB cable using the barrel jack.
Arduino Mega (R3) Board
The Arduino Mega is similar to the UNO’s big brother. It includes lots of digital I/O pins (from that, 14-pins can be used as PWM o/ps), 6-analog inputs, a reset button, a power jack, a USB connection, and a reset button. It includes everything required to hold up the microcontroller; attach it to a PC with the help of a USB cable, and give the supply to get started with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery. The significant number of pins make this Arduino board very helpful for designing projects that need a bunch of digital i/ps or o/ps like lots of buttons.
Arduino Leonardo Board
The first development board of an Arduino is the Leonardo board. This board uses one microcontroller along with the USB. That means it can be effortless and cheap also. Because this board handles USB directly, program libraries are obtainable, which lets the Arduino board follow a keyboard of the computer, mouse, etc.
How to Select Right Board for Programming ?
There are different types of Arduino boards existing in the market today. The best way to select the Arduino board is by checking and differentiating the trade names on the original boards. So getting low-cost Arduino boards are accessible through online sites and electronic stores. These boards are available with different versions as well as specifications.
The programming of all the boards can be done with the Arduino IDE software that permits anyone to write and upload the code, but each panel varies based on the inputs, outputs, speed, form factor, voltage, etc. The voltage required to operate these boards range from 3.7V to 5V.
If you’re getting started with the Arduino, we have some great content you might be interested in:
Beginner’s Guide on how to Control DC Motor using Arduino and L293D
