Modern electronic experimenter kits contain modules that just plug together rather than individual components so that now we can quickly get modules talking and then decide in software how the system behaves. Thanks to the wide selection of software library functions we can have a sketch up and running in no time. These kits are worthy successors to the bags of loose components that were a feature of earlier experimenter’s kits. Electronic newbies, practicing engineers and old hands alike are sure to find that these kits interesting. The range of components is sure to get you thinking what you could use them for and they are a good way to build on your existing knowledge. You’ll have no excuse not to go on to design and build your own system! The ‘RFID Starter Kit for Arduino’ comes in a handy case and contains over 30 state-of-the-art components, devices and modules. Although it contains an RFID receiver module along with two RFID tags in the form of a credit card and key fob, the case is an Aladdin’s cave with loads of other useful components. To begin you will need an Arduino Uno along with the starter kit which amongst other things contains: A humidity sensor; A multicolor LED; A large LED-Matrix with 64 LEDs; 4 x 7-segment LED displays; A handheld IR remote controller plus IR receiver chip; A complete LC-Display module with I²C bus interface. The wide range of peripherals included in the kit ensures the number of different experiments and applications you can build. Two example applications that can easily be built using this box of goodies have been described in an article published in Elektor Magazine: Universal weather station with LC-Display and Door entry system using RFID security. More similar projects have been described in the new book Home Automation Projects with Arduino. Kit Contents LCD1602 with I²C RC522 module White card Key chain Joystick module Key board RTC module Water level sensor Humidity sensor RGB module Motor driver module Motor 1 Channel module MB-102 breadboard 65 pcs jumper wire 10 PCS F-M cable Sound sensor module Remote 10 K potentiometer 1 digital tube 4 digital tube Matrix tube 9G servo Buzzer 2 pcs ball switches 3 pcs photoresistance 5 pcs switches with caps 9 V battery with DC 15 pcs LED 30 pcs resistance Flame sensor IR receive sensor 74HC595 LM35DZ Uno R3 board Documentation: Download full description of similar kit.
Designed with convenience and security in mind, the Ardi RFID Shield is based on the EM-18 module, operating at a frequency of 125 KHz. This shield allows you to easily integrate RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology into your projects, enabling seamless identification and access control systems.
Equipped with a powerful 1-channel optoisolated relay, the Ardi RFID Shield offers a reliable switching solution with a maximum DC rating of 30 V and 10 A, as well as an AC rating of 250 V and 7 A. Whether you need to control lights, motors, or other high-power devices, this shield provides the necessary functionality.
Additionally, the Ardi RFID Shield features an onboard buzzer that can be utilized for audio feedback, allowing for enhanced user interaction and system feedback. With the onboard 2-indication LEDs, you can easily monitor the status of RFID card detection, power supply, and relay activation, providing clear visual cues for your project's operation.
Compatibility is key, and the Ardi RFID Shield ensures seamless integration with the Arduino Uno platform. Paired with a read-only RFID module, this shield opens up a world of possibilities for applications such as access control systems, attendance tracking, inventory management, and more.
Features
Onboard 125 kHz EM18 RFID small, compact module
Onboard High-quality relays Relay with Screw terminal and NO/NC interfaces
Shield compatible with both 3.3 V and 5 V MCU
Onboard 3 LEDs power, relay ON/OFF State and RFID Scan status
Multi-tone Buzzer onboard for Audio alerts
Mounts directly onto ArdiPi, Ardi32 or other Arduino compatible boards
Specifications
RFID operating Frequency: 125 kHz
Reading distance: 10 cm, depending on TAG
Integrated Antenna
Relay Max Switching Voltage: 250 V AC/30 V DC
Relay Max Switching Current: 7 A/10 A
The Oplà IoT Kit allows you to add connectivity to devices around the home or workplace. It comes complete with a set of 8 Internet of Things self-assemble projects ready to show you how to turn everyday appliances into ‘smart appliances’ and build custom connected devices that can be controlled with your mobile phone.
Features
Remote Controlled Lights - change color, light modes and switch on/off via your mobile
Personal Weather Station - record and monitor local weather conditions
Home Security Alarm - Detect motions and trigger warnings
Solar System Tracker - retrieve data from planets and moons in the Solar System
Inventory Control - track goods in & out
Smart Garden - monitor and control the environment for your plants
Thermostat Control - smart control for heating and cooling systems
Thinking About You - send messages between the Oplà and the Arduino IoT Cloud
For more advanced users the kit provides them with the potential to create their own connected devices and IoT applications through the open programmable platform providing the ultimate control.
The Oplà unit acts as the physical interface with the Arduino IoT Cloud providing you with total control at your fingertips via the Arduino IoT Remote app. Configure and manage all the settings via the Arduino IoT Cloud, with easy to create dashboards providing real-time readings from your smart devices around the home or workplace.
Adjusting settings, switching devices on/off, watering plants, etc are all controllable on the go with the Arduino IoT Remote app or fully automate the set-up then sit back and enjoy!
Applications
Remote Controlled Lights
Personal Weather Station
Home Security Alarm
Solar System Tracker
Inventory Control
Smart Garden
Thermostat Control
Thinking About You
Included
MKR IoT Carrier designed for this kit, including:
Round OLED Display
Five capacitive touch buttons
On-board sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure, and light)
Two 24 V relays
SD card holder
Plug and play connectors for different sensors
RGBC, Gesture, and Proximity
IMU
18650 Li-Ion rechargeable battery holder (battery not included)
Five RGB LEDs
Arduino MKR WiFi 1010
Plastic encasing
Micro USB cable
Moisture sensor
PIR sensor
Plug-and-play cables for all the sensors
Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can download their digital edition here.
Not a member yet? Click here.
Arduino Portenta Machine Control and Arduino Portenta H7A CAN-to-MQTT Gateway Demo Project
Unboxing the Elektor LCR Meter with David Cuartielles
MicroPython Enters the World of Arduino
Connected Projects, SimplifiedDive Into the Arduino Cloud
Introduction to TinyMLBig Is Not Always Better
Arduino K-Way
Writing Arduino Sketches Just Got Better
Get to Know Arduino
Getting Started with the Portenta X8Manage Software Securely with Containers
Build, Deploy, and Maintain Scalable, Secure ApplicationsWith Arduino Portenta X8 Featuring NXP’s i.MX 8M Mini Applications Processor and EdgeLock SE050 Secure Element
How I Automated My HomeArduino CEO Fabio Violante Shares Solutions
Altair 8800 SimulatorHardware Simulation of a Vintage Computer
MS-DOS on the Portenta H7Run Old-School Software on Contemporary Hardware
Grow It YourselfA Digitally Controlled, Single-Box Solution for Indoor Farming
Save the Planet With Home Automation?MQTT on the Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect
Go Professional with Arduino Pro
Smart Ovens Take a Leap Into the Future
Tagvance Builds Safer Construction Sites with Arduino
Santagostino Breathes Easywith Remote Monitoring that Leverages AI for Predictive Maintenance
Security Flies High with RIoT Secure’s MKR-Based Solution
Open-Source Brings a New Generation of Water Management to the World
SensoDetect Deforestation with Sound Analysis
The Mozzi Arduino Library for Sound SynthesisInsights from Tim Barrass
The New Portenta X8 (with Linux!) and Max Carrier Redefine What’s Possible
How Using Arduino Helps Students Build Future Skills
Must-Haves for Your Electronics Workspace
The Importance of Robotics in Education
Dependable IoT Based Upon LoRa
Unboxing the Portenta Machine Control
8-Bit Gaming with Arduboy
Reducing Water Usage at Horseback Riding TracksAn IoT to Constantly Monitor Soil Humidity and Temperature Levels
The Panettone ProjectA sourdough starter management and maintenance system
Supporting Arduino Resellers
Space Invaders with Arduino
Art with ArduinoInspiring Insights from Artists and Designers
Arduino Product Catalogue
The Future of Arduino
The board contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a micro-USB cable or power it with an AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. The Due is compatible with all Arduino shields that work at 3.3V and are compliant with the 1.0 Arduino pinout.
The Due follows the 1.0 pinout:
TWI: SDA and SCL pins that are near to the AREF pin.
IOREF: allows an attached shield with the proper configuration to adapt to the voltage provided by the board. This enables shield compatibility with a 3.3V board like the Due and AVR-based boards which operate at 5V.
An unconnected pin, reserved for future use.
Specifications
Operating Voltage
3.3 V
Input Voltage
7-12 V
Digital I/O
54
Analog Input Pins
12
Analog Output Pins
2 (DAC)
Total DC Output Current on all I/O Lines
130 mA
DC Current per I/O Pin
20 mA
DC Current for 3.3 V Pin
800 mA
DC Current for 5 V Pin
800 mA
Flash Memory
512 KB all available for the user applications
SRAM
96 KB
Clock Speed
84 MHz
Length
101.52 mm
Width
53.3 mm
Weight
36 g
Please note: Unlike most Arduino boards, the Arduino Due board runs at 3.3V. The maximum voltage that the I/O pins can tolerate is 3.3V. Applying voltages higher than 3.3V to any I/O pin could damage the board.
Although the Arduino isn’t a novelty any longer, there are still many beginners who want to try programming and development with a microcontroller, and to them, it is all new. All beginnings can be difficult, though they should be light and enjoyable.
You do not need much or expensive equipment for the examples. The circuits are built on a small breadboard, and, if necessary, connected to an Arduino Uno, which you can program on a Windows PC. You will find clear examples of how to build all circuits, ensuring easy and error-free reproduction.
Projects Discussed
Current & Voltage – How it all began
Arduino Hardware
Arduino Programming
The Electrical Circuit
Measuring with the Multimeter
Circuit Diagrams and Breadboards
Creating Circuit Diagrams
Breadboard Views with Fritzing
Online Circuit Simulation
Indispensable: Resistors (Part 1)
Hands-on with Resistors (Part 2)
Variable Resistors
Diodes: One-way Street for Current
The Transistor Switch
Electromagnetism
Relays and Motors
op-amps: Operational Amplifiers
Capacitors
The NE555 Timer
PWM and Analogue Values with Arduino
7-Segment Temperature Display
Introduction to Soldering and LCDs
Make your project dreams come true: an odometer for the hamster wheel, a fully automatic control of your ant farm with web interface, or the Sandwich-O-Mat – a machine that toasts and grills sandwiches of your choice.
With the Arduino and the DIY or Maker movement, not only did entry into microcontroller programming become child's play, but a second development also took place: Resourceful developers brought small boards – so-called shields or modules – to the market, which greatly simplified the use of additional hardware. The small modules contain all the important electronic parts to be connected to the microcontroller with a few plug-in cables, eliminating the need for a fiddly and time-consuming assembly on the plug-in board. In addition, it is also possible to handle tiny components that do not have any connecting legs (so-called SMDs).
Projects Discussed
Arduino seeks connection
BMP and introduction to libraries, I²C
Learn I/O basics with the multi-purpose shield
I²C LCD adapter and DOT matrix displays
LCD keypad shield
Level converter
W5100: Internet connection
I/O expansion shield
Relays and solid-state relays
The multi-function shield: A universal control unit
Connecting an SD card reader via SPI
Keys and 7-segment displays
16-bit ADC
MCP4725 DAC
16-way PWM servo driver
MP3 player
GPS data logger using an SD card
Touch sensor
Joystick
SHT31: Temperature and humidity
VEML6070 UV-A sensor
VL53L0X time-of-flight
Ultrasonic distance meter
MAX7219-based LED DOT matrix display
DS3231 RTC
Port expander MCP23017
433 MHz radio
MPU-650 gyroscope
ADXL345 accelerometer
WS2812 RGB LEDs
Power supply
MQ-xx gas sensors
CO2 gas sensor
ACS712 current sensor
INA219 current sensor
L298 motor driver
MFRC522 RFID
28BYJ-48 stepper motor
TMC2209 silent step stick
X9C10x digital potentiometer
ST7735 in a color TFT display
e-Paper display
Bluetooth
Geiger counter
SIM800L GSM module
I²C multiplexer
Controller Area Network
The Arduino Micro contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a micro USB cable to get started. It has a form factor that enables it to be easily placed on a breadboard.
The Micro board is similar to the Arduino Leonardo in that the ATmega32U4 has built-in USB communication, eliminating the need for a secondary processor. This allows the Micro to appear to a connected computer as a mouse and keyboard, in addition to a virtual (CDC) serial / COM port.
Specifications
Microcontroller
ATmega32U4
Operating Voltage
5 V
Input Voltage
7 V - 12 V
Analog Input Pins
12
PWM Pins
7
DC I/O Pin
20
DC Current per I/O Pin
20 mA
DC Current for 3.3 V Pin
50 mA
Flash Memory
32 KB of which 4 KB used by the bootloader
SRAM
2.5 KB
EEPROM
1 KB
Clock Speed
16 MHz
LED_Builtin
13
Length
45 mm
Width
18 mm
Weight
13 g
The Arduino Nano is a small, complete, and breadboard-friendly board based on the ATmega328 (Arduino Nano 3.x). It has more or less the same functionality of the Arduino Duemilanove but in a different package. It lacks only a DC power jack and works with a Mini-B USB cable instead of a standard one.
Specifications
Microcontroller
ATmega328
Operating Voltage (logic level)
5 V
Input Voltage (recommended)
7-12 V
Input Voltage (limits)
6-20 V
Digital I/O Pins
14 (of which 6 provide PWM output)
Analog Input Pins
8
DC Current per I/O Pin
40 mA
Flash Memory
16 KB (ATmega168) or 32 KB (ATmega328) of which 2 KB used by bootloader
SRAM
1 KB (ATmega168) or 2 KB (ATmega328)
EEPROM
512 bytes (ATmega168) or 1 KB (ATmega328)
Clock Speed
16 MHz
Dimensions
0.73 x 1.70' (18 x 45 mm)
Power
The Arduino Nano can be powered via the Mini-B USB connection, 6-20 V unregulated external power supply (pin 30), or 5 V regulated external power supply (pin 27). The power source is automatically selected to the highest voltage source.
Memory
The ATmega168 has 16 KB of flash memory for storing code (of which 2 KB is used for the bootloader), 1 KB of SRAM and 512 bytes of EEPROM
The ATmega328 has 32 KB of flash memory for storing code, (also with 2 KB used for the bootloader), 2 KB of SRAM and 1 KB of EEPROM.
Input and Output
Each of the 14 digital pins on the Nano can be used as an input or output, using pinMode(), digitalWrite(), and digitalRead() functions. They operate at 5 V.
Each pin can provide or receive a maximum of 40 mA and has an internal pull-up resistor (disconnected by default) of 20-50 kOhms.
Communication
The Arduino Nano has a number of facilities for communicating with a computer, another Arduino, or other microcontrollers.
The ATmega168 and ATmega328 provide UART TTL (5V) serial communication, which is available on digital pins 0 (RX) and 1 (TX). An FTDI FT232RL on the board channels this serial communication over USB and the FTDI drivers (included with the Arduino software) provide a virtual com port to software on the computer.
The Arduino software includes a serial monitor which allows simple textual data to be sent to and from the Arduino board. The RX and TX LEDs on the board will flash when data is being transmitted via the FTDI chip and USB connection to the computer (but not for serial communication on pins 0 and 1).
A SoftwareSerial library allows for serial communication on any of the Nano's digital pins.
Programming
The Arduino Nano can be programmed with the Arduino software (download).
The ATmega168 or ATmega328 on the Arduino Nano comes with a bootloader that allows you to upload new code to it without the use of an external hardware programmer. It communicates using the original STK500 protocol (reference, C header files).
You can also bypass the bootloader and program the microcontroller through the ICSP (In-Circuit Serial Programming) header using Arduino ISP or similar; see these instructions for details.
Automatic (Software) Reset
Rather than requiring a physical press of the reset button before an upload, the Arduino Nano is designed in a way that allows it to be reset by software running on a connected computer.
One of the hardware flow control lines (DTR) of theFT232RL is connected to the reset line of the ATmega168 or ATmega328 via a 100 nF capacitor. When this line is asserted (taken low), the reset line drops long enough to reset the chip.
The Arduino software uses this capability to allow you to upload code by simply pressing the upload button in the Arduino environment. This means that the bootloader can have a shorter timeout, as the lowering of DTR can be well-coordinated with the start of the upload.
The Arduino Nano ESP32 is a Nano form factor board based on the ESP32-S3 (embedded in the NORA-W106-10B from u-blox). This is the first Arduino board to be based fully on an ESP32, and features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, debugging via native USB in the Arduino IDE as well as low power.
The Nano ESP32 is compatible with the Arduino IoT Cloud, and has support for MicroPython. It is an ideal board for getting started with IoT development.
Features
Tiny footprint: Designed with the well-known Nano form factor in mind, this board's compact size makes it perfect for embedding in standalone projects.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Harness the power of the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, well-known in the IoT realm, with full Arduino support for wireless and Bluetooth connectivity.
Arduino and MicroPython support: Seamlessly switch between Arduino and MicroPython programming with a few simple steps.
Arduino IoT Cloud compatible: Quickly and easily create IoT projects with just a few lines of code. The setup takes care of security, allowing you to monitor and control your project from anywhere using the Arduino IoT Cloud app.
HID support: Simulate human interface devices, such as keyboards or mice, over USB, opening up new possibilities for interacting with your computer.
Specifications
Microcontroller
u-blox NORA-W106 (ESP32-S3)
USB connector
USB-C
Pins
Built-in LED pins
13
Built-in RGB LED pins
14-16
Digital I/O pins
14
Analog input pins
8
PWM pins
5
External interrupts
All digital pins
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
u-blox NORA-W106 (ESP32-S3)
Bluetooth
u-blox NORA-W106 (ESP32-S3)
Communication
UART
2x
I²C
1x, A4 (SDA), A5 (SCL)
SPI
D11 (COPI), D12 (CIPO), D13 (SCK). Use any GPIO for Chip Select (CS)
Power
I/O Voltage
3.3 V
Input voltage (nominal)
6-21 V
Source Current per I/O pin
40 mA
Sink Current per I/O pin
28 mA
Clock speed
Processor
Up to 240 MHz
Memory
ROM
384 kB
SRAM
512 kB
External Flash
128 Mbit (16 MB)
Dimensions
18 x 45 mm
Downloads
Datasheet
Schematics
Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P. It has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs), 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator (CSTCE16M0V53-R0), a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header and a reset button. It contains everything needed to support the microcontroller; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with a AC-to-DC adapter or battery to get started. You can tinker with your Uno without worring too much about doing something wrong, worst case scenario you can replace the chip for a few dollars and start over again.
'Uno' means one in Italian and was chosen to mark the release of Arduino Software (IDE) 1.0. The Uno board and version 1.0 of Arduino Software (IDE) were the reference versions of Arduino, now evolved to newer releases. The Uno board is the first in a series of USB Arduino boards, and the reference model for the Arduino platform; for an extensive list of current, past or outdated boards see the Arduino index of boards.
Specifications
Microcontroller
ATmega328P
Operating Voltage
5 V
Input Voltage (recommended)
7-12 V
Input Voltage (limit)
6-20 V
Digital I/O Pins
14 (of which 6 provide PWM output)
PWM Digital I/O Pins
6
Analog Input Pins
6
DC Current per I/O Pin
20 mA
DC Current for 3.3 V Pin
50 mA
Flash Memory
32 KB (ATmega328P) of which 0.5 KB used by bootloader
SRAM
2 KB (ATmega328P)
EEPROM
1 KB (ATmega328P)
Clock Speed
16 MHz
LED_BUILTIN
13
Dimensions
68.6 x 53.4 mm
Weight
25 g
The Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect is an RP2040-based Arduino board equipped with Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.2.
Besides wireless connectivity the board comes with a microphone for sound and voice activation and a six-axis smart motion sensor with AI capabilities. An RGB LED is available too. 22 GPIO ports (20 with PWM support and eight analogue inputs) let the user control e.g. relays, motors and LEDs and read switches and other sensors.
Program memory is plentiful with 16 MB of flash memory, more than enough room for storing many webpages or other data.
Specifications
Microcontroller
Raspberry Pi RP2040
USB connector
Micro USB
Pins
Built-in LED pins
13
Digital I/O pins
20
Analog Input pins
8
PWM pins
20 (Except A6, A7)
External interrupts
20 (Except A6, A7)
Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Nina W102 uBlox module
Bluetooth
Nina W102 uBlox module
Secure element
ATECC608A-MAHDA-T Crypto IC
Sensors
IMU
LSM6DSOXTR (6-axis)
Microphone
MP34DT05
Communication
UART
Yes
I²C
Yes
SPI
Yes
Power
Circuit operating voltage
3.3 V
Input Voltage (VIN)
5-21 V
DC Current per I/O pin
4 mA
Clock speed
Processor
133 MHz
Memory
AT25SF128A-MHB-T
16 MB Flash IC
Nina W102 uBlox module
448 KB ROM, 520 KB SRAM, 16 MB Flash
Dimensions
45 x 18 mm
Weight
6 g
Downloads
Schematics
Pinout
Datasheet
