In the early days, embedded systems were built primarily by engineers in a
pretty exclusive club. Embedded devices and software tools were expensive,
and building a functional prototype required significant software engineering and electrical engineering experience.
With the arrival of Arduino, the open source electronics prototyping platform,
things are cheaper and easier. The hardware is inexpensive (around $30), the
software is free, and the Arduino environment is designed for artists, designers,
and hobbyists rather than engineering professionals.
The ultimate goal of this book is to teach you how to build prototypes using
Arduino. We’ll offer just enough theory to help you apply your new skills to
your own projects. You will also become familiar with the logic behind coding
and components. We will explain every single line of code and tell you how
each component is used. You will learn by completing actual projects, and the
knowledge you gain will enable you to further develop your own ideas.
Most books on embedded systems are either so specialized that you need to
work within the particular field or too simplistic to be interesting. Books for beginners
often just teach you to blindly follow instructions; here, we aim to promote
a deeper understanding and a skill set that can be applied more flexibly.
Finally, this book is meant for readers who want to learn how to build prototypes
of interesting gadgets, not for those who want to build a dental X-ray
machine or a microwave oven. At the same time, you will be able to apply
the techniques covered in the book to make prototypes of commercial device
concepts.