Arduino

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The Arduino NG.

Arduino is an open source hardware physical computing platform based on a simple I/O board and a development environment that implements the Processing/Wiring language. Arduino can be used to develop stand-alone interactive objects or can be connected to software on your computer (e.g., Macromedia Flash, Processing, Max/MSP, Pure Data, SuperCollider). The boards can be assembled by hand or purchased preassembled; the open-source IDE can be downloaded for free. Currently it supports the ATmega8 and ATmega168 microcontrollers.

The Arduino project received an honorary mention in the Digital Communities category at the Prix Ars Electronica 2006.

The reference designs for the hardware board are distributed under a Creative Commons license.

[edit] Hardware Versions

The development team has released six versions of the Arduino to date:

The Serial Arduino, programmed with a DB9 serial connection and using an ATmega8 in an DIL28 package. The board can also fitted with an ATmega168 in DIL28.
The Arduino Extreme, with a USB interface for programming and using an ATmega8 in an DIL28 package. The board can also fitted with an ATmega168 in DIL28.
The Arduino Mini, a miniature version of the Arduino resembling an over wide ( 700mil ) DIL24 package, with an ATmega168 and slightly different functionality than the larger modules.
The Arduino NG, with a USB interface for programming and using an ATmega8 in an DIL28 package. The board can also fitted with an ATmega168 in DIL28.
The Arduino NG plus (this is the version currently shipping), with a USB interface for programming and using an ATmega168 in an DIL28 package. The board can also fitted with an ATmega8 in DIL28.
The Arduino BT, with a Bluetooth interface for programming using an ATmega168.