TalTech Arduino Laboratory Hardware Reference

Introduction

Each laboratory node is equipped with an Arduino Uno board. This board is widely used for prototyping and educational purposes due to its ease of use, extensive compatibility with sensors and modules, and a simple programming environment.

The hardware setup includes several sensors, actuators, and interfaces designed for various practical lab exercises.

Arduino Uno Board Overview

Microcontroller: ATmega328P
Operating Voltage: 5 V
Digital I/O Pins: 14 (6 pins provide PWM output)
Analog Input Pins: 6
Clock Speed: 16 MHz
USB Interface: Yes (for programming and serial communication)
Power Supply: USB connection or external power supply

Hardware Components and Pin Assignments

Component	Model/Description	Pins	Remarks
DC Motor	Micromotors Brushed Geared DC Motor, 12V, 20Ncm, 5rpm	Digital pins: AIN1=12, AIN2=11, PWM=3	Controlled via Pololu TB6612FNG Dual Motor Driver
Servo Motor	SG90 or similar	PWM pin: 10	Controlled via Arduino Servo library
Fan	12V DC Fan	Digital pin: 2	Controlled via digital on/off
Thermistor	Steinhart-Hart Thermistor	Analog pin: A5	Used for precise temperature measurement
Photoresistor (LDR)	Chanzon GL5549, 10Ω LDR	Analog pin: A2	Used for ambient light sensing
LCD Screen	Alphanumeric LCD 16×2 (HD44780)	Pins: RS=8, EN=9, D4=4, D5=5, D6=6, D7=7, Buttons input: A0	Used for displaying text and sensor values

Additional Hardware

Motor Driver: Pololu TB6612FNG Dual Motor Driver Carrier
- Supports two DC motors independently
- Motor voltage range: 4.5 – 13.5 V
- Continuous current per channel: 1.2 A (peak 3 A)
- Built-in protection: thermal shutdown and undervoltage lockout
- Control inputs: Logic-level PWM and direction signals (2.7–5.5 V compatible)

Wiring Diagram

Typical Usage Scenarios

Suggested Knowledge Resources

Arduino programming fundamentals
Basic understanding of PWM, analog/digital I/O
Use of common Arduino libraries:
- Servo.h – Servo motor control
- LiquidCrystal.h – LCD display handling
- Standard Arduino analog/digital I/O functions

Development Environment Configuration

Typical platformio.ini file configuration for Arduino Uno:

[env:uno]
platform = atmelavr
framework = arduino
board = uno
lib_ldf_mode = deep+

Validation and Troubleshooting

Ensure correct wiring and pin configuration as described above. If devices do not respond:

Check pin assignments in software
Verify power connections
Confirm libraries are correctly installed and imported

If persistent issues occur, consult lab administrators or documentation links provided above.