NOTE: Registration for this event is now closed.

The first-ever Gizmologi.st workshop — Intro to Arduino: Electronics for Artists, Tinkerers, Inventors and Hackers — will be taking place on August 8, 2009 at San Diego State University.

Photo by Todbot

Come join us on this all-day hacking session. This will be a great workshop for beginners to the DIY electronics world of microcontrollers, as well as for altruistic “old hands” looking to show off their skills and help the newcomers. If you’ve ever dreamed of building your own robot, UAV, home automation system, digital clock, synthesizer, portable gaming system, etc., but aren’t quite sure how to get started, then this is the workshop for you.

What You’ll Learn

We’ll cover as much as possible from the list below:

• Arduino basics: Getting up and running, basic Arduino programming, blinking an LED
• Beginning digital circuits: Using shift registers to control 7-segment LED displays and multiple LEDs simultaneously
• Sensor basics: Reading and acting on digital and analog sensors, including buttons, photocells, thermistors and maybe some more sophisticated sensors like ultrasonic range finders or heartrate monitors
• Communicating with PCs: Fundamentals of Arduino serial communication
• Controlling motors: Using relays to control motors and/or solenoids

Date/Time/Location/Cost

• Date: Saturday, August 8, 2009
• Time: 10AM to 5PM (or longer as desired/necessary)
• Location: SDSU Engineering Building, Room 300A
• Cost: $60.00 materials fee. (Includes Arduino Duemilanove, wiring, sensors, resistors, motors, LEDs, etc. that you get to keep. If you have your own Arduino, bring it for a $25 fee reduction.) Please bring cash or checks payable to “Sean Voisen.” This is a non-profit event. The cost is for the materials only.
• Parking: SDSU has a $1.00/hour parking fee. You may wish to take the trolley or bus to avoid paying for parking.

What to Bring

• A laptop running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux
• An A-B USB cable (the kind you usually find on a USB printer)
• A positive, can-do attitude

RSVP

Space is limited to 20 participants. Register by July 24, 2009.

NOTE: Registration for this event is now closed.