CASE STUDY MICROCONTROLLERS: ARDUINO® What is a microcontroller? A microcontroller is an electronic system which consists of a processor, a memory, and input/output (I/O) ports; unlike microprocessors, which have all these parts connected externally, in microcontrollers all these components are contained on a single chip, which makes them easier to be produced on a larger scale, and therefore cheaper. An example of a microcontroller: Arduino® Arduino® was created in Italy by Massimo Banzi, a lecturer at the Interaction Design Institute of Ivrea, near Turin, who wanted to make a simple prototype device for students. It quickly became popular outside educational institutions, and started to change and adapt to new challenges and needs. As it is easy to access and simple to use, the device has been employed worldwide for a great variety of electronics projects. It is defined as an open-source microcontroller: this means that its design files and its code are available to the public; for this reason, everyone can work on it and modify it according to what is needed for their specific device. How it works Arduino® is programmable; it can read data from sensors and buttons and turn it into outputs to control motors, make LEDs blink, and open and close doors; it is particularly suitable for repetitive tasks such as turning the lights on and off, opening and closing doors, or getting inputs from sensors. Moreover, the Arduino® microcontroller is specifically and widely used in the following fields of activity: traffic signal control systems: it can detect the presence of vehicles at crossroads and adjust the timing of the traffic lights according to it. In some cases, it can also be used to integrate traffic signal systems with public transport to provide more efficient public transport for users; medical appliances: it has a wide range of applications in the medical field. An example is wearable medical devices, which continuously monitor vital signs such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and body temperature, and provide realtime data for analysis and evaluation; art and education: Arduino® is often used in art installations and educational projects as a way to introduce people to programming and electronics in a fun and interactive way; domotics: Arduino® is largely employed in light controlling systems and in temperature and humidity control devices in smart homes. to blink: lampeggiare lecturer: docente universitario 20 Complete the sentences with a word or short phrase. 1. Unlike microprocessors, microcontrollers have all their components ................................................................................ . 2. Arduino® has quickly become very popular outside ................................................................................ . ................................................................................ of traffic lights. 7. Wearable medical devices can ................................................................................ vital signs and ................................................................................ data for analysis. 3. It has been employed worldwide because it is ................................................................................ . 8. In the field of art, Arduino® is used in ................................................................................ . 4. It is an .................................................................. microcontroller, so its design and codes are available to anyone. 9. Using Arduino® in the field of art is also a way to introduce people to programming in a ................................................................................ . 5. Arduino® is particularly suitable for ................................................................................ tasks. 6. A traffic signal system using Arduino® can adjust 138 ELECTRONICS AND ELECTROTECHNOLOGY 10. At home, Arduino® is used for controlling light, ................................................................................ .