You can also use the Arduino for projects that have nothing to do with electronics. There are some great products on the market right now that are easy to use and low cost, but they are fun. I have been using my Cube for years, but this year I decided to use it for more complex projects.
The Cube is the perfect choice for learning about touch screens. When you connect it to your computer it turns into a desktop and can be used like a normal desktop computer. It is easy to use with two USB connectors. This is how I use the Cube, a lot.
My first project was to create a mobile application for my Cube. I downloaded my very own Arduino Sketch which was a mobile version of an old arcade game. After testing it for a few days, it works.
Now that the project is working I wanted to make the process of controlling it easier by showing various options to the user. The nice thing about the Arduino is that you have all of the options of a “normal” computer program. The internet is just a big library of code, which makes it easy to program, if you know the right languages.
The next interesting project I worked on was one that I did with my Cube. I looked up the details of a company that sells storage units. The location I chose had many of these units available for sale.
I downloaded a program from the company’s website that allowed me to control a series of boards. For example, the boards could open and close doors, lock and unlock safes, and even come in and out of the back of a pickup truck. Of course, I was going to add a working light system as well.
Once the Cube is turned into a warehouse unit, you can connect the Arduino to the boards, which will allow you to walk around and open and close the doors. Now you can watch an action movie, while you walk around the warehouse. This is a nice way to keep you busy while you learn the Arduino.
If this sounds like fun to you, you should check out the videos. There are videos to teach the different functions of the Arduino. Some are tutorial based, but most are not. Once you have completed the program you can have fun programming the Arduino.
Using the same approach as above, you can use your Arduino to control a communication box that sends and receives signals. This allows you to send signals to boxes, which can then be received by other pieces of equipment. You could use the Arduino to control any item that can send and receive a signal.
I found that by taking an inventory of each box, I would get a clearer picture of what the boxes were for, and the room I had for each one. The “piggy bank” theme reminded me of the wonderful games you used to play as a child. It was a fun project for me.
This is just a small sample of the MatLab assignments that are available for a Cubed or Cube. Keep searching, and soon you will find the right assignment for you!