Synopses & Reviews
Make: Action is your gateway into the world of actuators and transducers: the counterparts to sensors. Just as sensors let you monitor the real world, these devices let you do things in, with, and to things in the physical world. You'll learn how to display things with LEDs and displays, move things around with motors and pumps, and create sound and vibration. Sensors let you know what's going on in the world; with Make: Action, your projects and creations will shape the world around them!
Synopsis
Beginning with the basics and moving gradually to greater challenges, this book takes you step-by-step through experiments and projects that show you how to make your Arduino or Raspberry Pi create and control movement, light, and sound. In other words: action
The Arduino is a simple microcontroller with an easy-to-learn programming environment, while the Raspberry Pi is a tiny Linux-based computer. This book clearly explains the differences between the Arduino and Raspberry Pi, when to use them, and to which purposes each are best suited.
Using these widely available and inexpensive platforms, you'll learn to control LEDs, motors of various types, solenoids, AC (alternating current) devices, heaters, coolers, displays, and sound. You'll even discover how to monitor and control these devices over the Internet. Working with solderless breadboards, you'll get up and running quickly, learning how to make projects that are as fun as they are informative. In Make: Action, you'll learn to:
- Build a can crusher using a linear actuator with your Arduino
- Have an Arduino water your plants
- Build a personal traffic signal using LEDs
- Make a random balloon popper with Arduino
- Cool down your beverages with a thermostatic drink cooler you build yourself
- Understand and use the PID control algorithm
- Use Raspberry Pi to create a puppet dance party that moves to your tweets
About the Author
Dr. Simon Monk has a degree in Cybernetics and Computer Science and a PhD in Software Engineering. Simon spent several years as an academic before he returned to industry, co-founding the mobile software company Momote Ltd. He has been an active electronics hobbyist since his early teens. Simon is now a full time author and his books include 'Getting Started with IOIO', '30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius', '15 Dangerously Mad Projects for the Evil Genius' and 'Arduino + Android Projects for the Evil Genius'.