Chapter 4. Extending Arduino
This chapter covers
- Software libraries
- The Arduino core and standard libraries
- Contributed libraries
- Hardware shields
- Some common shields
In previous chapters, you looked at the digital input and output and analog input functionality of the Arduino, and you constructed a few projects based on this functionality, including a reactometer and a pentatonic keyboard. But the Arduino is capable of much more, and you can also extend its functionality by using software libraries or hardware shields. In this chapter you’re going to learn different ways of connecting the Arduino to other devices or equipment.
For example, if you were building an obstacle-avoidance robot that could detect objects in its path and maneuver around them, the Arduino would be an obvious choice. There are software libraries and hardware shields readily available that can enable the Arduino to drive motors, connect to infrared or ultrasonic sensors that detect objects, and communicate over Wi-Fi.
Let’s get started by learning about software libraries.