Arduino is an open source hardware and software project first introduced in 2005

aiming to provide an accessible way for novices and professionals to create devices
that interact with their environment using sensors and actuators. Common examples
of such devices include simple robots, thermostats, and motion detectors.

Arduino is based on micro controller board designs, which use inputs and
outputs in the same way an ordinary computer does. Inputs capture
information from the user or the environment while outputs do something with
the information that has been captured. An input could be digital or analog, and
could come from the environment or a user. Outputs can control and turn on
and off devices such as motors or other computers. These systems provide sets
of digital and analog input/output (I/O) pins that can interface to various
expansion boards (termed shields) and other circuits. The boards feature serial
communication interfaces, including Universal Serial Bus (USB) on some
models, for loading programs from personal computers

Ardunio UNO

This is the entry level board from Arduino family.

Figure 2.2: Arduino UNO board

The specifications of Arduino UNO board are given below,

• The micro controller is ATmega328P (8 bit, AVR)

• 14Digital input/output pins

• 6 Analog input/output pins

• 6/14 Digital I/O pins can be use as PWM pins

• The clock is 16 MHz quartz crystal

• A USB connection/power jack (5V)

• A auxiliary power jack (5V)