Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments.

Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

The boards can be built by hand or purchased preassembled; the software can be downloaded for free. The hardware reference designs (CAD files) are available under an open-source license, you are free to adapt them to your needs.

For more information about arduino please visit the Arduino site.

History

Most of these "arduino" boards are based on atmels atmega series of 8-bit microprocessors.The first arduino that was hand made was using a parallel port and the atmega8-16p. Later the parrelel port was replaced by a serial port and a bootloader was implemented in order to communicate though serial. next major change was using a FTDi chip in order to use usb connection and to translate it to serial. Then the arduino UNO, using a atmega for USB to serial communication.

ATmega8, ATmega168, ATmega328, ATmega1280, and ATmega2560