Arduino Plug and Make Kit allows everyone to experiment with IoT first-hand
Arduino, the open-source leader famous for making technology accessible to all, launches theย Plug and Make Kitย to help people of all ages take the first step into electronics in a fun and easy way.ย Anyone can make their own smart, connected device and get to know the Internet of Things (IoT) first-hand.
Since 2005, Arduino has built a global community of 33+ million users thanks to products like the iconic Arduino UNOยฎย microcontroller, Arduino Starter Kit, Arduino Cloud, the hugely popular Arduino IDE software, and a slew of educational kits for learners at all levels. Each addition to the ecosystem is meant to help peopleย connect to their passions, innovate, and play an active role in technology.
Now, the new Arduino Plug and Make Kitย ups the ante and lowers barriers more than ever,ย allowing anyone to develop functional smart devices in a single session. Even beginners and young inventors can start creating new projects quickly and easily, and feelย the huge sense of accomplishment that comes with building something with their own hands, learning and having fun.
โThe Plug and Make Kit is Arduinoโs new entry point into the world of IoT and electronics: one that is more accessible, fun and engaging than ever. No matter their age, background or interests, everyone can experience that first taste of technology,โย commentsย Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino.
Go from idea to fully functional smart device in a single session
The new Plug and Make Kit experience starts withย 7 fun and useful projectsย that allow anyone to assemble components in a snap, without soldering or breadboards, and to control the new device via intuitiveย Arduino Cloudย dashboards, even from their smartphone.
- Weather Report: Never forget your umbrella, with a visual forecast for rain!
- Hourglass: Who needs an egg timer? Customize your own digital hourglass
- Eco Watch: Make sure your plants thrive in the perfect temperature and humidity
- Game Controller: Level up with your very own HID (Human Interface Device) gamepad
- Sonic Synth: Get one step closer to being a rockstar, DJ or sound engineer!
- Smart Lights: Turn the lights on and off from your couch, via your smartphone
- Touchless Lamp: Control lights with a simple gesture
After the launch, more projects will be released online to give users more and more ideas.
Itโs just the beginning!
โThe components in the Plug and Make Kit can be used to create endless applications โ also swiftly integrating with Arduinoโs full ecosystem of hardware and software tools. In fact, we can expect Arduinoโs vast community to develop and share many original ideas soon,โ concludesย Fabio Violante, CEO at Arduino.
The Plug and Make Kit offers the easiest, most fun introduction to a world of opportunities and wonder, where technology is open to all.ย Itโs for everyone, because itโs the simplest kit Arduino has ever made.
Intuitive hardware meets easy Cloud integration
The Plug and Make Kit combines Arduinoโs extensive resources and complete ecosystem with an innovative hardware approach. It includes:
- Arduino UNO R4 WiFiย main board: this makerโs favourite is a unique combination of simplicity for first-time users and potential for future implementations. The board is based on Renesas RA4M1 Armยฎย Cortexยฎย M4 as main microcontroller and Espressif ESP32 S3 as connectivity device.
- Modulinoยฎย sensors and actuators: buzzer, 6-axis IMU, temperature and humidity sensor, buttons, knob, LED strip and time-of-flight proximity sensor โ thatโs 7 nodes for different functionalities! They simply snap together, with no risk of mistakes. Several Modulino feature the new STM 32C0 microcontroller based on Armยฎย Cortexยฎย M0 architecture.
- The Modulino Base: a whole new physical frame designed to keep projects looking and feeling neat.
- Online resourcesย to swiftly integrate with the Arduino ecosystem: a dedicated content platform in multiple languages, free and easy-to-use programming tools, a smartphone app to monitor and control IoT devices, and readily availableย Arduino Cloudย templates to get up and running in minutes.
The technology behind the kit
The kit was developed by choosing the best components for durability and convenience, teaming up with leaders like Renesas, Espressif and STMicroelectronics.
โLast year we teamed-up with Arduino for the development of the new Arduino UNO R4, the quintessential board for rapid prototyping โ upgrading the device to a 32-bit Armยฎย architecture, opening up a new range of possibilities. Now we are extremely happy to see our RA4M1 Microcontroller and Buck Regulator ISL854102FRZ technology being deployed within Arduinoโs Plug and Make Kit to foster the new generation of innovators, lowering the barriers to entry into technology,โ saidย Mohammed Dogar, VP and Head of Global Business Development and Ecosystem at Renesas Electronics.
โWeโre proud to support Arduino on its mission to allow anyone to innovate, whether in harsh industrial environments or in the comfort of their homes. The intuitive Modulinoยฎย nodes incorporate the high technological standard of our STM32C0 microcontrollers and our sensors, both MEMS (LSM6DSOX, LPS22HB) and Time-of-Flight (VL53L4CD): this is the kind of solution that truly puts great potential into peopleโs hands, giving them the best tools along with the freedom to explore,โ addsย Alessandro Maloberti, Partner Ecosystem Director, STMicroelectronics.
Where to find the Plug and Make Kit
The Plug and Make Kit can be purchased worldwide from theย Arduino Store, as well as from major distributors includingย Digikey,ย Farnell,ย Mouser Electronics,ย Reichelt, theย RS Groupย and many other official partners.
