Arduino launches Plug and Make Kit for easy IoT projects

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Arduino, the open-source leader famous for making technology accessible to all, launches the Plug and Make Kit to help people of all ages take the first step into electronics in a fun and easy way. Anyone can make their own smart, connected device and get to know the Internet of Things (IoT) firsthand.

Since 2005, Arduino has built a global community of 33+ million users thanks to products like the Arduino UNO microcontroller, Arduino Starter Kit, Arduino Cloud, the Arduino IDE software and a slew of educational kits for learners at all levels. Each addition to the ecosystem is meant to help people connect to their passions, innovate and play an active role in technology.

The new Arduino Plug and Make Kit ups the ante and lowers barriers more than ever, 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 feel the huge sense of accomplishment that comes with building something with their own hands, learning and having fun.

“The Plug and Make Kit is Arduino’s 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,” said Fabio Violante, the CEO of Arduino.

Go from idea to fully functional smart device in a single session

The new Plug and Make Kit experience starts with 7 fun and useful projects that allow anyone to assemble components in a snap, without soldering or breadboards, and to control the new device via intuitive Arduino Cloud dashboards, even from their smartphone.

  • Weather report: Never forget your umbrella, with a visual forecast for rain!
  • Hourglass: Who needs an egg timer? Customise 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 Human Interface Device (HID) gamepad
  • Sonic synth: Get one step closer to being a rockstar, DJ or sound engineer!
  • Smart sights: 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.

It’s just the beginning!

“The components in the Plug and Make Kit can be used to create endless applications – also swiftly integrating with Arduino’s full ecosystem of hardware and software tools. In fact, we can expect Arduino’s vast community to develop and share many original ideas soon,” said Fabio Violante, the CEO at Arduino.

Intuitive hardware meets easy Cloud integration

The Plug and Make Kit combines Arduino’s extensive resources and complete ecosystem with an innovative hardware approach. It includes:

  • Arduino UNO R4 WiFi main board: this maker’s favorite is a unique combination of simplicity for first-time users and potential for future implementations. The board is based on Renesas RA4M1 Arm Cortex M4 as main microcontroller and Espressif ESP32 S3 as connectivity device.
  • Modulino sensors and actuators: buzzer, 6-axis IMU, temperature and humidity sensor, buttons, knob, LED strip and time-of-flight proximity sensor – that’s 7 nodes for different functionalities! They simply snap together, with no risk of mistakes. Several Modulino feature the new STM 32C0 microcontroller based on Arm Cortex M0 architecture.
  • The Modulino Base: a whole new physical frame designed to keep projects looking and feeling neat.
  • Online resources 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 available Arduino Cloud templates to get up and running in minutes.

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