Task 2: Basic Serial Print with Arduino

In the previous task we have seen how to blink an LED using Arduino. In this task, we will see how to print a message to the Serial Monitor using Arduino. The Serial Monitor is a tool available in the Arduino IDE that allows you to communicate with your Arduino board over a serial connection. It can be used for debugging, monitoring sensor data, and sending/receiving information between the Arduino and your computer.

Here's a basic Arduino example using Serial.print() to demonstrate how coding with an Arduino works. This example will show how to set up the Arduino, initialize the serial communication, and print a message to the Serial Monitor.

Example: Basic Serial Print

Objective:

To introduce the basics of Arduino coding by printing a message to the Serial Monitor.

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Components Needed:

  • Arduino board (e.g., Arduino Uno)
  • USB cable to connect the Arduino to your computer

Steps:

  1. Connect the Arduino Board:

  2. Connect your Arduino board to your computer using the USB cable.

  3. Open the Arduino IDE:

  4. Launch the Arduino IDE on your computer.

  5. Write the Code:

  6. In the Arduino IDE, write the following code:
// Basic Serial Print Example

void setup() {
  // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second:
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Print a message to the Serial Monitor:
  Serial.println("Hello, Arduino!");
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing to do here
}

Code Explanation:

  • void setup() function:
  • This function runs once when the Arduino is powered on or reset.
  • Serial.begin(9600); initializes the serial communication at a baud rate of 9600 bits per second. This sets up the communication speed between the Arduino and your computer.

  • Serial.println("Hello, Arduino!"); sends the message "Hello, Arduino!" to the Serial Monitor. println means "print line," which prints the text and moves the cursor to the next line.

  • void loop() function:

  • This function runs continuously after the setup() function has completed.

  • In this example, the loop() function is empty because we only want to print the message once during setup.

  • Upload the Code:

  • Select the correct board and port from the Tools menu in the Arduino IDE.

  • Click the "Upload" button (right arrow icon) to upload the code to your Arduino board.

  • Open the Serial Monitor:

  • After uploading the code, open the Serial Monitor by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the Arduino IDE or by selecting Tools > Serial Monitor.

  • Ensure the baud rate at the bottom of the Serial Monitor is set to 9600.

  • Observe the Output:

  • You should see the message "Hello, Arduino!" printed in the Serial Monitor.

This example introduces the basic structure of an Arduino sketch (setup and loop functions) and shows how to initialize serial communication and print messages to the Serial Monitor. You can build upon this foundation to create more complex projects.

Tasks

1. Change to Print Your Custom Message

Write a program that prints a custom message to the Serial Monitor.

Solution 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second
  Serial.println("Hello, world!"); // Replace "Hello, world!" with your custom message
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing to do here
}

2. Print Multiple Messages to the Serial Monitor

Write a program that prints multiple messages to the Serial Monitor.

Solution 
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second
  Serial.println("Message 1"); // Print first message
  Serial.println("Message 2"); // Print second message
  Serial.println("Message 3"); // Print third message
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing to do here
}

3. Implement a Simple Counter that Increments Every Second and Prints the Value to the Serial Monitor

Write a program that implements a counter which increments every second and prints the value to the Serial Monitor.

Hint 1 Use a variable to store the counter value. 
int counter = 0;
Hint 2 Utilize the recurring `loop()` function to increment the counter.
Hint 3 Use `delay(1000);` to create a 1-second delay.
Solution 
int counter = 0; // Initialize counter variable

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println(counter); // Print the current value of counter
  counter++; // Increment the counter
  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second (1000 milliseconds)
}

4. Implement a Counter with a Reset

Write a program that introduces an counter and resets when it reaches a certain value.

Hint 1 Use a variable `counter` to store the current count.
Hint 2 Add a conditional statement to check if `counter` has reached the reset value. 
if (counter >= resetValue) {
// Reset the counter
}
Hint 3 Reset `counter` to zero inside the conditional statement.
Hint 4 Use `delay(1000);` to create a 1-second delay.
Solution 
int counter = 0; // Initialize counter variable
const int resetValue = 10; // Set the value at which the counter resets

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second
}

void loop() {
  Serial.println(counter); // Print the current value of counter
  counter++; // Increment the counter

  if (counter >= resetValue) { // Check if counter has reached the reset value
    counter = 0; // Reset the counter
    Serial.println("Counter reset!"); // Print reset message
  }

  delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second (1000 milliseconds)
}

These code snippets can be uploaded to an Arduino to perform the described tasks. Each snippet should be used separately, uploading one at a time to see the results.