Come visit Arduino at Embedded World 2025!

We’re gearing up for Embedded World, the leading event for embedded systems, industrial automation, and IoT technology, taking place March 11th-13th in Nuremberg. Visit us in Hall 3A, Booth 313 to explore our latest innovations and experience more live demos than ever, thanks to key collaborations across the industrial landscape. This year, we’re demonstrating just […]

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We’re gearing up for Embedded World, the leading event for embedded systems, industrial automation, and IoT technology, taking place March 11th-13th in Nuremberg. Visit us in Hall 3A, Booth 313 to explore our latest innovations and experience more live demos than ever, thanks to key collaborations across the industrial landscape. This year, we’re demonstrating just how far Arduino has come in bridging the gap between prototyping and industrial deployment.

Explore the forefront of innovation with us

At this year’s Arduino booth, we’re turning ideas into reality with groundbreaking solutions for smart industries, automotive prototyping, and next-gen IoT applications. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find when you visit:

  • The future of automotive – Learn about the E/E Starter Kit, developed as part of our partnership with Bosch for the digital.auto initiative. This cutting-edge platform empowers developers, startups, and universities to prototype software-defined vehicles (SDVs) with real-world applications in mind.
  • Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology in action – We’re unveiling two new UWB-powered products, developed with Truesense, to enable next-level precision tracking, seamless connectivity with cloud platforms, and secure data transmission.
  • Game-changing product launches – Be among the first to see our newest hardware innovations, designed to streamline industrial development and accelerate time to market.
  • AI-powered warehouse and logistics automation – See how computer vision and edge computing can revolutionize inventory management, predictive maintenance, and smart logistics thanks to an Arduino-based solution by our partner System Electronics.
  • Advanced robotics & AGVs – Get hands-on with the Portenta AGV Kit, developed with Analog Devices, Inc., to explore automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with real-time location tracking, motor control, and 3D mapping – perfect for factory automation, research, and education.
  • Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) solutions – Discover how next-gen industrial connectivity is simplifying communication for automation and sensor networks.
  • Environmental monitoring & motion-based control – Check out live demos that showcase intelligent sensing solutions for industrial environments, smart buildings, and more.

Embedded World 2025 is your chance to experience Arduino Pro’s industrial-grade solutions up close and see how our open-source ecosystem is shaping the future of embedded technology.

Celebrate our 20th with a free ticket!

Arduino is turning 20 this year, and we’re excited to kick off the celebrations at Embedded World! 

While Arduino Day 2025 (March 21st-22nd) will be the main event, we want to start the party early – so we’re giving you a free ticket! Just register for Embedded World using our voucher code ew25542980. 

Visit Hall 3A, Booth 313 to say check out our latest technology and meet the team. See you in Nuremberg!

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A lightweight file server running entirely on an Arduino Nano ESP32

Home file servers can be very useful for people who work across multiple devices and want easy access to their documents. And there are a lot of DIY build guides out there. But most of them are full-fledged NAS (network-attached storage) devices and they tend to rely on single-board computers. Those take a long time […]

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Home file servers can be very useful for people who work across multiple devices and want easy access to their documents. And there are a lot of DIY build guides out there. But most of them are full-fledged NAS (network-attached storage) devices and they tend to rely on single-board computers. Those take a long time to boot and consume quite a lot of power. This lightweight file server by Zombieschannel is different, because it runs entirely on an Arduino.

An ESP32 is a microcontroller with built-in connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth). Like all MCUs, it can “boot” and start running its firmware almost instantly. And while it runs, it will consume much less power than a conventional PC or a single-board computer. Zombieschannel’s project proves that the Arduino Nano ESP32 is suitable for a file server — if your expectations are modest.

The hardware for this project consists of a Nano ESP32, an SD card reader module, and a small monochrome OLED screen. The SD card provides file storage and the OLED shows status information.

Most of the work went into writing the firmware, which Zombieschannel did with assistance from ChatGPT. That has the Arduino hosting a basic web interface that local users can access to upload or download files. Zombieschannel also created a command line interface that provides more comprehensive access via a serial connection. 

This does have limitations and the transfer speeds are quite slow by modern standards. But the file server seems useful for small files, like text documents. Zombieschannel plans to design an enclosure for the device and it should tuck unobtrusively into a corner, where it can run without drawing much power.

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This vending machine draws generative art for just a euro

If you hear the term “generative art” today, you probably subconsciously add “AI” to the beginning without even thinking about it. But generative art techniques existed long before modern AI came along — they even predate digital computing altogether. Despite that long history, generative art remains interesting as consumers attempt to identify patterns in the […]

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If you hear the term “generative art” today, you probably subconsciously add “AI” to the beginning without even thinking about it. But generative art techniques existed long before modern AI came along — they even predate digital computing altogether. Despite that long history, generative art remains interesting as consumers attempt to identify patterns in the underlying algorithms. And thanks to the “Generative Art 1€” vending machine built by Niklas Roy, you can experience that for yourself by spending a single euro.

Roy built this vending machine to display at the “Intelligence, it’s automatic” exhibit, hosted at Zebrastraat in Belgium. Rather than AI, Roy gave the machine more traditional algorithms to generate abstract pieces of line art. Each piece uses the current time as the “seed” for the algorithms, so it will be unique and an identical piece will never appear again. And the current piece, shown on a screen in the machine, always evolves as time passes. If a viewer sees something they like, they’ll need to insert a euro coin immediately or risk losing the opportunity to secure the art.

Once paid, the machine will use a built-in pen plotter to draw the line on a piece of paper. It will also label the art with a unique identifier: the seed number. Then, it will stamp the paper for authenticity. Finally, it will cut that piece from the roll of paper and dispense the art through a chute at the bottom.

That all happens under the direction of an Arduino Mega 2560 board. It controls the pen plotter, which is a repurposed model called Artima Colorgraf. The coin-op mechanism is an off-the-shelf unit and a Python script, running on a connected laptop, performs the art generation. What message is this vending machine meant to convey? Maybe that art is ethereal or that it has little value — just a euro — to modern society. Whatever the case, it is a work of art in its own right.

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Making a photo enlarger more efficient with precisely controlled LEDs

In photography, an enlarger is a piece of equipment that projects a smaller image onto a photosensitive material below using a strong light source and a negative to produce a much larger print. And while these have historically relied on single-color incandescent bulbs, such as in the case of Redditor wgimbel’s Beseler 45, there are also models […]

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In photography, an enlarger is a piece of equipment that projects a smaller image onto a photosensitive material below using a strong light source and a negative to produce a much larger print. And while these have historically relied on single-color incandescent bulbs, such as in the case of Redditor wgimbel’s Beseler 45, there are also models that can produce polychromatic projections for more accurate color reproduction. Because of this limitation, wgimbel sought to replace his Beseler 45’s lamp with an Arduino-based system and several LEDs.

Responsible for acting as the light source, this project utilizes a total of 40 RGBW LEDs on the Adafruit NeoPixel Shield. They, in turn, are connected to an Arduino Nano ESP32 via a level shifter along with a 75W power source for the full range of brightness. In addition to producing far less heat due to their reduced energy consumption compared to a traditional lamp, these RGBW LEDs can output a wide range of colors over time for very fine-tuned control over the image’s final appearance.

The last component in this enlarger upgrade is the use of an Arduino GIGA WiFi R1 + GIGA Display Shield to let wgimbel input the brightness, grading, color values, and more through an easy-to-use interface. Selecting ‘Start’ or touching the foot pedal will initiate the timer and communicate the values to the ESP32 over BLE.

To read more about this project, you can check out wgimbel’s post here on Reddit.

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This three-fingered robot hand makes use of serial bus servos

A small startup called K-Scale Labs is in the process of developing an affordable, open-source, humanoid robot and Mike Rigsby wanted to build a compatible hand. This three-fingered robot hand is the result, and it makes use of serial bus servos from Waveshare. Most Arduino users are familiar with full-duplex serial communication, which requires two […]

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A small startup called K-Scale Labs is in the process of developing an affordable, open-source, humanoid robot and Mike Rigsby wanted to build a compatible hand. This three-fingered robot hand is the result, and it makes use of serial bus servos from Waveshare.

Most Arduino users are familiar with full-duplex serial communication, which requires two data lines. The first carries data in one direction, while the second carries data in the other. As such, devices can send and receive data at the same time — they don’t have to wait to until the line is “free” to send data.

But half-duplex serial communication is also possible. Each device just has to wait its turn to send data. That is less common, but it does have some benefits. In this case, Rigsby used Waveshare servo motors that communicate via a half-duplex serial bus. The benefit is that users can daisy-chain multiple servos together, connecting to a single serial pin on the host device. These particular servo motors also have magnetic encoders instead of potentiometers, which are more reliable.

Five of those servos actuate the 3D-printed fingers on Rigsby’s robot hand (the top two fingers have two joints each). He used an Arduino UNO Rev3 board to control them, but couldn’t use the typical RX and TX (0 and 1) pins for communication over the serial bus. For that reason, he included a serial bus module meant specifically for driving servos like these.

This seems to work pretty well and the motors move smoothly — though they currently lack sensors that would enable force/pressure control.

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Arduino and System Electronics partner for industrial vision and AI-powered inventory and logistics

Arduino and System Electronics are joining forces to create cutting-edge solutions for industrial and building automation, focusing specifically on edge computing to deliver real-time processing, predictive analytics, and seamless integration for AI-driven inventory management and logistics.  System Electronics – as an “Innovation accelerators for over 50 years” – brings to the table the electronics and […]

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Arduino and System Electronics are joining forces to create cutting-edge solutions for industrial and building automation, focusing specifically on edge computing to deliver real-time processing, predictive analytics, and seamless integration for AI-driven inventory management and logistics. 

System Electronics – as an “Innovation accelerators for over 50 years” – brings to the table the electronics and mechatronics expertise to facilitate innovation and make a decisive contribution to their clients’ competitive edge. “Our collaboration with System Electronics merges their deep industrial expertise with Arduino’s focus on edge computing, enabling businesses to deploy intelligent, scalable automation solutions faster than ever. From AI-driven inventory management to predictive maintenance and real-time quality control, this partnership empowers industrial players to optimize operations, reduce downtime, and drive efficiency with cutting-edge technology,” our CEO Fabio Violante announced. “This is another step toward making advanced AI and automation accessible to industries of all sizes, accelerating the transformation of smart manufacturing and logistics.”

Andrea Gozzi, General Manager of System Electronics added, “At System Electronics, we believe in developing solutions that bring real value to industrial automation. By partnering with Arduino, we’ll create powerful and flexible AI-driven solutions that meet the needs of modern manufacturing, robotics, and smart infrastructure: innovations built for reliability, scalability, and performance.” 

The benefits of a partnership for innovation

AI-driven inventory and warehouse management leverage computer vision and automation to make predictive maintenance and autonomous decision-making faster and more efficient than ever.

To fully explore these opportunities, Arduino and System Electronics are integrating acceleration technology from Hailo, a leader in Edge AI processors. By combining Hailo’s AI acceleration, Arduino’s open ecosystem, and System Electronics’ industrial-grade expertise, this collaboration aims to deliver real-time, high-performance automation solutions with enhanced precision and speed – bringing intelligence directly to where it’s needed most.

Why explore smart inventory and logistics

Smart factories and connected warehouses leverage powerful, real-time AI computing at the edge to improve efficiency and quality standards. 

For example, computer vision can be employed at the edge to detect defects and irregularities, as well as to automate warehouse logistics with precise item tracking and storage optimization; sensor data can be analyzed to implement predictive maintenance and tackle anomalies before failures occur, reducing downtime; motion planning and obstacle avoidance can be optimized for AGVs and robotic arms thanks to intelligent control based on data and AI. 

See the demo in action at Embedded World

Within their collaboration, Arduino and System Electronics have developed an innovative solution for Modula, leaders in warehouse automation: “We are committed to revolutionizing intralogistics through automation and smart technology that make processes easier. Harnessing the power of AI-driven intelligence allows us to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and deliver even greater value to our customers without adding complexities for them,” said Franco Stefani, founder of Modula.

This demo for a smart inventory solution will debut at Embedded World 2025 (Nuremberg, March 11th-13th): visit Arduino in Hall 3A, Booth #313, to see it in action and connect with the experts behind its development.

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DIY micro lab analyzes ammonia levels in blood and urine

Cirrhosis of the liver is an extremely serious condition that requires extensive medical monitoring and often intervention. Progression of the condition can be fatal, so even if caught early it must be monitored closely. But, like most things in medicine, that gets expensive. That’s why Marb built his own DIY “micro lab” to analyze ammonia […]

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Cirrhosis of the liver is an extremely serious condition that requires extensive medical monitoring and often intervention. Progression of the condition can be fatal, so even if caught early it must be monitored closely. But, like most things in medicine, that gets expensive. That’s why Marb built his own DIY “micro lab” to analyze ammonia levels in blood and urine.

Disclaimer: Don’t rely on YouTube videos for your medical needs!

The severity of Marb’s condition correlates with increased ammonia production, which is common for cirrhosis of the liver. More ammonia in the blood and urine indicates progression of the disease and a need for immediate medical intervention. Marb’s micro lab lets him monitor his own ammonia levels at home.

The central detection mechanism of this micro lab relies on Berthelot’s reagent, which becomes a blue-green color in the presence of ammonia. To make use of that, the micro lab needs to properly expose the sample to Berthelot’s reagent and look at the resulting color change.

An Arduino Nano board controls the whole process through a custom PCB. That starts with heating the sample in a vial to release the ammonia vapor. The vapor travels via a tube through a gas diffuser into another vial containing Berthelot’s reagent. A magnetic stirrer beneath mixes the gas into the reagent. A 660nm (deep red) laser shines through that vial into a photo diode on the other side, and the Arduino monitors that through a pre-amp.

If a lot of the red light passes through, then the Berthelot’s reagent didn’t turn very blue and there is little to no ammonia present. If hardly any red light passes through, then reagent is very blue and that indicates a high level of ammonia.

The amount of light detected, between those two extremes, provides a reasonably accurate measure of Marb’s ammonia levels, so he can keep track of his condition’s progression.

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The 2024 Arduino Open Source Report is here!

Every year, we take a moment to reflect on the contributions we made to the open source movement, and the many ways our community has made a huge difference. As we publish the latest Open Source Report, we are proud to say 2024 was another year of remarkable progress and achievements. A year of growth and […]

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Every year, we take a moment to reflect on the contributions we made to the open source movement, and the many ways our community has made a huge difference. As we publish the latest Open Source Report, we are proud to say 2024 was another year of remarkable progress and achievements.

A year of growth and collaboration

At Arduino, we continued pushing the boundaries of open hardware and software. 

In 2024, we:

These updates ensure a more flexible and robust ecosystem for developers, educators, and makers worldwide.

But what truly makes open source thrive is the community behind it! Over the past year, Arduino users contributed 1,198 new libraries to the Library Manager (+18% YoY growth!), shared hundreds of open-source tutorials, and actively engaged in thousands of discussions and collaborations on GitHub and Project Hub. These collective efforts fuel innovation, making the Arduino ecosystem more dynamic, inclusive, and powerful than ever.

How can you contribute to open source?

We believe open-source success is built on collaboration. Every original Arduino purchase, Arduino Cloud subscription, and community contribution helps support and expand this shared ecosystem. Donations of course are also welcome, and play a great part in everything we do! 

Download the 2024 Open Source Report to explore the milestones we’ve achieved together. Here’s to another year of openness, creativity, and progress!

Download now


(Want to catch up on previous editions? Here are the Open Source Reports for 2023, 2022, and 2021.)

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This mod simplifies single-point threading on mini lathes

“Single-point threading” on a lathe is the process of cutting threads, such as for a bolt, into the material through turning. The spindle/workpiece spin and the carriage moves linearly at a precise amount per turn of the spindle. That linear movement is the thread pitch. But this process usually requires several passes to reach the […]

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“Single-point threading” on a lathe is the process of cutting threads, such as for a bolt, into the material through turning. The spindle/workpiece spin and the carriage moves linearly at a precise amount per turn of the spindle. That linear movement is the thread pitch. But this process usually requires several passes to reach the final depth, which presents a problem: how do you start each thread at the exact same point each time? Daniel Engel’s Arduino-based mod solves that problem on mini lathes.

To facilitate single-point threading, most lathes have a lead screw that can engage with the carriage in order to move the tool at a constant rate. That lead screw connects to the spindle through “change gears” or a transmission system, letting the machinist adjust the linear travel of the carriage relative to each spindle turn in order to achieve a desired pitch. 

But what happens when you finish the first pass and need to go back for a second? How do you keep the leadscrew (and therefore carriage) in sync with the spindle? One method is to run the lathe in reverse, but that has problems of its own. Some lathes have half-nuts designed to sync engagement, but many mini lathes lack that feature.

Engel’s modification does two things to help: first, it provides a gear reduction to the spindle. That lets him perform single-point threading a much lower RPM, increasing torque and making it easier to stop at the right time (such as meeting a shoulder). Second, it lets an Arduino UNO Rev3 board monitor the spindle position via Hall effect sensors that detect four permanent magnets mounted on the spindle from the factory.

The Arduino records the stop and start positions, displaying them on an LCD screen along with the spindle RPM and current position. After finishing a pass, Engel can use that information to return to the exact same starting position in order to perform the next pass.

This is a clever solution to a common problem and Engel’s tutorial has all the information you need to perform the same modification on your own mini lathe. 

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This robotic piano has solenoids for all 88 keys

Pianos famously have a lot of keys. A standard full-size piano has 52 white keys and 36 black keys, for a total of 88. Therefore, people need to get clever when they build self-playing pianos. However, the brute force approach works, too. Paul Junkin’s brute force strategy was to add a solenoid for every one […]

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Pianos famously have a lot of keys. A standard full-size piano has 52 white keys and 36 black keys, for a total of 88. Therefore, people need to get clever when they build self-playing pianos. However, the brute force approach works, too. Paul Junkin’s brute force strategy was to add a solenoid for every one of those 88 keys on his piano-playing robot.

Junkin built this robot to play an old piano that had been in his family’s home since his childhood. For that reason, he didn’t want to do any permanent modifications to the piano itself and instead designed the robot to sit over the keys. It has a frame made of aluminum extrusion to support all of those solenoids.

They are 12V solenoids that can push with 25 newtons of force. An Arduino UNO Rev3 drives those solenoids through PWM modules and power MOSFETs. The PWM control lets the Arduino output something effectively approximating analog voltage in order to adjust the velocity of each key strike.

To tell the Arduino which keys to strike and with what velocity, Junkin used a USB-to-MIDI adapter going from his laptop to a MIDI-to-serial converter that connects to the Arduino. Software on the computer sends MIDI note commands through those adapters to the Arduino, which then actuates the solenoids accordingly.

This turned out well and the robot is able to play songs perfectly. And, best of all, it would be possible to put this robot on any other piano of a similar size.

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