Experimenting with AVR Microcontrollers

AVR is the brain that runs Arduino, but you don't need the whole Arduino board to do fun projects. Experimenting with AVR Microcontrollers, from Practical AVR Microcontrollers, shows you how to create a spiffy set of projects that you can build to learn more about electronics, about AVR, and just to generate new ideas for your own projects.

Alan Trevennor will show you how to create a secret panel project, a gadget to drive your pets crazy, a hallway lighting system, and even a small home automation network.

What you’ll learn

• How to create an illuminated secret panel
• How to create visual effects with AVR
• How to create a waterfall-like lighting system
• How to set up a small home automation network

Who this book is for

Electronics hobbyists, Arduino fans, and any maker who wants to try some fun ideas with AVR.

About the Author

Alan Trevennor originally wanted to work in music radio. However, after getting hooked on digital electronics via a Science of Cambridge MK14 computer kit, he joined the UK computer industry in 1980 as a hardware engineer, fixing DEC PDP-11 systems.

In the 1980s he wrote hardware-related books about operating systems and Amstrad computers. He progressed to systems engineering and became a key member of DEC's UK Unix support team. He created and taught many training courses and user guides for DEC's Unix-related products, RISC computers, TCP/IP networking, and other subjects. He also contributed technical articles to many magazines.

In the 1990s Alan migrated to being a digital media solutions architect with Compaq and then HP. From then until he left HP in 2009, Alan worked on digital media technical solutions and business consultancies. He worked for customers as diverse as the BBC, Reuters, Allied Domecq Leisure, BT, Music Choice, The National Trust, RBS, Glaxo, Virgin Radio, and Nokia. Coming full circle, he later spent a great deal of time in music radio stations as part of a team working on a joint HP/Nokia project—Visual Radio. During an incredibly varied career, Alan has created numerous technical solutions (some using AVR microcontrollers) as well as large amounts of user training materials and documentation.