Getting Started with Arduino: Online and Offline Simulation Tools

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Introduction

If you don’t want to purchase Arduino hardware but wish to check the prototype effects after running the code during your learning phase; or if you have already bought an Arduino hardware kit but lack some components to complete more prototype experiments. Don’t worry, the Zhuomu Design Technology Team has found a cost-effective solution for everyone: choose the Arduino simulator for online or offline simulation experiments.

The Arduino simulator not only saves your investment in purchasing Arduino components but also avoids the risk of damaging equipment when building uncertain physical circuits. It allows you to start learning Arduino in a green, environmentally friendly way with no prior knowledge.

There are many Arduino simulators available online, below are two that are particularly useful. One is the online site Arduino simulator Tinkercad (recommended), and the other is the offline Arduino dedicated simulator VBB.

1. Online Arduino Simulation Software–Tinkercad

The Circuits feature provided by the Tinkercad website allows you to simulate Arduino online. It is not only “free” but also “very easy to learn and use.”

Website link:

https://www.tinkercad.com/

1.1 Access and Login

After entering, you need to register and log in, following the normal registration and login procedures.

When you first enter the website, the page load speed may be a bit slow, but once successfully entered, you can access it smoothly. If you cannot access normally, you can try logging in through a “VPN”.

After entering, the page is as shown in the figure.

Select “Circuits” from the left sidebar, and click to create a new circuit to enter the project.

1.2 Introduction to the Circuit Simulation Environment

The project page is shown in the figure below, where various key functional areas have been marked for you. Next, let’s take a look at the functions of each part.

Getting Started with Arduino: Online and Offline Simulation Tools

Programming Mode Selection

You can use three programming modes in the simulation: “Block Mode, Text Mode, Block + Text Mode.” As shown in the highlighted area in the figure below.

· Block Mode

Block mode uses a tag connection method to set up the interface, making it convenient for users without programming background to use.

· Text Mode

Text mode is similar to the code area in the Arduino IDE interface. The bottom is the serial monitor, where you can view the transmitted values if you use Serial class functions, which is convenient for checking parameter transmission during debugging.

· Block + Code Mode

Block + Code Mode is a combination of block mode and text mode, which takes into account the convenience of block mode while integrating the freedom of editing code in text mode.

1.3 Basic Experimental Operations of the Simulator

Taking lighting an LED to achieve LED blinking as an example, the basic operations are shown in the gif below:

Place hardware, connect wires, rotate components, change component properties (the image shows changing wire colors) and other experimental operations can be performed by using “code functions” to write programs in text blocks, simulate running, and achieve simulation effects.

· Dragging Component Operation Demonstration:

· Component Wiring Operation Demonstration:

· Program Writing and Simulation Experiment Operation Demonstration:

· Using the block in the code function to achieve effects demonstration as follows:

· Demonstration of using sensors and viewing serial communication operations as follows

Change the light level to control the LED brightness through a photoresistor and view the parameters transmitted in between. You can change the properties of the sensor by clicking on it and using the slider.

· Demonstration of running operations between constructed circuits as follows:

In the component box, there are ready-made circuits under the basic and all sections that can be directly used and debugged.

2. Offline Arduino Simulation Software – VBB Software

If you experience issues with smooth operation during the use of Tinkercad due to network problems, you can choose the offline simulation software – VBB.VBB is an Arduino dedicated simulator, the components and functions of this software are more complete than tinkercad, but the operational experience is not as user-friendly as Tinkercad.

The interface functional area is structured as follows:

2.1 VBB Usage Instructions (Creating Projects and Configuring Files, etc.) Reference article link as follows:

https://blog.csdn.net/u014663232/article/details/100183298

2.2 VBB Software Download:

https://pan.baidu.com/s/1X3XdtYkyr5JBiP8fpZo_Cg

Extraction Code: f22n

3. Other Simulation Software

3.1 Collection article link introducing online Arduino simulators:

https://blog.csdn.net/WALRE_HUNTER_RICO/article/details/88582146

3.2 Introduction to Other Simulation Software

In addition to the above two simulation software, there are also proteus, and other circuit simulation software packages for Arduino, Simulator for Arduino, and linkboy and other software.

· proteus

proteus is complex to operate, requiring a high level of circuit knowledge, but its components are abundant, programming freedom is high, and running results are accurate, making it a good choice for advanced learning of Arduino.

· linkboy

linkboy software has all modular components, with good simulation quality, but the downside is that it does not support C language programming, only graphical programming, which often leads to logical confusion.

PS: You can choose tools according to your needs, of course, building physical circuits is the best way to enhance your memory.

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