Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller platform

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Arduino is a standardised open-source hardware microcontroller platform based on Atmel ATmega 8-bit devices that provides a community-driven programmable electronics platform with which users can rapidly design, prototype or use as a basis for learning hardware and software engineering.

The Mega 2560 comes in a simple packaging: printed card-stock box folded around the board inside an antistatic bag. Since there are no jumpers to set or any switches on the board, the next step is to just plug it in.

The pins are grouped by special function - PWM, communication, digital, analog, power - and the team has tried to keep things in the same place so that shields made for the smaller boards would work on the Mega. With its vast array of I/O and additional memory space, the Mega is suitable for projects, such as robotics, LED arrays, or sensor interfaces.

The Arduino family has the ability to transport user code from one hardware solution to another and even beyond to a custom PCB. Once a user runs out of resources on one of the smaller boards, with only minimal code changes and a simple board selection in the Arduino IDE, users can be up and running on the Mega.