Stock photograph of the BBB Arduino Rev E (mine's actually a Rev D)
This weekend, I completed assembly of my first Arduino, a BBB (Bare Bones Board) kit from Modern Device Company. Thanks to Chip for the board! I haven’t tested it yet, because I don’t have, as it turns out, a suitable power supply, nor the appropriate FTDI USB adapter (a necessary component for programming an Arduino, this is the device that connects it to your computer). This is in the mail.
I’m also going to swap out the stock voltage regulator for one with a bit more oomph: It’s going to have to power quite a lot of LEDs! I’m going to use this device to control all of the lighting in Akihabara Station, including street lamps, traffic lights, station platform lighting, and interior lighting for the various shops. Ideally, I’ll also have a light sensor to control the lighting that comes on at night, so that it comes on as the ambient lighting dims. I doubt that I’ll be able to top Quinntopia’s lighting work any time soon, though!