Arduino launches Plug and Make Kit for easy entry into IoT and electronics

Arduino, known for its open-source hardware and software, has launched the Plug and Make Kit. 

The product is designed to simplify the process of creating smart, connected devices, making it accessible to users of all ages and skill levels.

Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, announced, “The Plug and Make Kit is Arduino’s new entry point into the world of IoT and electronics: one that is more accessible, fun and engaging than ever. Everyone can experience that first taste of technology.”

Founded in 2005, Arduino has fostered a community of over 33 million users through its microcontroller, starter kit, cloud platform, and IDE software. 

“The Plug and Make Kit is Arduino’s new entry point into the world of IoT and electronics: one that is more accessible, fun and engaging than ever. No matter their age, background or interests, everyone can experience that first taste of technology,” commented Violante.

The kit includes seven initial projects that users can assemble without soldering or breadboards.

Violante emphasised the kit’s flexibility, saying, “The components in the Plug and Make Kit can be used to create endless applications – also swiftly integrating with Arduino’s full ecosystem of hardware and software tools. In fact, we can expect Arduino’s vast community to develop and share many original ideas soon.”

The kit combines intuitive hardware with Cloud integration. It includes the Arduino UNO R4 WiFi main board, which features the Renesas RA4M1 Arm Cortex M4 microcontroller and Espressif ESP32 S3 connectivity. 

Additionally, the kit features Modulino sensors and actuators, such as a buzzer, 6-axis IMU, temperature and humidity sensor, buttons, a knob, an LED strip, and a time-of-flight proximity sensor. These components snap together easily, reducing the likelihood of assembly errors.

The development of the Plug and Make Kit was supported by industry heavyweights such as Renesas and STMicroelectronics. 

Mohammed Dogar, VP and Head of Global Business Development and Ecosystem at Renesas Electronics, shared:

“Last year we teamed-up with Arduino for the development of the new Arduino UNO R4, the quintessential board for rapid prototyping – upgrading the device to a 32-bit Arm architecture, opening up a new range of possibilities. 

“Now we are extremely happy to see our RA4M1 Microcontroller and Buck Regulator ISL854102FRZ technology being deployed within Arduino’s Plug and Make Kit to foster the new generation of innovators, lowering the barriers to entry into technology.”

Alessandro Maloberti, Partner Ecosystem Director at STMicroelectronics, added:

“We’re proud to support Arduino on its mission to allow anyone to innovate, whether in harsh industrial environments or in the comfort of their homes. The intuitive Modulino nodes incorporate the high technological standard of our STM32C0 microcontrollers and our sensors, both MEMS (LSM6DSOX, LPS22HB) and Time-of-Flight (VL53L4CD): this is the kind of solution that truly puts great potential into people’s hands, giving them the best tools along with the freedom to explore.”