History of Arduino

# History of Arduino Arduino began in 2005 at the Interaction Design Institute Ivrea in Italy, founded by Massimo Banzi, David Cuartielles, Tom Igoe, Gianluca Martino, and David Mellis, building on Hernando Barragán’s Wiring project to create an affordable, open-source microcontroller platform for students and designers. Nowadays Over 20 million Arduino boards have been sold, and the platform has inspired countless projects—from simple LED blinkers to complex robots and space experiments (e.g., NASA’s CubeSat missions).  > Massimo Banzi helped invent the Arduino, a tiny, easy-to-use open-source microcontroller that's inspired thousands of people around the world to make the coolest things they can imagine -- from toys to satellite gear. Because, as he says, "You don't need anyone's permission to make something great." [How Arduino is open-sourcing imagination](https://www.ted.com/talks/massimo_banzi_how_arduino_is_open_sourcing_imagination) ## Origins (2003–2005) Arduino was born in **2005** at the **Interaction Design Institute Ivrea (IDII)** in Ivrea, Italy, but its roots go back a couple of years earlier. The project was sparked by the need for an affordable, easy-to-use microcontroller platform for students and designers who weren’t necessarily electronics experts. - **Precursor**: In 2003, **Hernando Barragán**, a Colombian graduate student at IDII, created a platform called **Wiring** under the supervision of **Casey Reas** and **Massimo Banzi**. Wiring was designed to simplify programming microcontrollers for artists and designers, building on the **Processing** language (a creative coding tool by Reas and Ben Fry). Wiring used an Atmel microcontroller and a simple IDE. - **The Spark**: By 2005, IDII was facing financial difficulties, and Wiring’s hardware was still expensive (around $100). Massimo Banzi, along with others, decided to create a cheaper, more accessible alternative. They named it Arduino, after a local bar in Ivrea called "Bar del Re Arduino" (King Arduino’s Bar), itself named after a historical figure, Arduin of Ivrea. - **First Board**: The initial Arduino board was based on the **ATmega8** microcontroller. It cost about $30, was open-source, and used a simplified version of Wiring’s software. David Mellis adapted Wiring’s code into what became the Arduino programming language and IDE. ## Early Years (2005–2010) - **Open-Source Ethos**: Arduino’s hardware schematics and software were released under open-source licenses (Creative Commons for hardware, GPL for software), encouraging a global community to build, modify, and share. - **Growth**: The platform gained traction among hobbyists, educators, and artists. Boards like the **Arduino Diecimila** (2007) and **Arduino Duemilanove** (2008) introduced improvements like auto-resetting and USB interfaces. - **Community**: By 2007, Arduino had a thriving online forum, and the first **Arduino Day** was celebrated in 2009, cementing its grassroots appeal. ## Arduino Uno and Mainstream Success (2010–2012): - **Arduino Uno**: Released in **2010**, the Uno replaced the Duemilanove. It featured the **ATmega328** microcontroller and a more robust USB-to-serial chip. The **Uno R3** (Revision 3), launched in **2011**, added pin compatibility for shields and became the iconic board we know today. It was a turning point, balancing simplicity with functionality. - **Company Formation**: In 2008, the five co-founders officially formed **Arduino SRL** (Italy) to manage production and sales. Around the same time, **Arduino LLC** (US) was established to handle trademarks and branding, setting the stage for later disputes. # Challenges and Schisms (2014–2016) - **Split**: Tensions arose between the founders. In 2014, Gianluca Martino left Arduino SRL and started **Smart Projects SRL**, which began producing boards under the name **Genuino** outside the US. Meanwhile, Arduino LLC (led by Banzi and others) kept the Arduino brand in the US. This led to a legal battle over trademarks. - - **Resolution**: By **2016**, the two factions reconciled. Arduino LLC and SRL merged into **Arduino AG**, unifying the brand. Genuino was phased out, and Arduino refocused on its mission. # Expansion and Modern Era (2012–Present) - **New Boards**: Arduino expanded beyond the Uno with boards like the **Arduino Mega** (more I/O pins), **Arduino Leonardo** (native USB), and later the **Arduino MKR** series (IoT-focused with Wi-Fi and low power). - **Education and Industry**: Arduino became a staple in STEM education and even found use in industrial prototyping. Partnerships with companies like Intel (e.g., **Arduino 101**, 2015) broadened its scope. - **xAI Connection?**: As of March 09, 2025 (today’s date), there’s no direct tie between Arduino and xAI (my creators), but Arduino’s open-source ethos aligns with xAI’s mission to accelerate human discovery!