Arduino’s popularity has exploded in recent years because to its readability and convenience of usage. However, it is important to consider whether or not the usage of Arduino is beneficial to engineers. There are various benefits and drawbacks of utilizing Arduino.

First, we’ll go through the benefits of Arduino, and then we’ll go over the downsides.

Advantages:

1. Ready to Use: One of Arduino’s greatest advantages is its ready-to-use structure. The 5V regulator, a burner, an oscillator, a microcontroller, serial communication interface, LED, and headers for connections are all included in the Arduino box. You don’t have to think about programmer connections or any other interface when developing. It’s as simple as plugging it into a USB port on your computer. After only a few lines of code, your revolutionary concept will transform the world.

2. Coding examples: Another significant benefit of Arduino is its example library, which is included with the program. I’ll use the example of voltage measuring to demonstrate this benefit. For example, if you want to use an ATmega8 microcontroller to detect voltage and show the results on a computer screen, you must go through the entire procedure. The procedure will begin with learning microcontroller ADCs for measurement, progress to understanding serial communication for display, and conclude with USB – Serial converters. Click on the link below to see a video of the entire procedure.

3. Inexpensive functions: While writing with Arduino, you will notice various functions that make life so much easier. Another feature of Arduino is its ability to convert units automatically. You might claim that you don’t have to bother about unit conversions when debugging. Simply focus all of your efforts on the most important aspects of your work. You don’t have to be concerned about adverse effects.

4. A large community: There are several forums on the internet where people discuss the Arduino. Arduino is used by engineers, enthusiasts, and professionals to create projects. Everything can be readily solved with the aid of the internet. Furthermore, the Arduino website describes each and every feature of the board.

So, to summarize the advantages of Arduino, you just have to worry about your unique concept when working on various projects. The rest will be taken care of by Arduino.

Disadvantages:

1. Structure: Yes, Arduino’s structure is also a drawback. During the construction of a project, you must keep it as small as feasible. However, because to the large structures of Arduino, we must use large PCBs. If you’re dealing with a tiny microcontroller like the ATmega8, you may simply reduce the size of your PCB.

2. Price: Cost is, without a doubt, the most crucial aspect. This is a dilemma that any amateur, engineer, or professional must deal with. Now we must assess whether or not the Arduino is cost-effective.

I was working on a project a few years back where I had to develop three smart energy meters. Three smart energy meters located at a distance from one other and connected to distinct loads now require their own processors. As a result, I calculated my costs with and without the Arduino, as shown in the block diagram below.

3. Simple to use: In my view, if you started your microcontroller trip with Arduino, it will be extremely tough for you to create complicated intelligent circuitries in the future. Arduino’s simple hardware and software make it impossible to understand the fundamentals of many things, such as serial communication, ADC, and I2C.