S4A - Scratch for Arduino

S4A is a Scratch modification that allows for simple programming of the Arduino open source hardware platform. It provides new blocks for managing sensors and actuators connected to Arduino. There is also a sensors report board similar to the PicoBoard one.

The main aim of the project is attracting people to the programming world. The goal is also to provide a high level interface to Arduino programmers with functionalities such as interacting with a set of boards through user events.

Setup

In order to upload code an arduino board over USB, you need to add your user to the dailout group and connect the snap to the raw-usb socket. Open a terminal window, run the following commands an reboot your computer.

> sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

> sudo snap connect s4a:audio-record

> sudo snap connect s4a:camera

Now restart your computer and you're good to go!

Note: In order to use S4A with an Arduino board, you need to first upload the firmware to the board. See the S4A Getting Started guide for more information: https://merlijn.sebrechts.be/blog/2020-02-s4a-setup-ubuntu/

Supported boards

• Arduino Diecimila
• Arduino Duemilanove
• Arduino Uno

Other boards have not been tested but might also work

Connectivity

Components have to be connected in a particular way. S4A allows for 6 analog inputs (analog pins), 2 digital inputs (digital pins 2 and 3), 3 analog outputs (digital pins 5, 6 and 9), 3 digital outputs (pins 10, 11 and 13) and 4 special outputs to connect Parallax continuous rotation servomotors (digital pins 4, 7, 8 and 12).

You can manage a board wirelessly by attaching an RF module to it, such as Xbee.

S4A allows you to control as many boards as USB ports you have.