How to update the firmware on Arduino based devices

Equipment
1

Download the Arduino IDE at: www.arduino.cc. Install and Open Arduino IDE Follow these steps to upload your sketch:

  1. Connect your Arduino using the USB cable. (The square end of the USB cable connects to your Arduino and the flat end connects to a USB port on your computer.)
  2. Upload code (copy and paste it to Arduino software.)

How to upload a code: Once you start Arduino software, delete the old code that is already there, and paste the new code you previously copied.

  1. From the toolbar at the top of the window, choose Tools > Board > Arduino Uno(or Arduino Leonardo in the case of The Plant SpikerBox or newer models of the Heart and Brain SpikerBox)

  2. Choose the correct serial port for your board. You find a list of all the available serial ports by choosing Tools > Port > Arduino Uno or COMX or /dev/tty.usbmodemXXXXX. X marks sequentially or randomly assigned numbers.

In Windows, if you have just connected your Arduino, the COM port will normally be the highest number, such as com 3 or com 15.

  1. Many devices can be listed on the COM port list, and if you plug in multiple Arduinos, each one will be assigned a new number. On Mac OS X, the /dev/tty.usbmodem number will be randomly assigned and can vary in length, such as /dev/tty.usbmodem1421 or /dev/tty.usbmodem262471. Unless you have another Arduino connected, it should be the only one visible.

  2. Click on the little “Upload” right arrow on the left side.

For which specific code to upload onto your SpikerBox or SpikerShield, please reach out to our Tech Support at hello@backyardbrains.com or post your question in this topic.