Introduction

For supporting STEM education, Autodesk offers Tinkercad, a fantastic browser-based open-source Programme. The platform offers code blocks, circuit design blocks, and 3D modelling blocks that can be used for a variety of applications. Let me first thank Autodesk for the fantastic tool, which helped students with their technical study during the pandemic. We'll examine the principles of electronics in this tutorial series with the aid of a circuit simulator in Tinkercad.

The Tinkercad circuit simulator is a fantastic tool that enables us to create our own circuits using a range of components from its library. After completing the circuit design, we may verify the results on the same screen to assess the effectiveness of our circuit. We can create embedded projects utilizing Arduino Uno, Microbit, and ATtiny chips in addition to simple circuits, and it offers block and text-based programming simulation.

 As stated in the introduction to this tutorial series, the tutorial series moves from the basics of electronics to advanced applications of artificial intelligence. The tutorial series' interrelated modules will aid students in gaining the solid foundational knowledge necessary to investigate complex AI algorithms.

1.      Creating Your Tinkercad Account

Assuming you don't already have a Tinkercad account, the first step is to create one! You can do this by going to the Tinkercad website and clicking "Sign Up" in the top-right corner.

Once you're on the sign-up page, you'll need to enter your email address, create a password, and then click the "Sign Up" button. After that, you'll be taken to your new Tinkercad dashboard!


Navigating the Tinkercad dashboard

Once you've signed up for a Tinkercad account, you'll be taken to the dashboard. The Classes, Designs, and Tutorials sections of the three menus can be found here.


The following 3 options are shown in your dashboard after choosing Designs from the side menu, along with a few sample designs.


You will be taken to a new page where you can see the variety of electronics components and menus used for circuit design after selecting "make your first circuits design" under Circuits.



All the menus and choices that are available inside the circuit simulator area are labelled in the picture below.

  1. Circuit Design Area: The lengthy white area in the middle of the page is referred to as the circuit design area where you can assemble your circuitry and insert the components.
  2. Component Library: On the right side, you can see the list of electrical and electronic components that you can utilize for your projects.
  3. Copy/Paste: This shortcut makes it easier to use several components that are placed inside the circuit area rather than repeatedly obtaining them from the library.
  4.  Delete: As we are aware, choosing to delete a component from our workspace will make it disappear.
  5. Notes & View/Conceal Tool: you are able to add your own notes inside the circuit section for your reference, which you can then view or hidden using the view or hide tool.
  6. Wire Color & Type: Wires must be used to connect the components, which may be enabled by clicking the edges of the components. This option allows the color and type of the wire to be changed. 4 different wire kinds and 12 different wire colors are offered here.
  7. Rotate: This menu is helpful for repositioning the components according to our connection's convenience.
  8. Mirror: Using this option, we can adjust the component's sides to our preference. For example, if we place a led in our circuit region, we can see that the cathode is on the left and the anode is on the right. We can choose the component and click the mirror button to alter it. Anode and cathode positions now alternate between left and right.
  9. Code: An essential area for programming-based activities that opens up the programming area after programmable gadgets like the Arduino and Microbit are inserted into the circuit area.
  10. Start Simulation: This menu item, which is very significant, enables us to view the performance of the circuit on the same screen. After completing the circuit connection and programming, we can click it to view the outcomes.
  11. Send To: This menu will enable you to collaborate on the same project with a buddy by sharing your work with them.