Arduino Simulator: Simulate Arduino in Proteus Using Arduino Proteus library

Hi there! Today let’s make an Arduino project without having real Arduino board! Yes, thesimulation of Arduino in Proteus by using Arduino Protius library. Arduino is becoming popular day by day among Electronics Engineers, Teachers and Students because of its simplicity. Unfortunately there is no simulation tool available for Arduino developers. To test and verify the Arduino codes we must have Arduino microcontroller board. The Arduino board is available at a reasonable price, its cost isn’t much higher and is affordable for students and Arduino developers. That may be the reason behind the unavailability of Arduino simulator. Anyway it doesn’t matter. Most of the electronics geeks like to run their simulation lab before practical implementation, I’m also among them.

Many of our visitors asked doubts regarding Arduino Proteus simulation. Well, we will have a look at Arduino simulation by Proteus. Proteus is very popular circuit simulation software. Arduino library has been developed for incorporating Arduino with Proteus. let’s check how to simulate Arduino with Proteus.

Tools Required

1. Arduino Software: Download from here
2. Proteus Simulator

Simple Steps to of Arduino code simulator using Proteus

1. Write Arduino Codes in Arduino Software IDE
Well, I’m providing a simple LED blinking program for our simulation. Write the following program in Arduino IDE software. Arduino program structure is really simple, let’s see one example.

void setup()
{
pinMode(13,OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
digitalWrite(13,HIGH);
delay(500);
digitalWrite(13,LOW);
delay(500);
}

2. Build .hex file from Arduino Software
Go to File → Preferences

There will be one 2 check box near to ‘Show verbose output during’, please check the first one.

Now click Compile button.

Compilation yields .hex file, go to the directory location marked above (may be different location in your case), this is the location of your .hex file. Copy the file and keep it in a safe location.

3. Configure Arduino Protius Library Files
We are turning the Proteus as a Simulator for Arduino with the help of Arduino Preoteus library files.
Download Arduino Protius library from here, then copy and paste the 2 library files (ARDUINO.IDX, ARDUINO.LIB) in to LIBRARY folder of Proteus.

LIBRARY location of Proteus may be different according to your Proteus version.

Proteus 8 Users
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Labcenter Electronics\Proteus 8 Professional\LIBRARY
Proteus 7 Users
C:\Labcenter Electronics\Proteus 7 Professional\LIBRARY

4. Draw schematics in Proteus
Draw the required schematic diagram of Proteus that you would like to Simulate, you can choose the Arduino board from the menu.

In our example I’m using LED blinking program and my schematics is shown below.

5. Load the .hex file to Proteus
To load .hex file to the Arduino board, just double click on the board and browse the .hex file in the Program File section.

Everything is ready to go! Run the Simulation now.

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