Fab Academy
Here's a a video of the results of my experiment, and here are the files.
Extra credit: testing it on a development board
Learning about embedded programming
Group assignment
1. Demonstrate and compare the toolchains and development workflows for available embedded architectures
Individual assignment
1. Browse through the data sheet of your microcontroller
2. Write a program for a microcontroller, and simulate its operation, to interact (with local input and/or output devices) and communicate (with remote wired or wireless connections). Extra credit: Test it on a development board & Try different languages and/or development environments
What I knew beforehand
I understand that programming serves as the "business logic" for a physical device. Therefore, when defining the "if-then-else" rules, I must be clear about the expected actions from the peripherals I plan to use. I learned to program in Fortran, Basic, and Visual Basic many years ago, so programming logic is not entirely unfamiliar to me. However, I am aware that I need to learn the specific syntax and commands for new platforms and languages. Jorge helped me identify some base code that I can use and modify for my needs. I also plan to use AI tools to help me debug and review my code.
This documentation comes from February 2025. My programming background at that point was limited to Fortran and Basic from many years earlier, so embedded programming in the Arduino environment represented a genuine re-entry into code. The assignment introduced me to the XIAO RP2040 — the same microcontroller that would later become the brain of my final project and to Wokwi for simulation, which I continued using through 2026. The OLED display simulation I built that week turned out to be a direct precursor to the I²C display work in Week 11 and to the Nextion HMI firmware in Weeks 8 and 10. In 2025 I was learning the syntax; by 2026, I was startingo to write in arduino and python environmets.
Group assignment
I worked with my colleague Jhasmin Ayala
Check this link
Individual assignment
1. Browse through the data sheet for your microcontroller
I used AI (ChatGPT) to identify the main technical aspects of the datasheet and present some applications
RP2040 Data.
2. Write a program for a microcontroller, and simulate its operation, to interact (with local input and/or output devices) and communicate (with remote wired or wireless connections).
i) I used the wokwi.com website and selected the Arduino Uno option
ii) Started from scratch
iii) I created a code that uses an SSD1306 OLED display and an Arduino Uno microcontroller to display an image of Snoopy on the screen. Previously, I completed the following steps: The Snoopy image was converted to BMP format, and the I generated the code in hexadecimal using https://javl.github.io/image2cpp/, I added an OLED display and made the necessary connections, I ran the simulations (note that this code uses two libraries that Wokwi automatically detects. If you don't have them installed, you will receive a prompt to install them)
Reflections
Making my physical creation "come to life" and perform actions is incredibly satisfying, but it is far from easy. I learned that failures could occur for various reasons, making systematic troubleshooting essential. Common challenges include:
• Errors in the code itself, such as logic flaws or syntax mistakes.
• Missing or incompatible libraries.
• Connection issues between a peripheral and the board are due to missing or incorrect drivers.
• A malfunctioning microcontroller.
• Forgetting to reset the microcontroller and upload the updated code before testing.
Here's a a video of the results of my experiment, and here are the files.
Extra credit: testing it on a development board