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Embedded Systems Assignment

Group Assignment

Demonstrate and compare the toolchains and development workflows for available embedded architectures.

Document your work to the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.

Individual Assignment

Browse through the datasheet for your microcontroller.

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 connection).

Group Assignment - Comprehensive Analysis of Microcontrollers: Arduino Uno vs ESP32-CAM

Introduction

This project compares Arduino Uno and ESP32-CAM in terms of specifications, functionalities, applications, and performance.

Microcontroller Pinouts

Arduino Uno

Arduino Uno Pinout

ESP32-CAM

ESP32-CAM Pinout

Comparative Table

Feature Arduino Uno ESP32-CAM
Microcontroller ATmega328P Tensilica Xtensa LX6
Clock Speed 16 MHz 160-240 MHz
WiFi Connectivity No Yes
Camera Support No Yes (2MP)
Price $12.00 $17.00

Practical Experiment

Testing Arduino Uno and ESP32-CAM for LED control and image capture via WiFi.

Practical Experiment

Step-by-Step Guide to Replicate the Group Assignment

Step 1: Gather Required Materials

Step 2: Understand Microcontroller Pinouts

Review the Arduino Uno and ESP32-CAM pinout diagrams to identify available GPIO pins.

Step 3: Compare Specifications

Feature Arduino Uno ESP32-CAM
Microcontroller ATmega328P Tensilica Xtensa LX6
Clock Speed 16 MHz 160-240 MHz
WiFi Connectivity No Yes
Camera Support No Yes (2MP)

Step 4: Build the Test Circuit

Connect the components according to the pinout:

Step 5: Implement & Upload Code

Arduino Uno LED Blinking Code:


void setup() {
    pinMode(13, OUTPUT);
}
void loop() {
    digitalWrite(13, HIGH);
    delay(1000);
    digitalWrite(13, LOW);
    delay(1000);
}

ESP32-CAM Image Capture Code:

Upload the Camera Web Server example in the Arduino IDE and set WiFi credentials.

Step 6: Conduct Practical Experiment

Test LED blinking on Arduino Uno and image capture via WiFi on ESP32-CAM.

Conclusion

For basic projects, Arduino Uno is ideal, while ESP32-CAM is better for IoT and image processing applications.

Comparison of Toolchains and Workflows

Step-by-step guide to setting up and working with different embedded architectures on Windows.

1. AVR (ATtiny and ATmega)

Installing Tools

Compiling and Programming AVR

Write C code in a file main.c:

#define F_CPU 1000000UL
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/delay.h>

int main(void) {
    DDRB |= (1 << PB0);
    while (1) {
        PORTB ^= (1 << PB0);
        _delay_ms(500);
    }
}

Compile with AVR-GCC

avr-gcc -mmcu=atmega328p -Os -o main.elf main.c
avr-objcopy -O ihex main.elf main.hex

Upload the Code with avrdude

avrdude -c usbasp -p m328p -U flash:w:main.hex:i

2. ARM Cortex-M (STM32 and SAMD)

Installing Tools

Compile with arm-none-eabi-gcc

arm-none-eabi-gcc -mcpu=cortex-m4 -mthumb -o main.elf main.c
arm-none-eabi-objcopy -O binary main.elf main.bin

Upload the Code with OpenOCD

openocd -f board/stm32f4discovery.cfg -c "program main.bin verify reset exit"

3. ESP32 (Xtensa and RISC-V)

Installing Tools

Compile with idf.py

idf.py build

Flash the Code

idf.py flash

4. Raspberry Pi RP2040

Installing Tools

Compile with CMake and Ninja

mkdir build && cd build
cmake ..
ninja

Upload the Code

Connect the RP2040 in bootloader mode and copy the .uf2 file to the device.

Conclusion

This guide provides a structured approach to setting up and working with various embedded architectures, covering AVR, ARM Cortex-M, ESP32, and Raspberry Pi RP2040. Each toolchain has its specific workflow, but all share common steps: installing the required tools, writing and compiling code, and flashing the compiled binary onto the target hardware. Understanding these processes helps developers choose the right platform for their embedded system projects.

Individual Assignment - Servo Motor Control with ESP32

Introduction

This project demonstrates how to control a servo motor using an ESP32 microcontroller. We utilize the ESP32Servo.h library to interface with the servo.

Objective

The goal is to program an ESP32 to control a servo motor, moving it from 0° to 180° in increments of 10° and resetting to 0°.

Materials Required

Circuit Diagram

The following wiring scheme is used:

Circuit Diagram

Code Implementation


#include <ESP32Servo.h>

int control = 18, p = 0;
Servo motor;

void setup() {
    motor.attach(control, 500, 2400);
    Serial.begin(115200);
}

void loop() {
    p = p + 10;
    motor.write(p);
    
    if (p == 180) {
        p = 0;
    }
    
    delay(1000);
}
Code

Simulation & Testing

The circuit was tested on Wokwi. The servo motor successfully moves in 10° increments until reaching 180°, then resets.

Observations

Conclusion

This project showcases basic servo control with ESP32, which can be further expanded for robotics and automation.

Files

  • Wokwi simulation