FAB ACADEMY 2025 shivraj.chhirr@gmail.com

Embedded Programming

Brief Insight of this week

This week of Feb Academy, we learned about programming and how it is used to control devices and equipment. The assignment was divided into group and individual tasks. For the group assignment, the task was to "demonstrate and compare the toolchains and development workflows for various embedded architectures." In the individual assignment, we were required to "browse through the datasheet for our microcontroller, write a program for it, and simulate its operation to interact with local input/output devices and communicate through remote wired or wireless connections." Additionally, there was extra credit available for testing the program on a development board, as well as experimenting with different programming languages and/or development environments.



Objctive of the Assignment


1.Gropu Assignment -

  • demonstrate and compare the toolchains and development workflows for available embedded architectures.


    2. Indivisual Assignment -

  • browse through the data sheet for your microcontroller
  • write a program for a microcontroller, and simulate its operation, to interact (with local input &/or output devices) and communicate (with remote wired or wireless connections)
  • extra credit: test it on a development board
  • extra credit: try different languages &/or development environments

    • About Embedded programming

    operate hardware devices, such as microcontrollers, sensors, or specialized equipment. Unlike general-purpose computing, embedded systems typically perform specific tasks and are built to operate in real-time environments. These systems often have limited resources, such as processing power, memory, and storage.


    Key aspects of embedded programming include:

  • Hardware Interaction: The software interacts directly with the hardware components, controlling devices like motors, sensors, or displays.
  • Efficiency: Embedded systems must be highly optimized, as resources are often constrained.
  • Real-time Operations: Many embedded systems need to respond to inputs or events in real time, making low-latency and predictable behavior crucial.
  • Development Tools: Specialized toolchains, like compilers, debuggers, and simulators, are used to program embedded systems. These tools vary depending on the architecture of the hardware being used (e.g., ARM, AVR, PIC).


    A comprission between Microprocessor and Microcontroller.

    Microprocessor

    Microprocessor is a processing device and is an electronic component that use in various computing systems like as computers, laptops, smartphones, etc.

    Microcontroller

    Microcontroller is a electronic components system, Which have inbuilt memory system and port on one chip. Thats why microcontroller same as a small microcomputer. Basiclly its use in mobile, Camera, Smart watch etc.

    Comprission sheet





    Click here to visit our group assignment.



    Self-directed Assignment



    Datasheets of the microcontrollers

    I read the datasheet a bit and learned about their programs. I understood their connections from their diagrams.

  • Arduino
  • ESP 32(Espressif Systems' System on Chip)
  • Raspberry Pi RP2040

    • Brif about Microcontrollers


    1. Arduino ATMega 328P :- The ATmega328P is a microcontroller from Atmel (now part of Microchip Technology), commonly used in many Arduino boards, including the Arduino Uno. It is a versatile, low-power, 8-bit microcontroller that is widely used for embedded systems and DIY electronics projects.


    Key Features of Arduino:

  • Architecture: AVR 8-bit
  • Clock Speed: 16 MHz (typical for most Arduino boards)
  • Program Memory: 32 KB Flash memory (of which 0.5 KB is used by the bootloader)
  • RAM: 2 KB SRAM
  • EEPROM: 1 KB
  • Input/Output Pins:

    I. 23 I/O pins (with 14 digital I/O pins and 6 analog input pins)
    II. 6 PWM outputs
    III. 1 analog output (via a DAC in some setups)

  • Power Supply: - 3V to 5.5V
  • Operating Voltage: -5V (Arduino Uno uses 5V)
  • Timers: -3 timers (8-bit and 16-bit) for precise time control and PWM outputs
  • USART, SPI, I2C: -Communication protocols for connecting with other devices like sensors, displays, and other microcontrollers
  • Watchdog Timer: -For system recovery in case of software failure
  • Interrupts: -External interrupts to handle immediate responses to certain inputs (useful for things like button presses or signal changes)



    2. Raspberry Pi RP2040 :- The RP2040 is a microcontroller chip developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It is the heart of the Raspberry Pi Pico and other boards built around it. The RP2040 is designed to offer high performance, low power consumption, and flexible I/O options for a wide range of embedded systems applications.


    Key Features of RP2040 :

  • Architecture: -ARM Cortex-M0+ dual-core processor
  • Clock Speed: -133 MHz (each core)
  • Flash Memory:- 2MB (on Raspberry Pi Pico, but can vary by model)
  • RRAM: 264 KB SRAM (on-chip)
  • GPIO Pins: -26 programmable I/O pins, including support for digital I/O, analog inputs (ADC), and various communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C)
  • PWM: 16 PWM channels
  • USB: - USB 1.1 Host/Device (supports booting via USB)
  • Timers: Multiple timers for precise time control I/O
  • Options: Supports various interfaces like SPI, I2C, UART, PWM, and GPIO
  • Power Supply: 1.8V to 3.6V (typically operates at 3.3V)
  • Low Power: Designed for low-power operations, ideal for battery-powered devices.
  • The RP2040 can be programmed using C/C++ or MicroPython, making it accessible to both experienced developers and beginners.
  • The Pico SDK (for C/C++) and MicroPython are the primary development environments, and there are many tutorials and documentation available to help with getting started.





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    3. ESP32 :- The ESP32 is a powerful and versatile system-on-chip (SoC) developed by Espressif Systems. It is widely used in embedded systems, especially for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, due to its combination of processing power, connectivity options, and low power consumption.


    Key Features of ESP32 :

  • Processor: Dual-core 32-bit CPU based on Tensilica LX6 architecture
  • Clock Speed: 160 MHz (can be overclocked up to 240 MHz)
  • Memory - RAM:- 520 KB SRAM (on-chip)
  • Memory - Flash: External flash memory (typically 4MB or more, depending on the model) Connectivity:
  • Connectivity: - I. Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (Wi-Fi 4), supports both station (STA) and access point (AP) modes.
  • Connectivity: - II.Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
  • Pins: -I. Up to 34 GPIO pins
  • Supports PWM, ADC, DAC, SPI, I2C, UART, I2S, CAN, and more Analog to Digital.
  • Analog to Digital Converter (ADC): -12-bit resolution on up to 18 channels (typically) Power Supply: 2.2V to 3.6V
  • RRAM: 264 KB SRAM (on-chip)
  • Low Power Modes: - ESP32 is optimized for low power consumption, with multiple sleep modes (light, deep, and hibernation) to extend battery life in IoT applications.
  • Arduino IDE: A popular platform for beginners and hobbyists.
  • ESP-IDF (Espressif IoT Development Framework): The official SDK, providing more control and flexibility for advanced users.
  • MicroPython: A lightweight version of Python for embedded systems, ideal for those who prefer Python over C/C++.
  • The ESP32 supports OTA (Over-The-Air) updates, making it easier to deploy software updates remotely, which is an important feature for IoT devices.
  • its use for Home automation, smart lighting, and temperature/humidity monitoring systems.




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    Comparison sheet of microcontrollers




    Simulation Process for blinking LED with Arduino in Tinkercad



    STEP 1:

    First open tinkercad and sign up an account, Then select the "Create your first circuit design" from deshboard


    STEP 2:

    After that, Drop - Down the arduino in work space area


    STEP 3:

    Select the component which required for led blinking and drop - down in work space area


    STEP 4:

    Then, Start to make connection


    STEP 5:

    After the all connections, Take the blinking code from "Code" section and change it if required. Then start this code to simulation


    STEP 6:

    After all thease step, LED witll strt to blinking

    Embedded Software Development Tools





    I chose Arduino software because it's easy to operate and offers a wide range of possibilities for projects, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users.





    The steps to download and set up Arduino



    STEP 1:

    First, visit the official Arduino website and click on the "Software" option.


    STEP 2:

    After that, click on the "Software" option, which will open the download options. Then, you need to click on the "Download" option on the left side. Make sure to select the download link according to the laptop or device you are using


    STEP 3:

    Now, simply click on the " Just Download" button, and the download will begin


    STEP 4:

    The Arduino software has been successfully downloaded. You can now install it on your device.


    The process for programming a blinking LED in Arduino





    STEP 1:

    First, connect the Arduino to the device using USB cable


    >

    STEP 2:

    Next, go to the 'File' menu, select 'Preferences,' and then copy and paste this link: "https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduinopico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json" in the Additional Board Manager URL field.


    STEP 3:

    After this, the index package installation will begin


    STEP 4:

    Next, go to the 'Tools' menu, select the 'Board' option, and choose your Arduino.


    STEP 5:

    Now, go to the 'File' menu, select the 'Examples' option, click on 'Basics,' and choose 'Blink


    STEP 6:

    After clicking on the 'Blink' option, the LED blinking code will open, which you now need to upload to the Arduino.


    STEP 7:

    After completing all these steps, the LED blinking will finally begin.




    Exploring Altrasonic sensor with Arduino



    STEP 1:

    First, I copied the distance code for the ultrasonic sensor from the "projecthub.arduino.cc" website.


    STEP 2:

    Then, I putted the ultrasonic sensor to the Arduino and connected the Arduino to the device.


    STEP 3:

    After that, I pasted the copied code into the Arduino and uploaded it.


    STEP 4:

    After uploading the code, I clicked on the "Serial Monitor" option to view the output.


    STEP 5:

    Finally, the distance reading started displaying, and the data was received.


    Diagram




    Download Original File's


    LED blinking Code here


    Altrasonic sensor Distance Code here