Looking for practice building circuits that use microcontrollers

[renzoms]

Hello, Happy New Year, long time no see.

There's a neat youtuber DroneBot Workshop that has a lot of videos in his lab, but you may have other good recommendations after hearing what I want.

So amongst many things I'm doing, I put together this list of analog and digital circuits I've been exposed to, attached below.

I'm going to build the digital ones with an FPGA and review and all that digital side before I start college (hopefully in August).

2 Things. I don't yet see what I can do given the "analog" I know, and I wonder where I can bring in a microcontroller (for both sides, btw).

AFAIK I can use a capacitor for bypassing or coupling or detecting a peak voltage (generally speaking), a diode for voltage regulation and protection, and amplify/filter something or generate some waves, but I don't see this producing some neat project.

So do you have any recommendations for some hands-on learning/project resources? Something that walks along the lines of seeing where a capacitor/diode/OP amp/transistor is used in conjunction with microcontrollers and FPGA's?

Anyway, thanks. I'm still truckin'.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_A-SCnF0XupL8rRjhX1xdB1tYeZzn_5O/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100163707938952164920&rtpof=true&sd=true

Edit: I should have added that I'm interested in embedded programming and reviewed both C and Verilog, because the programming side of things seems more sane than the alternative(s) in EE

[Martin Miranda]

So do you have any recommendations for some hands-on learning/project resources? Something that walks along the lines of seeing where a capacitor/diode/OP amp/transistor is used in conjunction with microcontrollers and FPGA's?

build a component tester. search huntron on google. you can build a digital version of it. octopus tester.

[rstofer]

Do all of the experiments in this Arduino Starter Kit and you'll have a good start toward embedded systems.  Code is provided and you will find it easier to do this stuff using Linux.  So, just buy a Raspberry Pi 4 and use it as a desktop with an external monitor, keyboard and mouse.  Or, buy a Pi 400.  Unless you already have a Linux platform.

https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Project-Tutorial-Controller-Projects/dp/B01D8KOZF4

Getting into FPGA stuff is on an entirely different level.  You might try the "Go Board" from NandLand and follow along with the language tutorials.

https://nandland.com/

Once you get through the basics, implement a CPU of some kind.  I highly recommend the LC3 project and while there is a book, the appendices are all that is required.

https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/fussell/courses/cs310h/lectures/Lecture_10-310h.pdf
https://people.cs.georgetown.edu/~squier/Teaching/HardwareFundamentals/LC3-trunk/docs/LC3-uArch-PPappendC.pdf

The state diagram just yells out for a Finite State Machine but the authors use a microcode approach instead.

This is a fairly advanced project but it is achievable over time.  Once you understand how to code FSMs you are on your way!

I don't know if the LC3 project will fit in the "Go Board", I used a Digilent Nexys A7 board because it has a lot of 'gadgets' like switches, buttons, LEDs and 7 segment displays

https://digilent.com/shop/nexys-a7-fpga-trainer-board-recommended-for-ece-curriculum/

[rstofer]

My only interest in 'analog' is for analog computing.  I built Dr. Vogel's Analog Computer and then bought a pair of Comdyna GP6s

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS776US776&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=vogel+analog+computer
https://www.scss.tcd.ie/SCSSTreasuresCatalog/hardware/temp-Comdyna-GP6-Analog-Computer/Comdyna-GP6-Analog-Computer.htm

[rstofer]

If I were a student, I would be looking at the Digilent Analog Discovery 2 as my lab (plus a couple of DMMs).  I would try to get the student price...

https://digilent.com/shop/analog-discovery-2-100ms-s-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/

Some of the adapters, particularly the BNC adapter would be useful

https://digilent.com/shop/test-and-measurement-equipment/adapters-and-canvases/

If I were interested in analog, the Analog Parts Kit would be useful

https://digilent.com/search.php?search_query_adv=analog+parts+kit

Maybe the Student Bundle

https://digilent.com/shop/analog-discovery-2-student-bundle/

These things were sold out for a couple of years due to Covid.  Seems the universities and their students adopted the platform for remote labs.  That also led to the new and improved price (much higher).  The AD2 used to be $279.

If you go this route, the BNC adapter is quite useful with x10 fixed probes.  The AD2 has limited voltage levels and it would be good to pump more than 25V into the basic device.

I have a lot of fun with a 0.1 ufd capacitor and a 10k resistor - see attached.  It's hard to see but there is a 1V square wave driving that Forced Response signal.

This is all good stuff if you're studying EE.  Probably less so if you go for ME or Applied Mathematics

Yes, all of this stuff is expensive.  So is tuition and books...  If the AD2 helps you through a single class, it has probably paid for itself.

[rpiloverbd]

Hi. Have you done a line follower robot already?

[rstofer]

Hi. Have you done a line follower robot already?

That's really easy with any of the robot kits.  What's fun is to add a voice playback module and have it sound off "Break Left", "Break Right" or "Eject" (repeat 3 times) as a function of the distance sensors detecting objects (like a hand wave).  Of course it also has to actually perform the "Break ..." operation by making a 180 degree turn in the appropriate direction or simply rotating in place for the "Eject".  If there is nothing else to do, it follows the line.

I did all that with a MiniSumo Mark III robot and a voice playback module I picked up somewhere.  It should be possible on any robot kit that exposes IO  pins.  The module I used could record/play multiple messages.

Like many of today's projects, this was more code than wire.

[MarkF]

If you really want to learn how to interface a microcontroller to hardware, stay away from all things Arduino.

I know everyone will tell you otherwise.  But Arduino, hides too much from the user. 
Sure it's easy.  But you learn nothing as far as interfaces goes.
If your program is talking directly to the bare metal registers, you will see how the microcontroller talks to the hardware.

I would recommend starting with a PICKit 3 or 4 and one of the 8-bit PIC microcontrollers from Microchip.  I suggest starting with a pic16f1709 or pic16f886.  That with MPLAB X and the XC8 compiliers, you will be forced to:
  1.  learn how to read a datasheet
  2.  learn how to connect and program the microcontroller in C
  3.  learn how to setup the internal oscillator
  4.  learn how to directly read and write to the microcontroller registers to do I/O

Then when you've accomplished that you can:
  5.  learn how to read analog inputs
  6.  do SPI to something like a DAC (a MCP4802 comes to mind)
  7.  learn timers and interrupts
  8.  do PWM

You could start with a higher end pic18 or pic32 but the learning curve is steeper.  For example, Cornell Univ. uses the pic32mx250f128 in their ECE-4760 course.  But, it's a real bear to learn.  And again, Cronell uses the Microchip pLib library to hide the MCU registers similar to the Arduino.

All for very little cost investment.
 - You will need some kind of scope.  A PicoScope 2204A from tEquipment with their 6% EEVblog discount might be a good starter if you don't have one.
 - A power supply.  A couple batteries and a regulator (MC7805 +5V regulator) if nothing else.

[rpiloverbd]

Hi. Have you done a line follower robot already?

That's really easy with any of the robot kits.  What's fun is to add a voice playback module and have it sound off "Break Left", "Break Right" or "Eject" (repeat 3 times) as a function of the distance sensors detecting objects (like a hand wave).  Of course it also has to actually perform the "Break ..." operation by making a 180 degree turn in the appropriate direction or simply rotating in place for the "Eject".  If there is nothing else to do, it follows the line.

I did all that with a MiniSumo Mark III robot and a voice playback module I picked up somewhere.  It should be possible on any robot kit that exposes IO  pins.  The module I used could record/play multiple messages.

Like many of today's projects, this was more code than wire.

Yeah. But LFR also can be done without any kits. Completely from scratch, right?

[rpiloverbd]

Hi again.

I think temperature sensor based projects can be a good thing to practice.  LM35 based thermometer can be good start if you already have not done those.

https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/2015/09/interfacing-lm35-arduino-proteus-isis.html

If you don't want to use arduino, no worries, LM35 can be used with PIV and AVR micrcontrollers too. It's very easy.

https://circuitdigest.com/microcontroller-projects/avr-microcontroller-lm35-temperature-sensor-based-digital-thermometer

[Faringdon]

There are two very little Babani books on microcontrollers....they are the best resource for micros for beginners......these books also do exps where you interface to analog etc.
They are probbaly more than 15 years old by now......easy for you to find  on the web.

Also, babani dioes a superb book on opamps......i forgot the exact name, but it was a brill book....by E.A. Parr (??)...i forget. It had a green cover...easily the best ever beginners guide to opamps.

Another great author does a good beginers guide to opamps......he is a famous author for simplifying electronics......i forget his name...when i think of it i will get back here......something like John Edwards?.....people here will know of him.......ahhhh...i will rack my brains.

Of course, Dave Jones himself does great vids on micros and  analog stuff etc etc

[rstofer]

Hi. Have you done a line follower robot already?

That's really easy with any of the robot kits.  What's fun is to add a voice playback module and have it sound off "Break Left", "Break Right" or "Eject" (repeat 3 times) as a function of the distance sensors detecting objects (like a hand wave).  Of course it also has to actually perform the "Break ..." operation by making a 180 degree turn in the appropriate direction or simply rotating in place for the "Eject".  If there is nothing else to do, it follows the line.

I did all that with a MiniSumo Mark III robot and a voice playback module I picked up somewhere.  It should be possible on any robot kit that exposes IO  pins.  The module I used could record/play multiple messages.

Like many of today's projects, this was more code than wire.

Yeah. But LFR also can be done without any kits. Completely from scratch, right?

Of course it can!  The thing is, it is quicker to start with a workable platform and then add the magic.  It would be quite a bit of work to build something like the MiniSumo robot from scratch yet every feature it has (and there aren't many) seems necessary.

Folks with 3D printers have a head start for building nice platforms but it's an education in itself to get a 3D printer running.

LEGO robotics was a lot of fun!

Even folks working on AI with the Jetson Nano have a robot kit:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/autonomous-machines/embedded-systems/jetbot-ai-robot-kit/

An AI board might make an ideal line follower where the lines are discontinuous at intersections and such.  Object detection should be workable.  Maybe the bot stops at STOP signs.  Left and right turns at intersections...  Go to a certain address with some knowledge of the roads - kind of like GPS without the satellites.  And so on...

None of which makes any sense without a foundation and that Starter Kit I linked above would be a great place to start.  Either the Arduino or Raspberry Pi version would work but the Pi version has a broader scope.

Our robotic vacuum cleaner uses a camera to map the ceiling as a positioning system.  At first it seemed odd that there was a camera pointing up but you get used to it.

https://www.amazon.com/Station-Self-Emptying-Editable-Schedule-Boundary/dp/B092VCXDB1

[rstofer]

Hi again.

I think temperature sensor based projects can be a good thing to practice.  LM35 based thermometer can be good start if you already have not done those.

https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/2015/09/interfacing-lm35-arduino-proteus-isis.html

If you don't want to use arduino, no worries, LM35 can be used with PIV and AVR micrcontrollers too. It's very easy.

https://circuitdigest.com/microcontroller-projects/avr-microcontroller-lm35-temperature-sensor-based-digital-thermometer

A really slick way to play with control systems is this temperature control lab

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYnLFy9OMc&ab_channel=APMonitor.com

If you already have MATLAB and Simulink then this is a low cost way to play with PID controls in Simulink.  If you don't?  There is a Python interface.

https://apmonitor.com/pdc/index.php/Main/PurchaseLabKit