Where to start with embedded systems?

[electronics_rookie]

Hi guys,

I applied for a workshop on embedded systems in my college. I still don't know if I'll be accepted but I want to get some basic knowledge for it. I made a mistake last year when going on a similar workshop by assuming that it will be beginner friendly. What are your recomendations on how to start with embedded systems?

[Siwastaja]

Any description about the workshop?

The problem with "embedded" is that the word have lost any meaning, the final hit was when it became trendy around a decade ago.

So everyone means different things. For some, playing around with Raspberry Pi is "embedded systems", for some this means hardware and software design using microcontrollers, maybe even writing assembly language code for PIC.

[electronics_rookie]

From last year's schedule I can see that there is everything from 5G networks to communication protocols and FPGAs

[Siwastaja]

Well, if it is such catch-all large category, then it can't be very demanding as there are only a handful of experts in all those areas. So they should be able to provide some beginner-level guidance. I wouldn't worry about it too much, go there and see what happens? What's the worst case scenario, someone sees you are a beginner and you learn a lot?

I have learnt most of my skills by overestimating my then-current ability. By having challenge, you learn more than trying to go for "too easy" beginner-level stuff.

[Doctorandus_P]

Start with learning C and / or C++ and you can do this on any regular PC
C is pretty much the standard for small systems, but C++ has many advantages over C, but those mostly become more important with bigger programs.

Once you've got a reasonably good grip on your programming language, then extend it towards the sort of hardware you are interested in. This can be almost any small microcontroller board (I recommend to start with something that fits on a breadboard).

But "Embedded Systems" is a very wide subject. For example there are plenty of small Linux computers used as embedded devices.

[rstofer]

Definitely get started with C.

Consider playing with the Arduino although I wouldn't expect it to be used for a serious course.  Try this kit and work through the tutorial - quickly.  There's a lot of code given and you will be working with real controls, sensors and motors.

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

There is a similar starter kit for the Raspberry Pi and that will require skills in Linux.  If you don't have them, you might as well get them and the tutorial does a lot of hand-holding.

In a couple of weeks, you should be pretty far along.  For more advanced stuff, there are some excellent tutorials for STM32Fxxx boards but one of my favorites is the PSOC 6.  There is a video series

https://www.cypress.com/video-library/PSoC/psoc-6-101-lesson-1-1-introduction-0/604121

If I had to learn FPGAs in a hurry, I would go to NandLand and buy the "Go Board".  Then I would follow along with the Verilog or VHDL code depending on what I expected as the required language.

https://nandland.com/

Other than that, just give it your best shot.  You can always ask questions around here.  We won't always do homework problems but we do work on problems that sort of resemble homework.  Just don't copy right out of the book and post as an attachment.  That kind of gives the game away.

Remember, put the FPGA stuff in the FPGA forum and put the embedded stuff in the Embedded forum which has been minimized and is a subforum under Computers.  Keep this link handy

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/embedded-computing/

I wish eevBlog hadn't done that...

There is also a Programming forum

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/programming/

[rpiloverbd]

My journey was like this: https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/2016/10/what-is-an-embedded-system-definition-examples-types-development.html

C progmramming+basic electronics>Microcontroller(AVR and PIC)>Arduino>Raspberry pi.....and it goes further long