Microcontrollers
No operating system, usually single core running Mhz speeds
Handles multiprocessing by interrupts
Resilient
Usually 3.3 or 5V and usually around 1 Amp (or both 3.3 and 5.0V)
Usually basic if any Internet connection
Open and global innovation
Uses serial, IC2, and other well understood hardware communication
Huge version exist for large project (i.e. Arduino Mega, drones, quadcopter versions).
Applications
Motor control, server control, robots, weather stations
Examples
Arduino, Mico:bit, M0 based controllers, AdaFruit Feather, Tensy, Beaglebon
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Microcontrollers
No operating system, usually single core running Mhz speeds
Handles multiprocessing by interrupts
Resilient
Usually 3.3 or 5V and usually around 1 Amp (or both 3.3 and 5.0V)
Usually basic if any Internet connection
Open and global innovation
Uses serial, IC2, and other well understood hardware communication
Huge version exist for large project (i.e. Arduino Mega, drones, quadcopter versions).
Applications
Motor control, server control, robots, weather stations
Examples
Arduino, Mico:bit, M0 based controllers, AdaFruit Feather, Tensy, Beaglebon
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IOT
No operating system, usually a core and specialized hardware
Often cannot handle multiprocessing (some work arounds such a “yield”)
Lower power 3.3 V usually 250M Amp or less
Often programmed with microcontroller tools
Sparkfun’s ESP8266 Thing is programmed using Arduino IDE
Have built access to Internet and can consume of generate wifi
Low cost
Incomplete hardware as minimized for cost, power, and footprint
Low cost microcomputer overlap this area (i.e. Raspberry Pi zero) with operating systems
Examples
Certain models of Arduino overlap this area with built in Internet access and low power
ESP8266 based single boards such as supplied by Sparkfun and AdaFruit.
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Microcomputer
Boots to an operating system
Handles multiprocessing
Windows (Azure), Linux, Android usually.
Can have multiple hardware (Linux and Aruino on same board)
Usually high power and heat issues (2-4 Amp, usually needs display)
High cost once additional hardware (keyboard, screens, power sources) included
Linux while open may not be new version or special version.
Linux has to have drivers compiled into core code
Linux distributions require updates or fall behind
May be sensitive to voltage issues. Raspberry Pi handles not more than 1.8V
Multi-code running in Ghz speeds, some supercomputer speed and crazy extras like FPGA
Add on boards usually available for robot use, mining (BitCoin),
Examples
Raspberry Pi 3, Atom, Edison, various unique hybrid boards, Hummingbird (Android)
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Uses for microcontrollers
Hardware connections that talk serial, I2C, SPI
Multiple devices used together
5V and 3.3 V applications under 4A of power.
Robots, drones, monitor processes
Cos play, wearables, GPS
IOT
Specific hardware measuring stuff
Connection to Internet
Logging data
Microcomputer
Multi-tasking
Operating system device driver needed
Complex control of resources
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IOT Demo using Sparkfun ESP8266 Thing
Control LED on device with Internet
Via connecting to device by WIFI
User browser to connect to 192.168.4.1
Programmed by Arduino IDE and 3.3V FTDI Basic via USB.
Demo code from Sparkfun
Use Raspberry Pi to connect
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/esp8266-thing-hookup-guide/example-sketch-ap-web-
server
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Arduino
GPS sold by https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14198
STEM version of Arduino (Kickstarter last year)
Demo using Arduino IDE to monitor serial output from GPS
Examples: Old Arduino with pullable chip, Gemma, Tinsey
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Raspberry Pi 3C
OS Rasberrian on SD Card
Must download OS and create SD based OS
Time set from Internet (no clock!)
Tiny video so no real video card
Used SmartiPi Touchscreen https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14059
Has Wifi and Linux.
Handout RP 3B
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Robot Demo
Feather 32U4 https://www.adafruit.com/product/2771
Python and M0
Can use Arduino IDE to program
M0 core based 8 Mhz 3.3 V @ 4.8 grams!
Used Crickit Seesaw add-on Board
5V (+/- .5V, must regulate outside)
May connect servo, motor, speakers, touch, and NeoPixel
Handles about 4A total so can’t run all servos, motors, and lights all at same time
Demo
Running Servo
Using demo code https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-crickit-creative-robotic-
interactive-construction-kit/arduino-servos-2
Cricket sold out, just released!
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New hardware
Metro M4 AdaFruit
M4 based Arduino!
120Mgz!
NeoPixie!
Full of add-ons built in! Still in beta.
XLR8 https://www.aloriumtech.com/xlr8/
FPGA on an Arduino! $75.00
Raspberry Pi 3 C https://www.raspberrypi.org
1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor
Dual-band wireless LAN
Bluetooth 4.2/BLE
WIFI is fast! Browsers finally fast enough
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