A microcontroller is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and input/output peripherals. It was invented in 1971 by Gary Boone and Michal Cochran. There are two main types of microcontroller architectures: Harvard and Von Neuman. Microcontroller programming involves writing code in C language, burning the program into the microcontroller using a programmer tool, and then connecting it to external devices in applications such as engine control systems, medical devices, power systems, remote controls, and more. Microcontrollers are now an integral part of artificial intelligence systems.