Design and Implementation of Micro-Controller Training Kit with GUI Support

Hardware design, fabrication, and testing of a multi-microcontroller training kit employing Autodesk EAGLE, as an innovative approach to embedded systems programming and communication networks training

Why?

Microcontrollers are paramount to a lot of areas of engineering and it is important to learn about embedded systems. But, the tools that are available for training students are either pre-built kits where the focus is only on programming or difficult to use launchpads where we need to use breadboards or other alternatives for hardware connections. This project investigated this convenience-awareness trade-off and built a solution that was aimed at beginners to microcontroller programming while simultaneously catering to experts and industries

Work

  • Led team to design a multi-microcontroller training kit, as innovative approach to embedded programming training.
  • Employed Autodesk EAGLE to effectuate hardware design.
  • Performed device fabrication, validation, and testing. Designed a web-based GUI with a set of tutorials.
  • Design consists of one baseboard which can support multiple daughterboards forming an all-in-one kit.
  • Coordinated and conducted product compatibility validation with NXP LPC2148 and Microchip PIC18F4550.
  • Designed provisions for external sensors (HC-SR04 etc.) and verified inter-device communication through communication protocols such as I2C and UART.

Images

Fabricated Baseboard:

Daughterboard connected to the Baseboard:

PUBLICATION

Proceedings of India Council International Conference (INDICON), 2018 15th IEEE.

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