PWM Motor Control: control the power supplied to a load by varying the width of the pulses in a digital signal

 

Beginner Embedded C++ Project: PWM Motor Control

Introduction

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a technique used to control the power supplied to a load by varying the width of the pulses in a digital signal. This allows us to control the speed and direction of a DC motor.

Uses of this Project

• Control the speed of a fan
• Control the direction of a robot
• Dim the brightness of an LED

Requirements

• A microcontroller with a PWM peripheral
• A DC motor
• A motor driver (if the motor requires more current than the microcontroller can provide)
• Some wires

Code

// Define the PWM pin
const int pwmPin = 9;

// Define the motor driver pins
const int motorA = 10;
const int motorB = 11;

void setup() {
  // Set the PWM pin to output mode
  pinMode(pwmPin, OUTPUT);

  // Set the motor driver pins to output mode
  pinMode(motorA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motorB, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // Set the duty cycle of the PWM signal to control the speed of the motor
  analogWrite(pwmPin, 128);

  // Set the direction of the motor by setting the motor driver pins
  digitalWrite(motorA, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(motorB, LOW);

  // Delay for 1 second
  delay(1000);

  // Reverse the direction of the motor
  digitalWrite(motorA, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motorB, HIGH);

  // Delay for 1 second
  delay(1000);
}

Conclusion

PWM motor control is a powerful technique that can be used to control the speed and direction of a DC motor. This project is a great way to learn how to use PWM and get started with embedded C++ development.

```

**PWM Motor Control: A Beginner Embedded C++ Project** Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a technique used to control the power supplied to a load by varying the width of the pulses in a digital signal. This allows us to control the speed and direction of a DC motor. This beginner-friendly Embedded C++ project will guide you through the steps of controlling a DC motor using PWM. You will learn how to set up the hardware, write the code, and control the motor's speed and direction. **Requirements:** * Microcontroller with PWM peripheral * DC motor * Motor driver (if required) * Wires **Benefits:** * Learn the basics of PWM * Gain hands-on experience with embedded C++ * Control the speed and direction of a DC motor This project is suitable for beginners with basic knowledge of electronics and programming. It is a great way to get started with embedded C++ development and learn a valuable technique for controlling motors.

Get started with embedded systems development | Micropython to control hardware

 

Micropython Tutorial: Getting Started

Introduction

Micropython is a compact and efficient implementation of the Python programming language designed for microcontrollers. It combines the ease of use and readability of Python with the low-level control and hardware access capabilities of microcontrollers, making it an ideal choice for embedded systems development.

Uses of Micropython

• Rapid prototyping of embedded systems
• Data acquisition and processing
• IoT device development
• Robotics and automation
• Wearable device development

Requirements

• A microcontroller board with Micropython support (e.g., ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico)
• A text editor or IDE (e.g., Thonny, Mu)
• A USB cable for connecting the microcontroller board to your computer

Getting Started

To get started with Micropython, follow these steps:

1. Install Micropython on your microcontroller board.
2. Connect the microcontroller board to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Open a text editor or IDE and create a new file.
4. Write your Micropython code in the file.
5. Save the file and transfer it to your microcontroller board.
6. Run your Micropython program on the microcontroller board.

Basic Syntax

Micropython's syntax is very similar to Python's. Here are some of the basic syntax elements:

• Variables are declared without a type and can be assigned any value.
• Statements end with a newline character.
• Indentation is used to group statements into blocks.
• Comments start with a hash symbol (#).

Example Code

Here is a simple Micropython program that blinks an LED:

import machine led = machine.Pin(13, machine.Pin.OUT) 

while True: 

 led.on() 

 time.sleep(1)  

 led.off() 

 time.sleep(1)

Conclusion

This tutorial provides a comprehensive introduction to Micropython. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can get started with Micropython and start developing your own embedded systems projects.

```

**Micropython Tutorial:** Micropython is a powerful and easy-to-use programming language for microcontrollers. It combines the simplicity of Python with the low-level control of microcontrollers, making it an ideal choice for embedded systems development. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to get
, how to use it to control hardware, and how to develop IoT applications. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced programmer, this guide will help you get the most out of Micropython and start building your own embedded systems projects. **Key Features:** * Step-by-step instructions for getting started with Micropython * Coverage of all the essential Micropython concepts * Examples and exercises to help you learn * Troubleshooting tips and tricks **Benefits:** * Learn how to use Micropython to control hardware * Develop IoT applications with Micropython * Get started with embedded systems development * Build your own custom projects with Micropython

Blink an LED using RaspberryPi pico,nano,3,4,b,b+ in Python and C/C++ both

 

How to Blink an LED on a Raspberry Pi

 

The blinking LED is the “hello world” of the maker community, and today I’ll show you how easy it is to do with the Raspberry Pi 2 (or Model B)! We’re going to use Python and WiringPi for this project.

What you’ll need

For this article I’m using a Raspberry Pi 2, but you can also use a Raspberry Pi Model B. You will also need:

• A GPIO Adapter
• Breadboard
• Resistor
• LED
  

• How to Blink an LED with Python

  The quickest way to get that LED to blink is to take a look at the pins of the GPIO 

  
  

   and decide which one to tie to. Then you can use Python and the Raspberry Pi GPIO Library to create a script to light it up.

  import RPi.GPIO as GPIO ## Import GPIO Library

  import time ## Import 'time' library (for 'sleep')

  
  

  blue = 7 ## These are our LEDs

  ourdelay = 1 ## Delay

  # pins 4,17,18,21,22,23,24,25

  
  

  GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD) ## Use BOARD pin numbering

  GPIO.setup(pin, GPIO.OUT) ## set output

  
  

  ## function to save code

  
  

  def activateLED( pin, delay ):

  GPIO.output(pin, GPIO.HIGH) ## set HIGH (LED ON)

  time.sleep(delay) ## wait

  GPIO.output(pin, GPIO.LOW) ## set LOW (LED OFF)

  return;

  
  

  activateLED(blue,ourdelay)

  
  

  GPIO.cleanup() ## close down library

  As you can see in the code above, it doesn’t take much to get things working. But I’ll explain the code a little deeper.

  import RPi.GPIO as GPIO

  import time

  The following code imports the Python GPIO library, and the time library. The GPIO library, as you probably guessed is the library for interacting with the GPIO in Python. It does an amazing job of simplifying the process. The time library is there so we can put a delay in, otherwise the blink might be too fast to notice.

  blue = 7

  ourdelay = 1

  Here I created a variable named “blue” (the color of the LED) and assigned it “7” which is the pin number we want. If I wanted to add multiple LEDs I could name it something like:

  blue = 7

  red = 13

  green 14

  I then created a “delay” variable of one second. This way I can change the delay of the lights blinking however I want.

  You can name the variables anything you want, but this was just to make it easy to see which LED is which if I wanted to do some fancy light show.

  GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BOARD) 

  Then, we set the GPIO mode to “Board” which means we’ll use the numbering of the pin by board instead of GPIO. This makes it a little easier to understand when using a bread board.

  With this line of code we set the pin to be an output:

  GPIO.setup(pin, GPIO.OUT)

  There are 2 main commands to turn the LED on then off:

  GPIO.output(pin, GPIO.HIGH)

  GPIO.output(pin, GPIO.LOW)

  If you wanted to blink an LED twice you would have to repeat the last two lines each time. So I decided to put this in a function and put the pin and delay as parameters. This way making a particular LED blink is as simple as:

  activateLED(blue,ourdelay)

  This is repeatable and saves code when doing larger programs.

  To close everything down, we need to run the following:

  GPIO.cleanup()

  It’s that easy! You could easily write a nice Python script that do some pretty cool stuff with just a few lines of code.

   

  How to Blink an LED with WiringPi (C/C++)
  

  For this step we’ll install WiringPi for the libraries to interact with the GPIO. This allows us to do what we just did, but from the command line. We’ll need to install WiringPi:

  cd ~/sources

  git clone git://git.drogon.net/wiringPi

  cd wiringPi

  git pull origin

  ./build

  If successful you should see a screen like this:

  

  Now we can light up the LED from the command line. Remember the pin 7 in the example above? We can now light up like so:

  gpio mode 7 out

  gpio mode 7 1

  This will light up the LED. You can turn it off by entering:

  gpio mode 7 0

  

  This makes it super easy to light up LEDs from the command line. You could create a pretty neat BASH script to do this, and do some neat things, or call this from other languages.

  Summary

  I hope this has helped in showing how easy it is to blink an LED on the Raspberry Pi 2/B. Of course as you progress on you’ll want to do far more than just blink an LED, but the GPIO libraries make it very easy to create some neat stuff. If you’ve experimented with this and done something cool, Let me know!!!

What is Difference in Node MCU and Arduino, IOT Development Boards

Introduction:

NodeMCU and Arduino are both popular platforms for building DIY electronics projects, but they have some key differences in terms of their hardware, programming languages, and use cases.

NodeMCU:

NodeMCU is a development board that utilizes the ESP8266 WiFi module.

It includes a built-in USB-to-Serial converter, allowing easy programming and communication with a computer.

Programming Language:

NodeMCU is typically programmed using the Lua scripting language, though it also supports Arduino IDE with additional ESP8266 board support.

Lua is a lightweight scripting language, and it is often used in embedded systems.

Wireless Connectivity:

NodeMCU is designed with a focus on wireless connectivity, making it well-suited for IoT (Internet of Things) projects.

It has built-in WiFi capabilities, enabling it to connect to the internet and communicate with other devices.

Use Cases:

Commonly used for IoT projects, home automation, and projects that require wireless communication.

Suitable for applications where internet connectivity and real-time data transfer are essential.

Arduino:

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform that can use various microcontrollers. The most popular one is the AVR-based Arduino boards, but there are also Arduino boards based on other microcontroller architectures, such as ARM.

Arduino boards do not typically have built-in WiFi capabilities.

Programming Language:

Arduino is typically programmed using the Arduino IDE, which uses a simplified version of C/C++.

The Arduino IDE abstracts away some of the complexities of low-level programming, making it beginner-friendly.

Connectivity:

Arduino boards can connect to the internet using shields or modules (e.g., Ethernet shields, WiFi modules), but this requires additional hardware.

Arduino boards are often used for a wide range of electronics projects, from simple LED blinking to more complex robotics.

Use Cases:

Well-suited for a broad range of applications, from simple electronic projects to robotics and automation.

Arduino is commonly used for educational purposes due to its simplicity and ease of use.

Comparison:

Complexity:

NodeMCU can be more complex due to its focus on internet connectivity and the Lua programming language.

Arduino is often considered more beginner-friendly with a simpler programming environment.

Connectivity:

NodeMCU excels in projects that require wireless communication and internet connectivity out of the box.

Arduino can handle a variety of projects but may require additional components for internet connectivity.

Programming Language:

NodeMCU primarily uses Lua (can be programmed in C++ Also) , while Arduino uses a simplified version of C/C++.

In summary, NodeMCU and Arduino are both versatile platforms, but the choice between them depends on the specific requirements of your project, your familiarity with the programming languages, and your preference for built-in wireless capabilities.