Micro Controller – Robotics

Course Title: Microcontrollers for Robotics: A Comprehensive Self-Study Course

Syllabus

\\Course Description:\\
Welcome to “Microcontrollers for Robotics,” a comprehensive 4-month (approximately 16-week) self-study course designed to equip you with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to design, program, and integrate microcontrollers into robotic systems. Whether you’re a motivated beginner with a keen interest in robotics or an intermediate learner looking to deepen your understanding of embedded systems, this course offers a clear, engaging, and hands-on journey into the world of microcontrollers. You will move from understanding the fundamental concepts of microcontroller architecture and programming to implementing complex control algorithms and interfacing with various sensors and actuators commonly found in robotic applications. By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently develop microcontroller-based solutions for a wide range of robotic challenges.\

\\Primary Learning Objectives:\\ \ \Understand the fundamental architecture and operating principles of microcontrollers.\ \Master microcontroller programming using C/C++ and relevant development environments.\ \Gain proficiency in interfacing microcontrollers with sensors, actuators, and communication modules.\ \Develop and implement basic to intermediate control algorithms for robotic components.\ \Troubleshoot and debug microcontroller-based robotic systems effectively.\ \

\\Necessary Materials:\\ \ \A personal computer with internet access.\ \Arduino Uno or ESP32 development board (recommended).\ \Breadboard, jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, and other basic electronic components.\ \USB cable for connecting the microcontroller to your computer.\ \IDE (Integrated Development Environment) like Arduino IDE or PlatformIO.\ \Access to online documentation and tutorials (provided within the course).\ \Optional: Multimeter, oscilloscope (for advanced debugging).\ \

Course Content: 14 Weekly Lessons

\\Week 1: Introduction to Microcontrollers\\ \\Learning Objectives:\\ \ \Define what a microcontroller is and differentiate it from a microprocessor.\ \Identify the core components of a microcontroller unit (MCU).\ \Understand the basic applications of microcontrollers in robotics.\ \ \\Key Vocabulary:\\ \ \\Microcontroller (MCU):\ A compact integrated circuit designed to govern a specific operation in an embedded system.\ \\Microprocessor (CPU):\ The central processing unit of a computer that performs arithmetic and logical operations.\ \\Embedded System:\ A computer system with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system.\ \\GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output):\ Pins on a microcontroller that can be configured as either inputs or outputs.\ \ \\Content:\\
This week, we lay the groundwork for our journey into microcontrollers. We’ll start by clarifying what microcontrollers are and how they differ from their more general-purpose cousins, microprocessors. We’ll explore the fundamental building blocks of an MCU, such as the CPU, memory (RAM, ROM, Flash), and various peripheral interfaces like GPIOs, timers, and communication modules. Understanding these core components is crucial for effective programming. We’ll also delve into the vast array of applications where microcontrollers shine in robotics, from controlling motor movements to managing sensor data in autonomous vehicles.\ \\Hands-on Example:\\
Set up your Arduino IDE (or PlatformIO). Learn how to upload a simple “blink” program to your Arduino/ESP32 board, making an onboard LED flash. This classic first program introduces you to the development environment, board selection, and the basic upload process.\

\\Week 2: Basic C/C++ Programming for Microcontrollers\\ \\Learning Objectives:\\ \ \Review fundamental C/C++ syntax relevant to microcontroller programming.\ \Understand data types, variables, and basic operators.\ \Learn about control flow structures (if/else, loops).\ \ \\Key Vocabulary:\\ \ \\Syntax:\ The set of rules that defines the combinations of symbols that are considered to be correctly structured programs in a specific language.\ \\Data Type:\ A classification that specifies which type of value a variable has, such as integer, floating-point, or character.\ \\Variable:\ A storage location paired with an associated symbolic name, which contains some known or unknown quantity of information referred to as a value.\ \\Control Flow:\ The order in which individual statements, instructions or function calls of an imperative program are executed or evaluated.\ \ \\Content:\\
While the “blink” program was a good start, true microcontroller control requires a solid grasp of programming fundamentals. This week focuses on the essentials of C/C++ as applied to embedded systems. We’ll cover fundamental data types (int, float, char, bool), how to declare and use variables, and the importance of memory constraints. We’ll then dive into control flow structures such as `if/else` statements for decision-making and `for`/`while` loops for repetitive tasks. Practical examples will illustrate how these programming constructs directly translate to controlling hardware.\ \\Hands-on Example:\\
Modify your “blink” program to incorporate variable delays, or create a program that makes an LED blink a specific number of times based on a variable. Experiment with `if/else` statements to change the blink pattern under certain conditions (e.g., if a counter variable reaches a certain value).\

Week 3: Digital I/O