Embedded Systems
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News, articles, guides, analytics, projects and startups from the embedded industry.

Topics of the channel:
◽️ machine learning
◽️ internet of things
◽️ embedded software
◽️ advanced electronics
◽️ new engineering ideas

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📷 Arduino Nicla Vision

Arduino Nicla Vision is an ultra-compact (~2.3×2.3 cm) board powered by an STM32H7 dual-core Cortex-M7/M4 microcontroller, and equipped with a 2MP camera, a Wi-Fi & Bluetooth LE module, and a few sensors.

Those features make the board suitable for machine vision and edge computing applications such as asset tracking, image detection, object recognition, and predictive maintenance.

Specifications:
▫️ Microcontrollers: STM32H757AII6 dual-core MCU with Arm Cortex M7 @ 480MHz, Cortex-M4 @ 240MHz, 2 MB flash, 1MB RAM
▫️ Storage: 16MB QSPI flash
▫️ Camera: 2MP GC2145 color camera
▫️ Sensors: 6-axis motion sensor, integrated microphone, and VL53L1 ToF distance sensor
▫️ Connectivity: 2.4GHz WiFi 802.11b/g/n up to 65 Mbps and Bluetooth 5.1 BR/EDR/LE via Murata 1DX module

The Nicla Vision board works with OpenMV, supports the Arduino IDE, Arduino Web, and MicroPython with connectivity to the Arduino Cloud or third-party vendor services.

#news #boards #arduino
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📃 Soldering SMDs with Hot Plate Tips

The hotplate method is the easiest soldering method for the hobby electronics enthusiast.

The basic process looks like this:
▫️ Apply Solder Paste to all the SMD pads.
▫️ Place all SMD components in the appropriate place.
▫️ Heat up the entire board to melt the solder and solder all parts simultaneously.
▫️ After the board has cooled, fix any solder bridges.
▫️ Solder in the remaining through-hole parts, if any.

The are a few tips to improve the process:
▫️ If you are doing runs of 5+ boards, you will probably want to make a solder paste stencil.
▫️ If you're good with the solder paste, you can lay a thin line of the paste on the pad, and do that for every pad. This is the recommended way, but it can be tricky.
▫️ If you spend money on any part of your setup, get a good pair of tweezers to place SMDs.
▫️ A solder bridge is when solder connects two pins that are next to each other that are not supposed to be connected. Use desolder braid to remove them.

#articles
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👉 Arduino Reflow Soldering Hotplate

Around the web, there are many DIY reflow ovens, however they have one big downside: they take up a lot of space. So author decided to build a hotplate instead.

The hotplate is fully programmable, so that any reflow profile can be added. The reflow process is then fully automated.

Important parts:
➡️Old hot plate
➡️Arduino Nano and LCD
➡️Solid State Relay (SSR)
➡️Type K Thermocouple + MAX 6675 amplifier

The case is made out of lasercut MDF. The MDF parts only touch the feet of the hotplate, which are significantly cooler (max 60°C) than the top of the hotplate. Everywhere else, the MDF and hotplate are separated by a small air gap.

More information...

#projects #arduino #tools
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🎹 Open-Source Haptic SmartKnob

This is a very interesting input device with software-configurable endstops, virtual detents, haptic touch feedback, and a round LCD.

A brushless gimbal motor is paired with a magnetic encoder to provide closed-loop torque feedback control, enabling virtual endstops and detents. Internally, everything is powered by an ESP32, with a TMC6300 BLDC motor driver, HX711 strain gauge ADC, VEML7700 ambient light sensor, and more!

Key features of the project:
➡️240x240 round LCD
➡️Low-cost BLDC gimbal motor
➡️Powered by ESP32-PICO-V3-02
➡️PCB flexure and strain gauges (press detection)
➡️8 side-firing RGB LEDs illuminate ring

This project offers an innovative solution for modern human-device interfaces and is made only off-the-shelf components. The source files are represented in both hardware and software domain.

More information:
😹 The GitHub repository
📺 The YouTube video

#projects #esp32
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📰 The acceleration of global chip-crunch

Semiconductor manufacturers rely on neon to control the specialized lasers they use to make computer chips. Right now, it’s not clear whether they have enough time to find and develop new sources of this gas before their backup supplies run out: Chip companies and industry analysts say there’s anywhere between one to six months worth of neon in reserve.

If that runs out, these companies won’t be able to make semiconductors. This means that the worldwide chip shortage — which was expected to end sometime in the next year — could draw out even longer, leading to higher prices, delivery delays, and shortages of critical technology.

A solution to the neon shortage won’t be the end of the chip industry’s problems, though. Even if new sources of neon arrive, the ongoing war could still create a shortage of other critical supplies used for chips. Russia makes a large chunk of the supply of palladium, a metal that’s used in semiconductors and catalytic converters.

#news
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💻 C++ Tricks for C Programmers

C++ offers developers modern tools to leverage when designing more reusable, scalable, and portable code.

▫️ Conditional Compilation Using Constexpr: The bane of many embedded code bases written in C is the large numbers of #if / #elif / #else preprocessor directives. Starting in C++ 17, the language introduced the ability for developers to conditionally compile code using constexpr.

▫️ Ranged for Loops: The C for loop has been stuck in the dark ages by not having a simplified range-based option. Starting in C++ 11, an additional version of the for loop was added that makes working with ranged values easier.

▫️ Use Auto: C developers used to use auto to specify a variable that was limited to the current scope. In C++, auto can be a very useful keyword that tells the compiler to automatically assign the datatype for the developer.

▫️ The Spaceship Operator: Just recently, C++ 20 add a three-way comparison operator <=> that can simplify readability and the code.

#articles
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💻 F Prime - Flight Software & Embedded Systems Framework

F Prime is a software framework for the rapid development and deployment of embedded systems and spaceflight applications.

Originally developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, F´ is open-source software that has been successfully deployed for several space applications.

It has been used for but is not limited to, CubeSats, SmallSats, instruments, and deployable. Framework runs on a wide range of processors, from microcontrollers to multi-core computers.

F´ has the following features:
▫️ Component architecture with well-defined interfaces
▫️ C++ framework providing core capabilities like queues, threads, and operating-system abstraction
▫️ Tools for designing systems and automatically generating code from systems design
▫️ A standard library of flight-worthy components
▫️ Testing tools for unit and system-level testing

More information:
Key features
Official website
GitHub repository

#software #libraries
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🎚 Arduino Portenta X8

The new board comes with the same STM32H7 Cortex-M7/M4 microcontroller found in the Portenta H7 boards, but add a more powerful, Linux-capable NXP iMX 8M Mini processor with four Cortex-A53 cores and a Cortex-M4 core, coupled with 2GB RAM and a 16GB eMMC flash.

Arduino Portenta X8 specifications:
▫️ SoC – NXP iMX 8M Mini Cortex-A53 quad-core up to 1.8 GHz,1x Cortex-M4 real-time core up to 400MHz.
▫️ Microcontroller – STMicro STM32H747AII6 Cortex-M7 @ 480 MHz + M4 @ 240 MHz MCU
▫️ System Memory – 2GB LPDDR4
▫️ Storage – 16GB eMMC flash
▫️ I/Os – 2x 80 pin high-density connectors with CAN, PCIe, SAI, MIPI, DSI, SPI, I2S, I2C, UART, PDM

The new board keeps the high-speed connectors but loses the Arduino MKR headers found in Portenta boards. Just like other Portenta boards, the Portenta X8 is part of the Arduino Pro family for industrial and enterprise use, and the board will be selling for 199 Euros or $239 US once it becomes available in mid-April.

#news #arduino #boards
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🎙 Top 5 IoT podcasts worth your time

Podcasts are everywhere, and tens of thousands of them explore a variety of tech subjects, including Internet of Things topics.

▫️ IoT for All
This popular podcast covers everything about IoT, and brings together some of the best minds in the industry. Listeners will learn from the experts as they recall their experiences and explain how they got to where they are now.

▫️ The Future Of...
As the name suggests, in this podcast listeners hear about the future of IoT tech that's out there right now.

▫️ The Peggy Smedley Show
This podcast is unique as it’s often broadcast live from some of the most well-known tech and industry events.

▫️ Stories from IoT Implementers
This podcast covers some of the most notable stories of failure from well-known figures in the industry.

▫️ Over the Air
Experts talk about the mistakes they’ve made along the way, and what they wish they'd known when they first got started.

#podcasts #IoT
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📟 ESP32/ESP8266: MicroPython OTA Updates via PHP Server

OTA (Over-the-Air) update is the process of loading new firmware to the ESP32 or ESP8266 board using a Wi-Fi connection rather than a serial communication. This functionality is extremely useful in case of no physical access to the board.

In this project, we’ll show you an example of how you can do OTA updates to your ESP32/ESP8266 boards running MicroPython code via a PHP server.

In summary, you’ll create a PHP server in which you can submit a new code that you want to run on the ESP. When there is a new code/update available, the ESP downloads the new code, reboots, and starts running the newly downloaded code.

More information...

#projects #esp32 #python #IoT
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📰 A company's new robot can change from four wheel drive to bipedal in seconds

A company called Swiss-Mile has created an innovative robot that combines legs and wheels to create, what they hope, will be the most versatile last-mile delivery robot on the planet. The robot can even transform from a quadruped, well quad-wheel, to bipedal form in a matter of seconds.

Capable of reaching speeds of 13.87 mph, this diminutive little robot has been developed over the last five years to be incredibly versatile and efficient. It can carry a variety of payloads including tools, materials, goods, and sensors, up to a maximum capacity of 110 pounds.

Since the robot is able to "stand up" it can use its front legs as arms, grab packages, and puts them in its cargo compartment all by itself. Other drones and delivery robots may require human input for some, or all, of these kinds of tasks. The company claims the robot is 83 percent more efficient than legged systems.

#news #robots
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