📟 ZSWatch – Open Source Zephyr™ based Smartwatch
Smartwatch built from scratch, both hardware and software.
The star of the show is the nRF52833 SoC, which is paired with a circular 1.28″ 240×240 IPS TFT display. The screen doesn’t support touch, so there’s three physical buttons on the watch for navigation.
Onboard sensors include a LIS2DS12 MEMS accelerometer and a MAX30101EFD capable of measuring heartrate and blood oxygen levels, and there’s even a tiny vibration motor for haptic feedback. Everything’s powered by a 220 mAh Li-Po battery that author says is good for about two days — afterwards you can drop the watch into its matching docking station to get charged back up.
As for the software side of things, the watch tethers to a Android application over Bluetooth for Internet access and provides the expected functions such as displaying the weather, showing notifications, and controlling music playback.
More information...
#projects
Smartwatch built from scratch, both hardware and software.
The star of the show is the nRF52833 SoC, which is paired with a circular 1.28″ 240×240 IPS TFT display. The screen doesn’t support touch, so there’s three physical buttons on the watch for navigation.
Onboard sensors include a LIS2DS12 MEMS accelerometer and a MAX30101EFD capable of measuring heartrate and blood oxygen levels, and there’s even a tiny vibration motor for haptic feedback. Everything’s powered by a 220 mAh Li-Po battery that author says is good for about two days — afterwards you can drop the watch into its matching docking station to get charged back up.
As for the software side of things, the watch tethers to a Android application over Bluetooth for Internet access and provides the expected functions such as displaying the weather, showing notifications, and controlling music playback.
More information...
#projects
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📃 Are You Ready for These 2023 Embedded Software Trends?
This post will explore several embedded software trends that will be prevalent in 2023 and that you should keep tabs on.
In particular, the post describes the following aspects:
▫️ Container Adoption
▫️ Reignition of the Programming Language Wars
▫️ A Focus on Security
▫️ Adoption of Agile Methodologies
▫️ Multicore Microcontrollers
These trends come from a generic perspective of the embedded software industry. Our industry, though, is not isolated. Where embedded software goes in the future depends on where the business pressures and the more significant software industry is going. In addition, different teams will have various needs.
More information...
#articles #software #programming
This post will explore several embedded software trends that will be prevalent in 2023 and that you should keep tabs on.
In particular, the post describes the following aspects:
▫️ Container Adoption
▫️ Reignition of the Programming Language Wars
▫️ A Focus on Security
▫️ Adoption of Agile Methodologies
▫️ Multicore Microcontrollers
These trends come from a generic perspective of the embedded software industry. Our industry, though, is not isolated. Where embedded software goes in the future depends on where the business pressures and the more significant software industry is going. In addition, different teams will have various needs.
More information...
#articles #software #programming
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🎬 Self-Soldering Circuits
In this video, author shows how to create a PCB that will solder itself after plugging in. Compare reflow soldering with pizza making: the PCB is like the dough the solder paste is the sauce, and the toppings are the electronics, the oven's heat is what bonds these individual items together. So using the same analogy making a self-soldering circuit is going to be like putting the oven in the dough and make it edible PCBs are made from multiple layers of copper stacked together one. One of those layers is usually a solid ground plane and if we chop this up into a one long track it can also be used as a small resistor that heats the board up and melts the solder.
https://youtu.be/r0csHZveVvY
#video #electronics #design
In this video, author shows how to create a PCB that will solder itself after plugging in. Compare reflow soldering with pizza making: the PCB is like the dough the solder paste is the sauce, and the toppings are the electronics, the oven's heat is what bonds these individual items together. So using the same analogy making a self-soldering circuit is going to be like putting the oven in the dough and make it edible PCBs are made from multiple layers of copper stacked together one. One of those layers is usually a solid ground plane and if we chop this up into a one long track it can also be used as a small resistor that heats the board up and melts the solder.
https://youtu.be/r0csHZveVvY
#video #electronics #design
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🤖 One-piece tank chassis pushes print-in-place to new height
What’s better than 3D printing a tank chassis with working tracks? How about 3D printing the entire thing, moving parts and all, as a single piece?
The author has been sharing progress pictures and videos on his Twitter account, and just recently released the first version of his design. Version 1.0 is just the mechanics, but he’s already at work on version 2.0 which includes the ability to attach servos to drive the treads. At this writing, the design is currently downloadable directly from his site and includes CAD files, which is great to see.
One part of the design we’d like to draw your attention to is the chunky hinge that doubles as a kind of axial structure making up the body. This allows the tank to print in an unfolded state with the treads and wheels flat on the print bed. After printing, the tank gets folded up a bit like a taco to attain its final form.
More information...
#projects #3d_modeling #robots
What’s better than 3D printing a tank chassis with working tracks? How about 3D printing the entire thing, moving parts and all, as a single piece?
The author has been sharing progress pictures and videos on his Twitter account, and just recently released the first version of his design. Version 1.0 is just the mechanics, but he’s already at work on version 2.0 which includes the ability to attach servos to drive the treads. At this writing, the design is currently downloadable directly from his site and includes CAD files, which is great to see.
One part of the design we’d like to draw your attention to is the chunky hinge that doubles as a kind of axial structure making up the body. This allows the tank to print in an unfolded state with the treads and wheels flat on the print bed. After printing, the tank gets folded up a bit like a taco to attain its final form.
More information...
#projects #3d_modeling #robots
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📃 What Does 2023 Have In Store For Chip Design?
2022 saw some events that will have a major impact on markets during 2023, although with no precedents for them, the exact outcomes are unknown. For example, the CHIPS Act, and corresponding investments in Europe, are designed to change the path from globalization to a more nationalistic direction, the reverse of the trend since the semiconductor industry was formed.
Many variables could shape the coming year, but it is the unknowns and how we react to them that separate the successful companies from the rest.
In particular, the article reviews the following aspects that could influence the chip design in 2023:
▫️ Open source
▫️ Power and energy
▫️ Moore's law
▫️ AI and ML
▫️ Emerging markets
▫️ Tools and EDA
More information...
#articles
2022 saw some events that will have a major impact on markets during 2023, although with no precedents for them, the exact outcomes are unknown. For example, the CHIPS Act, and corresponding investments in Europe, are designed to change the path from globalization to a more nationalistic direction, the reverse of the trend since the semiconductor industry was formed.
Many variables could shape the coming year, but it is the unknowns and how we react to them that separate the successful companies from the rest.
In particular, the article reviews the following aspects that could influence the chip design in 2023:
▫️ Open source
▫️ Power and energy
▫️ Moore's law
▫️ AI and ML
▫️ Emerging markets
▫️ Tools and EDA
More information...
#articles
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📰 Study: Superconductivity switches on and off in 'magic-angle' graphene
MIT physicists have found a new way to switch superconductivity on and off in magic-angle graphene. This figure shows a device with two graphene layers in the middle (in dark gray and in inset). The graphene layers are sandwiched in between boron nitride layers (in blue and purple).
The angle and alignment of each layer enables the researchers to turn superconductivity on and off in graphene with a short electric pulse, much like a light switch.
The discovery could lead to ultrafast, energy-efficient superconducting transistors for neuromorphic devices—electronics designed to operate in a way similar to the rapid on/off firing of neurons in the human brain.
More information...
#news
MIT physicists have found a new way to switch superconductivity on and off in magic-angle graphene. This figure shows a device with two graphene layers in the middle (in dark gray and in inset). The graphene layers are sandwiched in between boron nitride layers (in blue and purple).
The angle and alignment of each layer enables the researchers to turn superconductivity on and off in graphene with a short electric pulse, much like a light switch.
The discovery could lead to ultrafast, energy-efficient superconducting transistors for neuromorphic devices—electronics designed to operate in a way similar to the rapid on/off firing of neurons in the human brain.
More information...
#news
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💻 Event-based Firmware (Part 1)
You start with small, simple firmware. But with each added feature, the complexity grows and grows. Soon, you need a good design in order to maintain the firmware and ensure the code remains clean and readable.
In this article, author explains the event-based approach for writing firmware. He uses the term “event-based” because it is similar to events systems for desktop applications, but it is also minimalistic and more straightforward. The “events” he uses here are just functions, called at defined times.
This is nothing new or innovative; the demonstrated approach is just one effective design to make your firmware modular and extensible.
Using practical examples, the article will guide you through this complex topic. Each chapter will improve the code in small iterations, meaning you can stop at any point. So, try to fully understand each example before you continue in the tutorial.
More information...
#articles #programming #design
You start with small, simple firmware. But with each added feature, the complexity grows and grows. Soon, you need a good design in order to maintain the firmware and ensure the code remains clean and readable.
In this article, author explains the event-based approach for writing firmware. He uses the term “event-based” because it is similar to events systems for desktop applications, but it is also minimalistic and more straightforward. The “events” he uses here are just functions, called at defined times.
This is nothing new or innovative; the demonstrated approach is just one effective design to make your firmware modular and extensible.
Using practical examples, the article will guide you through this complex topic. Each chapter will improve the code in small iterations, meaning you can stop at any point. So, try to fully understand each example before you continue in the tutorial.
More information...
#articles #programming #design
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📃 How a single line of code brought down a half-billion euro rocket launch
It’s Tuesday, June 4th, 1996, and the European Space Agency is set to launch its new Ariane 5 rocket for the first time. This is the culmination of a decade of design, testing and a budget spending billions of euros. The goal of Ariane 5 is simple, but the stakes are high. It was designed to carry large, expensive payloads, both for scientific experiments and commercial purposes.
Just 40 seconds after take-off, however, huge chunks of metal and burning fragments of Ariane Flight 501 are crashing down over the launch area. A shocking disaster for the ESA and a rough setback for the mission.
The cause? A simple, and very much avoidable coding bug, from a piece of dead code, left over from the previous Ariane 4 mission, which started nearly a decade before.
More information...
#articles #programming
It’s Tuesday, June 4th, 1996, and the European Space Agency is set to launch its new Ariane 5 rocket for the first time. This is the culmination of a decade of design, testing and a budget spending billions of euros. The goal of Ariane 5 is simple, but the stakes are high. It was designed to carry large, expensive payloads, both for scientific experiments and commercial purposes.
Just 40 seconds after take-off, however, huge chunks of metal and burning fragments of Ariane Flight 501 are crashing down over the launch area. A shocking disaster for the ESA and a rough setback for the mission.
The cause? A simple, and very much avoidable coding bug, from a piece of dead code, left over from the previous Ariane 4 mission, which started nearly a decade before.
More information...
#articles #programming
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💻 Are text strings a vulnerability in embedded software?
For many years, the security of desktop computers has been a concern. Once a machine is connected to the Internet, there is intrinsically a possibility for some kind of attack.
Embedded systems always seemed to be immune from such problems, as they were rarely networked, and their code was normally in ROM of some kind. Things have changed. A large proportion of modern systems are connected to the Internet and it is common practice for code to be copied into RAM and executed from there.
The goal of data obfuscation is to delay or deter the hacker by simply making the data less recognizable for what it is. Scanning through a memory dump, one of the easy things to spot is text strings.
More information...
#articles #programming #security
For many years, the security of desktop computers has been a concern. Once a machine is connected to the Internet, there is intrinsically a possibility for some kind of attack.
Embedded systems always seemed to be immune from such problems, as they were rarely networked, and their code was normally in ROM of some kind. Things have changed. A large proportion of modern systems are connected to the Internet and it is common practice for code to be copied into RAM and executed from there.
The goal of data obfuscation is to delay or deter the hacker by simply making the data less recognizable for what it is. Scanning through a memory dump, one of the easy things to spot is text strings.
More information...
#articles #programming #security
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📃 3 epic ways AI and ChatGPT are transforming embedded
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you have probably seen that ChatGPT is taking the world by storm. While ChatGPT has caught headline interest, it’s an AI model that helps demonstrate developers and businesses are on the cusp of having to rethink how we work and develop software systems.
▫️ Accelerating Development through AI Pair Programming. AI models can generate code. Github’s CoPilot and OpenAI’s code sandbox do an alright job. Pairing a human as the navigator with an AI model that will write the code is a great way to accelerate developer throughput.
▫️ Faster Debugging. ChatGPT is relatively good at finding mistakes in code or suggesting improvements to code. Decreasing debug time can save months and hundreds of thousands of dollars in development costs.
▫️ Pointing Developers in the Right Direction. With AI tools, developers can get pointed in the right direction and come up to speed much faster.
More information...
#articles
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you have probably seen that ChatGPT is taking the world by storm. While ChatGPT has caught headline interest, it’s an AI model that helps demonstrate developers and businesses are on the cusp of having to rethink how we work and develop software systems.
▫️ Accelerating Development through AI Pair Programming. AI models can generate code. Github’s CoPilot and OpenAI’s code sandbox do an alright job. Pairing a human as the navigator with an AI model that will write the code is a great way to accelerate developer throughput.
▫️ Faster Debugging. ChatGPT is relatively good at finding mistakes in code or suggesting improvements to code. Decreasing debug time can save months and hundreds of thousands of dollars in development costs.
▫️ Pointing Developers in the Right Direction. With AI tools, developers can get pointed in the right direction and come up to speed much faster.
More information...
#articles
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🎬 Using ChatGPT to program my Robot
ChatGPT is all the rage right now, and it does show a big improvement in the capabilities of AI. In this video author explores if ChatGPT will replace engineers as well as other professions.
This is an Arduino controlled Robot that he made using 3D printed gears, a DIY circular saw and various other components. The Arduino code was written by ChatGPT, so it's fair to say that ChatGPT can program simple robots at least.
https://youtu.be/-6_KzYgANXg
#video #robots #arduino
ChatGPT is all the rage right now, and it does show a big improvement in the capabilities of AI. In this video author explores if ChatGPT will replace engineers as well as other professions.
This is an Arduino controlled Robot that he made using 3D printed gears, a DIY circular saw and various other components. The Arduino code was written by ChatGPT, so it's fair to say that ChatGPT can program simple robots at least.
https://youtu.be/-6_KzYgANXg
#video #robots #arduino
YouTube
Here's how ChatGPT will take YOUR job
ChatGPT is all the rage right now, and it does show a big improvement in the capabilities of AI. In this video I explore if I think ChatGPT will replace engineers as well as other professions. This is an arduino controlled Robot that I made using 3D printed…
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📟 MONOCLE - a pocket-sized open-source AR device for the imaginative hacker
Monocle is a tiny heads-up display which clips onto your existing eyewear. It’s packed full of powerful hardware which is perfect for when you’re on the go. It connects to your mobile phone over Bluetooth, and includes a few handy sensors such as touch buttons, camera and microphone.
The included FPGA is perfect for computer vision, AI or graphics acceleration directly on the device. Monocle runs open source software and provides an easy way to get started using MicroPython. You can also write your own firmware from scratch using these docs as guidance.
Key features:
▫️ 640x400 color OLED display
▫️ FPGA-based acceleration for ML/CV
▫️ Touch buttons
▫️ Microphone
▫️ 5MP camera
▫️ 20° FOV optical body
▫️ 70mAh internal battery
▫️ Full featured MicroPython based OS
More information...
#projects
Monocle is a tiny heads-up display which clips onto your existing eyewear. It’s packed full of powerful hardware which is perfect for when you’re on the go. It connects to your mobile phone over Bluetooth, and includes a few handy sensors such as touch buttons, camera and microphone.
The included FPGA is perfect for computer vision, AI or graphics acceleration directly on the device. Monocle runs open source software and provides an easy way to get started using MicroPython. You can also write your own firmware from scratch using these docs as guidance.
Key features:
▫️ 640x400 color OLED display
▫️ FPGA-based acceleration for ML/CV
▫️ Touch buttons
▫️ Microphone
▫️ 5MP camera
▫️ 20° FOV optical body
▫️ 70mAh internal battery
▫️ Full featured MicroPython based OS
More information...
#projects
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📊 Global IoT market size to grow 19% in 2023—IoT shows resilience despite economic downturn
The enterprise IoT market grew 21.5% to $201 billion in 2022, according to the January 2023 update. The market grew slightly slower than the 23% forecasted for last year and is expected to grow even slower in 2023. At this point, IoT Analytics forecasts the IoT market size to grow at a CAGR of 19.4% to $483 billion from 2022 until 2027.
▫️ Macro trends largely dominate the growth expectancy for an otherwise robust digital transformation phase for enterprises.
▫️ Lower-than-expected economic growth and general insecurity in 2022 and 2023 lead to cautious spending on digital transformation and IoT.
▫️ Tech layoffs largely spared IoT-focused companies.
More information...
#news #IoT
The enterprise IoT market grew 21.5% to $201 billion in 2022, according to the January 2023 update. The market grew slightly slower than the 23% forecasted for last year and is expected to grow even slower in 2023. At this point, IoT Analytics forecasts the IoT market size to grow at a CAGR of 19.4% to $483 billion from 2022 until 2027.
▫️ Macro trends largely dominate the growth expectancy for an otherwise robust digital transformation phase for enterprises.
▫️ Lower-than-expected economic growth and general insecurity in 2022 and 2023 lead to cautious spending on digital transformation and IoT.
▫️ Tech layoffs largely spared IoT-focused companies.
More information...
#news #IoT
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Embedded Systems
💻 Event-based Firmware (Part 1) You start with small, simple firmware. But with each added feature, the complexity grows and grows. Soon, you need a good design in order to maintain the firmware and ensure the code remains clean and readable. In this article…
💻 Event-Based Firmware (Part 2)
In the first part of this series, we explored the general concept of event-based firmware. Mastering the event-driven computing model is particularly important for embedded developers, given that embedded systems are predominantly reactive by nature.
In the second part, the discussed concepts were directly tailored to one specific firmware. Now, let’s develop those concepts further to build an event system that can be integrated into many different applications.
More information...
#articles #programming #design
In the first part of this series, we explored the general concept of event-based firmware. Mastering the event-driven computing model is particularly important for embedded developers, given that embedded systems are predominantly reactive by nature.
In the second part, the discussed concepts were directly tailored to one specific firmware. Now, let’s develop those concepts further to build an event system that can be integrated into many different applications.
More information...
#articles #programming #design
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📰 The US Air Force successfully tested this AI-controlled jet fighter
An autonomous jet fighter has now completed 17 hours of flight testing, including advanced fighter maneuvers and beyond-visual-range engagements, according to the United States Air Force.
"After training our AI-driven autonomy agents using high performance computing and modeling and simulation, it is critical that we fly these agents to validate the difference from the simulator to live flights. Having an aircraft like the X-62 is critical to rapid flight testing of these autonomous behaviors," said an Autonomous Air Combat Operations official.
During the flights, a human pilot was on board, able to take over should it be necessary.
More information...
#news #artificial_intelligence
An autonomous jet fighter has now completed 17 hours of flight testing, including advanced fighter maneuvers and beyond-visual-range engagements, according to the United States Air Force.
"After training our AI-driven autonomy agents using high performance computing and modeling and simulation, it is critical that we fly these agents to validate the difference from the simulator to live flights. Having an aircraft like the X-62 is critical to rapid flight testing of these autonomous behaviors," said an Autonomous Air Combat Operations official.
During the flights, a human pilot was on board, able to take over should it be necessary.
More information...
#news #artificial_intelligence
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📟 SeismoM5 - Open-Source Earthquake Sensor
SeismoM5 is an Earthquake Sensor Implementation on M5StickC, using its own MPU6886 accelerometer.
The properties of this project is:
▫️ Calibrate MPU6886 accelerometer and use calibration results as offsets.
▫️ Use DLPF - 5 Hz.
▫️ Use MQTT and send data, only when an earthquake happens.
▫️ Draw X,Y,Z accel results on M5stickC screen as graph, only when an earthquake happens.
▫️ Show PGA always.
▫️ Emergency alerts; Red Led and SPK HAT sound warning during an earthquake.
Usage: Seismologists mount accelerometer based seismic sensors to the lowest point of the structure, close to the ground as possible. However, since this is an amateur earthquake sensor, you could mount it as high as possible in the house, on a wall.
More information...
#projects #sensors
SeismoM5 is an Earthquake Sensor Implementation on M5StickC, using its own MPU6886 accelerometer.
The properties of this project is:
▫️ Calibrate MPU6886 accelerometer and use calibration results as offsets.
▫️ Use DLPF - 5 Hz.
▫️ Use MQTT and send data, only when an earthquake happens.
▫️ Draw X,Y,Z accel results on M5stickC screen as graph, only when an earthquake happens.
▫️ Show PGA always.
▫️ Emergency alerts; Red Led and SPK HAT sound warning during an earthquake.
Usage: Seismologists mount accelerometer based seismic sensors to the lowest point of the structure, close to the ground as possible. However, since this is an amateur earthquake sensor, you could mount it as high as possible in the house, on a wall.
More information...
#projects #sensors
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🎬 Are These Batteries The Future Of Energy Storage?
There’s a huge number of lithium-ion battery alternatives in the works… so many that it can be hard to keep track of them all. Let’s take a look at 5 next generation battery contenders, if they’re overhyped, and when they might end up in our smartphones, homes, or EVs. What does the future of energy storage look like for us beyond the tried-and-true lithium-ion battery?
https://youtu.be/n1TBAWlbXKI
#video #energy
There’s a huge number of lithium-ion battery alternatives in the works… so many that it can be hard to keep track of them all. Let’s take a look at 5 next generation battery contenders, if they’re overhyped, and when they might end up in our smartphones, homes, or EVs. What does the future of energy storage look like for us beyond the tried-and-true lithium-ion battery?
https://youtu.be/n1TBAWlbXKI
#video #energy
YouTube
Are These Batteries The Future Of Energy Storage?
Are These Batteries The Future Of Energy Storage? See why hiring doesn’t have to be difficult — when you try ZipRecruiter for free at https://www.ziprecruiter.com/UNDECIDED. There’s a huge number of lithium-ion battery alternatives in the works … so many…
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