Microcontroller Education and Trends
One of the important aspects of modern electronic technology is embedded systems based on microcontrollers. Microcontroller education is an important aspect of being able to effectively utilize their capabilities.
Users need to understand the architecture and main elements of recent embedded Microcontrollers, Digital Signal Controllers and Digital Signal Processors. Users need to know how to use development tools for embedded technology, such as cross-compilers, debuggers, behavior simulators and hardware programmers. Often, the emphasis will be on how to interface different peripherals to embedded Microcontroller systems and how to program specialized real world algorithms into the microcontrollers, digital signal controllers or digital signal processors.
Despite the appeal of powerful 32- and 64-bit microprocessors employed in computer systems (Intel's Pentium, Sun's Niagara, or PowerPC from AMCC and Motorola), it is 4- and 8-bit controllers which are of most widespread use in embedded applications constituting about 80% of the units shipped. High performance microprocessors are used in powerful computers, but microcontrollers are embedded in multiple products in many application areas including: cars (ABS, engine control, airbag, diagnostics), electrical appliances (dryers, microwaves, stoves, washing machines), audio and video (digital cameras and video recorders, TV sets), communications (phones, fax, modems), computer peripherals, industrial controls, instruments, smart cards, sensors, smart homes, and many more things. Greater than 40 microcontrollers work away quietly in a top-of-the-range car, and about 20-50 in most homes in OECD countries.
In view of the great significance of the microcontroller today, the reader will be aware of the importance of microcontrollers and microcontroller education play in our lives and standards of living. A few semiconductor companies are pioneering the move towards smarter microcontrollers which can provide greater benefits at the same cost as low end microcontrollers and at substantially less cost than traditional higher end floating point signal processors. These companies are leading the way with 16 bit fixed point digital signal controllers, digital signal processors and associated microcontrollers.
With off the shelf libraries to deliver stunning digitial signal processing performance from these controllers, end users stand to benefit through:
- reduced energy consumption in appliances
- drive by wire systems
- better fuel economy
- better video and audio systems at much lower cost
- everyday motion control
- smart instruments
- and much more.
RoweBots DSPnano RTOS offers the very best in libraries, I/O and POSIX performance for embedded development for a range of microcontrollers including: Altera, Renesas, Microchip, Freescale, AMCC, and more. Microcontroller training is an integral part of this offering – see for yourself today.
