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Пам'яті Мулика Андрія Олександровича kpi пн, 11/17/2025 - 10:34

Відзнака "За заслуги перед КПІ ім. Ігоря Сікорського". Від КПІ з вдячністю та повагою kpi пн, 11/17/2025 - 10:00

Like in nature, development tools for embedded systems form “ecosystems.” Some ecosystems are very self-contained, with little overlap on others, while other ecosystems are very open and broad with support for everything but the kitchen sink. Moreover, developers and engineers have strong opinions (to put it mildly) about this subject.

So, we developed a greenhouse that sustains multiple ecosystems; the greenhouse demo we built shows multiple microcontrollers (MCUs) and their associated ecosystems working together.

The greenhouse demo

The greenhouse demo is a simplified version of a greenhouse controller. The core premise of this implementation is to intelligently open/close the roof to allow rainwater into the greenhouse. This is implemented using a motorized canvas tarp mechanism. The canvas tarp was created from old promotional canvas tote bags and sewn into the required shape.

The mechanical guides and lead screw for the roof are repurposed from a 3D printer with a stepper motor drive. An evaluation board is used as a rain sensor. Finally, a user interface panel enables a manual override of the automatic (rain) controls.

Figure 1 The greenhouse demo is mounted on a tradeshow wedge. Source: Microchip

It’s implemented as four function blocks:

1. A user interface, capacitive touch controller with the PIC32CM GC Curiosity Pro (EA36K74A) in VS Code
2. A smart stepper motor controller reference design built on the AVR EB family of MCUs in MPLAB Code Configurator Melody
3. A main application processor with SAM E54 on the Xplained Pro development kit (ATSAME54-XPRO), running Zephyr RTOS
4. A liquid detector using the MTCH9010 evaluation kit

The greenhouse demo outlined in in this article is based on a retractable roof developed by Microchip’s application engineering team in Romania. This reference design is implemented in a slightly different fashion to the greenhouse, with the smart stepper motor controller interfacing directly with the MTCH9010 evaluation board to control the roof position. This configuration is ideal for applications where the application processor does not need to be aware of the current state of the roof.

Figure 2 This retractable roof demo was developed by a design team in Romania. Source: Microchip

User interface controller

Since the control panel for this greenhouse normally would be in an area where water should be expected, it was important to take this into account when designing the user interface. Capacitive touch panels are attractive as they have no moving parts and can be sealed under a panel easily. However, capacitive touch can be vulnerable to false triggers from water.

To minimize these effects, an MCU with an enhanced peripheral touch controller (PTC) was used to contain the effects of any moisture present. Development of the capacitive touch interface was aided with MPLAB Harmony and the capacitive touch libraries, which greatly reduce the difficulty in developing touch applications.

The user interface for this demo is composed of a PIC32CM GC Curiosity Pro (EA36K74A) development kit connected to a QT7 XPlained Pro Extension (ATQT7-XPRO) kit to provide a (capacitive) slider and two touch buttons.

Figure 3 The QT7 Xplained extension kit comes with self-capacitance slider and two self-capacitance buttons alongside 8 LEDs to enable button state and slider position feedback. Source: Microchip

The two buttons allow the user to fully open or close the tarp, while the slider enables partial open or closed configurations. When the user interface is idle for 30 seconds or more, the demo switches back to the MTCH9010 rain sensor to automatically determine whether the tarp should be opened or closed.

Smart stepper motor controller

The smart stepper motor controller is a reference design that utilizes the AVR EB family of MCUs to generate the waveforms required to perform stepping/half-stepping/microstepping of a stepper motor. By having the MCU generate the waveforms, the motor can behave independently, rather than requiring logic or interaction from the main application processor(s) elsewhere in the system. This is useful for signals such as limit switches, mechanical stops, quadrature encoders, or other signals to monitor.

Figure 4 Smart stepper motor reference design uses core independent peripherals (CIPs) inside the MCUs to microstep a bipolar winding stepper motor. Source: Microchip

The MCU receives commands from the application processor and executes them to move the tarp to a specified location. One of the nice things about this being a “smart” stepper motor controller is that the functionality can be adjusted in software. For instance, if analog signals or limit switches are added, the firmware can be modified to account for these signals.

While the PCB attached to the motor is custom, this function block can be replicated with the multi-phase power board (EV35Z86A), the AVR EB Curiosity Nano adapter (EV88N31A) and the AVR EB Curiosity Nano (EV73J36A).

Application processor and other ecosystems

The application processor in this demo is a SAM E54 MCU that runs Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS). One of the biggest advantages of Zephyr over other RTOSes and toolchains is the way that the application programming interface (API) is kept uniform with clean divisions between the vendor-specific code and the abstracted, higher-level APIs. This allows developers to write code that works across multiple MCUs with minimal headaches.

Zephyr also has robust networking support and an ever-expanding list of capabilities that make it a must-have for complex applications. Zephyr is open source (Apache 2.0 licensing) with a very active user base and support for multiple different programming tools such as—but not limited to—OpenOCD, Segger J-Link and gdb.

Beyond the ecosystems used directly in the greenhouse demo, there are several other options. Some of the more popular examples include IAR Embedded Workbench, Arm Keil, MikroE’s Necto Studio and SEGGER Embedded Studio. These tools are premium offerings with advanced features and high-quality support to match.

For instance, I recently had an issue with booting Zephyr on an MCU where I could not access the usual debuggers and printf was not an option. I used SEGGER Ozone with a J-Link+ to troubleshoot this complex issue. Ozone is a special debug environment that eschews the usual IDE tabs to provide the developer with more specialized windows and screens.

In my case, the issue occurred where the MCU would start up correctly from the debugger, but not from a cold start. After some troubleshooting and testing, I eventually determined one of the faults was a RAM initialization error in my code. I patched the issue with a tiny piece of startup assembly that ran before the main kernel started up. The snippet of assembly that I wrote is attached below for anyone interested.

The moral of the story is that development environments offer unique advantages. An example of this is IAR adding support for Zephyr to its IDE solution. In many ways, the choice of what ecosystem to develop in is up to personal preference.

There isn’t really a wrong answer, if it does what you need to make your design work. The greenhouse demo embodies this by showing multiple ecosystems and toolchains working together in a single system.

Robert Perkel is an application engineer at Microchip Technology. In this role, he develops technical content such as application notes, contributed articles, and design videos. He is also responsible for analyzing use-cases of peripherals and the development of code examples and demonstrations. Perkel is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering.

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The post The ecosystem view around an embedded system development appeared first on EDN.

the one on the left is the switched-mode power supply its much smaller and lighter, this one can output twice as much current as the linear power supply on the right submitted by /u/BlacksmithFar7794 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/pushpendra766 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/RedEnderman_sk [link] [comments]

Made by a high school robotics team in MN submitted by /u/edinapieceofcake [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/1Davide
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Good news for Keithley 2000 / 2015 / 2016 / 2010 DMM owners with dim displays. This is a drop-in LED display conversion kit that replaces the original dim VFD. submitted by /u/dimmog [link] [comments]

So this is my power supply i have built. A dual rail ±37V 1-1.5A Linear power supply using lm317 and lm337 so far untill it have built a series pass voltage and current regulator for it just to get it started. Also going to add 0.33 ohm resistor between the 15000uF and 10000uF capacitors. My noise levels are low i think as can be seen in picture 1. I have a soft starter, emi filter on the AC side before transformer, filterd rectifier using small rc filters on each diode, 20d20 ntc, 15000uF, 10000uF. 5630uF +, capacitance multiplier, emi dc filter, another dc filter. Regulator, out. submitted by /u/Whyjustwhydothat [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/AutoModerator
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Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA is to establish a new facility in Gaffney, Cherokee County, South Carolina, to onshore final production processes for Series 6 Plus modules initiated by the company’s international fleet. The firm expects to spend about $330m to establish the new facility, which is scheduled to begin commercial operation in second-half 2026. The facility is forecasted to create more than 600 new jobs with an average manufacturing salary of $74,000 per year, approximately twice the per capita income in Cherokee County...

💝 Гала-концерт КПІ Арт kpi пт, 11/14/2025 - 18:58

Пам'яті Нагірного Ярослава Павловича kpi пт, 11/14/2025 - 18:51

💛💙 Запрошуємо на виставку «Музей у тривожній валізі» kpi пт, 11/14/2025 - 18:45

submitted by /u/Alive-Opportunity-23 [link] [comments]

The future of the industrial market is being established by groundbreaking technologies that promise to reveal unique potential and redefine what is possible. These innovations range from collaborative robots (cobots) and artificial intelligence to the internet of things, digital twins, and cloud computing.

Cobots are not just tools but partners, empowering human workers to achieve greater creativity and productivity together. AI is ushering industries into a new era of intelligence, where data-driven insights accelerate innovation and transform challenges into opportunities.

The IoT is weaving vast, interconnected machines and systems that enable seamless communication and real-time responsiveness like never before. Digital twins bring imagination to life by creating virtual environments where ideas can be tested, refined, and perfected before they touch reality. Cloud computing serves as the backbone of this revolution, offering limitless power and connectivity to drive brave visions forward.

Together, these technologies are inspiring a new industrial renaissance, where innovation, sustainability, and human initiative converge to build a smarter, more resilient world.

The role of sensors

Sensors are the silent leaders driving the industrial market’s transformation into a realm of intelligence and possibility. Serving as the “eyes and ears” of smart factories, these devices unlock the power of real-time data, enabling industries to look beyond the surface and anticipate the future. By continuously sensing pressure, temperature, position, vibration, and more, sensors enable workers to be continuously monitored and bring machines to life, turning them into connected, responsive entities within the industrial IoT (IIoT).

This flow of information accelerates innovation, enables predictive maintenance, and enhances safety. Sensors do not just monitor; they usher in a new era where efficiency meets sustainability, where every process is optimized, and where industries embrace change with confidence. In this industrial landscape, sensors are the catalysts that transform raw data into insights for smarter, faster, and more resilient industries.

Challenges for industrial motion sensing applications

Sensors in industrial environments face several significant challenges. They must operate continuously for years on battery power without failure. Additionally, it is crucial that they capture every critical event to ensure no incidents are missed. Sensors must provide accurate and precise tracking to manage processes effectively. Simultaneously, they need to be compact yet powerful, integrating multiple functions into a small device.

Most importantly, sensors must deliver reliable tracking and data collection in any environment—whether harsh, noisy, or complex—ensuring consistent performance regardless of external conditions. Overcoming these challenges is essential to making factories smarter and more efficient through connected technologies, such as the IIoT and MEMS motion sensors.

MEMS inertial sensors are essential devices that detect motion by measuring accelerations, vibrations, and angular rates, ensuring important events are never missed in an industrial environment. Customers need these motion sensors to work efficiently while saving power and to keep performing reliably even in tough conditions, such as high temperatures.

However, there are challenges to overcome. Sometimes sensors can become overwhelmed, causing them to miss important impact or vibration details. Using multiple sensors to cover different motion ranges can be complicated, and managing power consumption in an IIoT node is also a concern.

There is a tradeoff between accuracy and range: Sensors that measure small movements are very precise but can’t handle strong impacts, while those that detect strong impacts are less accurate. In industrial settings, sensors must be tough enough to handle harsh environments while still providing reliable and accurate data. Solving these challenges is key to making MEMS sensors more effective in many applications.

How the new ST industrial IMU can help

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) typically integrate accelerometers to measure linear acceleration and gyroscopes to detect angular velocity. These devices often deliver space and cost savings while reducing design complexity.

One example is ST’s new ISM6HG256X intelligent IMU. This MEMS sensor is the industry’s first IMU for the industrial market to integrate high-g and low-g sensing into a single package with advanced features such as sensor fusion and edge processing.

The ISM6HG256X addresses key industrial market challenges by integrating a single mechanical structure for an accelerometer with a wide dynamic range capable of capturing both low-g vibrations (16 g) and high-g shocks (256 g) and a gyroscope, effectively eliminating the need for multiple sensors and simplifying system architecture. This compact device leverages embedded edge processing and adaptive self-configurability to optimize performance while significantly reducing power consumption, thereby extending battery life.

Engineered to withstand harsh industrial environments, the IMU reliably operates at temperatures up to 105°C, ensuring consistent accuracy and durability under demanding conditions. Supporting Industry 5.0 initiatives, the sensor’s advanced sensing architecture and edge processing capabilities enable smarter, more autonomous industrial systems that drive innovation.

Unlocking smarter tracking and safety, this integrated MEMS motion sensor is designed to meet the demanding needs of the industrial sector. It enables real-time asset tracking for logistics and shipping, providing up-to-the-minute information on location, status, and potential damage. It also enhances worker safety through wearable devices that detect falls and impacts, instantly triggering emergency alerts to protect personnel.

Additionally, it supports condition monitoring by accurately tracking vibration, shock, and precise motion of industrial equipment, helping to prevent downtime and costly failures. In factory automation, the solution detects unusual vibrations or impacts in robotic systems instantly, ensuring smooth and reliable operation. By combining tracking, monitoring, and protection into one component, industrial operations can achieve higher efficiency, safety, and reliability with streamlined system design.

The ISM6HG256X IMU sensor combines simultaneous low-g (±16 g) and high-g (±256 g) acceleration detection with a high-performance precision gyroscope for angular rate measurement. (Source: STMicroelectronics)

As the industrial market landscape evolves toward greater flexibility, sustainability, and human-centered innovation, industrial IMU solutions are aligned with the key drivers shaping the future of the industrial market. IMUs can enable precise motion tracking, reliable condition monitoring, and energy-efficient edge processing while supporting the decentralization of production and enhancing resilience and agility within supply chains.

Additionally, the integration of advanced sensing technologies contributes to sustainability goals by optimizing resource use and minimizing waste. As manufacturers increasingly adopt AI-driven collaboration and advanced technology integration, IMU solutions provide the critical data and reliability needed to drive innovation, customization, and continuous improvement across the industry.

The post The role of motion sensors in the industrial market appeared first on EDN.

We’ve looked at lightning issues before. Please see “Ground strikes and lightning protection of buried cables.”

This headline below was found online at the URL hyperlinked here.

Recent headline from the local paper. Source: ABC7NY

This ABC NY article describes how a teenage boy tried to take refuge from the rain in a thunderstorm by getting under the canopy of a tree. In that article, we find this quote: “The teen had no way of knowing that the tree would be hit by lightning.”

This quote, apparently the opinion of the article’s author, is absolutely incorrect. It is total and unforgivable rubbish.

Even when I was knee-high to Jiminy Cricket, I was told over and over and over by my parents NEVER to try to get away from rain by hiding under a tree. Any tree that you come across will have its leaves reaching way up into the air, and those wet leaves are a prime target for a lightning strike, as illustrated in this screenshot:

Conceptual image of lightning striking tree. Source: Stockvault

Somebody didn’t impart this basic safety lesson to this teenager. It is miraculous that this teenager survived the event. The above article cites second-degree burns, but a radio item that I heard about this incident also cites nerve damage and a great deal of lingering pain.

Recovery is expected.

John Dunn is an electronics consultant, and a graduate of The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (BSEE) and of New York University (MSEE).

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• Misplaced insulator proves fatal

The post Lightning and trees appeared first on EDN.

Rohde & Schwarz and Samsung are collaborating to bring 5G NR-NTN to market. Both companies have worked together to enable the validation of the first 5G-based New Radio non-terrestrial networks (NR-NTN) test cases in accordance with the 3GPP test specifications for RF (Radio Frequency), RRM (Radio Resource Management) and PCT (Protocol Conformance Testing) using conformance test solutions from Rohde & Schwarz. The validated test cases, as defined by PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board) RFT 555 (Request for Testing), were conducted on the R&S TS8980 Conformance Test Platform, the R&S TS-RRM and the CMX500 in frequency range 1 (FR1) verifying Samsung’s latest NR-NTN chipset as device under test (DUT).

In preparation for the commercial rollout of a new mobile technology, 3GPP conformance testing is essential for ensuring that devices and networks comply with global standards. This is particularly true for 5G NR-NTN, set to bring reliable satellite-based connectivity to remote areas. However, NR-NTN testing presents challenges that extend beyond those encountered in traditional terrestrial networks, primarily due to the vastly different operating environment and the dynamic nature of satellite-based communication.

Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, said: “Conformance testing – covering RF, RRM and PCT – is critical for a positive user experience and a stable mobile ecosystem. Rohde & Schwarz has consistently been leading edge in conformance testing, providing its comprehensive solutions across all three domains. We’re proud to partner with industry leaders like Samsung who rely on our solutions to ensure device conformance, to enable tomorrow’s connectivity.”

The post Rohde & Schwarz, together with Samsung, first to validate 3GPP NR-NTN conformance across RF, RRM and PCT appeared first on ELE Times.

Олексій Роготченко з ВПІ: "У своїй книзі я намагався реабілітувати незаслужено забутих митців" Інформація КП пт, 11/14/2025 - 10:55