What microcontrollers should a beginner learn?

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What microcontrollers should a beginner learn? [Copy link]

 

What microcontrollers should a beginner learn?

csZhou

As a beginner, it is very important to choose a microcontroller that is suitable for beginners. The following are some common microcontrollers suitable for beginners:

1. Arduino Series :

   • Arduino is an open source hardware and software platform that provides an easy-to-use development environment and rich resources. Arduino Uno is the most common model, with a wealth of expansion modules and libraries, suitable for beginners to get started quickly.

2. Raspberry Pi :

   • Raspberry Pi is a powerful microcomputer, but it can also be used as an embedded system and single-chip microcomputer development. It provides a wealth of interfaces and resources, suitable for beginners to learn Linux system and embedded development.

3. STM32 Series :

   • STMicroelectronics' STM32 series of microcontrollers have rich peripherals and powerful performance, suitable for beginners to learn embedded system development and low-level programming.

4. ESP8266 and ESP32 :

   • ESP8266 and ESP32 are low-cost, high-performance Wi-Fi modules that can also be used as microcontrollers. They have rich interface and communication functions and are suitable for beginners in IoT projects and wireless communication applications.

5. PIC Series :

   • Microchip's PIC series of microcontrollers have a wide range of applications and rich development resources, suitable for beginners to learn embedded systems and low-level programming.

The above microcontrollers have rich tutorials and community support, and you can choose the appropriate model according to your personal interests and project requirements. Beginners can start with simple projects and gradually master the basic principles and programming skills of microcontrollers.

熙风细雨

If you are a beginner and want to get started with microcontrollers, I recommend starting with the following microcontroller series. These microcontrollers are easy to get started with, have rich resources and community support, and are suitable for beginners:

1. Arduino (AVR-based)

Features :

• Easy to get started : Arduino uses C/C++ for programming, provides a simplified programming environment and a large number of libraries, making programming easy.
• Rich resources : There are a large number of tutorials, projects, and community support, making it easy to find learning materials and solutions to problems.
• Open source hardware : You can make your own or buy a ready-made development board.

Good for : beginners, rapid prototyping, simple projects

Recommended learning resources :

• Arduino official website ( https://www.arduino.cc/ )
• E-book: Getting Started with Arduino by Massimo Banzi

2. STM32 (ARM Cortex-M based)

Features :

• Powerful performance : The STM32 series provides a wide range of choices from low-end to high-end, with powerful performance suitable for more complex applications.
• Rich peripherals : supports various communication interfaces, ADC, DAC, etc., suitable for complex embedded system development.
• Diverse development environments : Supports multiple development environments, such as STM32CubeIDE, Keil, IAR, etc.

Suitable for : beginners with a certain programming foundation, advanced applications, industrial control

Recommended learning resources :

• STMicroelectronics official website ( https://www.st.com/ )
• E-book: "Beginning STM32: Developing with FreeRTOS, libopencm3 and GCC" by Warren Gay
• Online tutorials and community support, such as the STM32 official forum

3. MSP430 (Texas Instruments)

Features :

• Low power design : suitable for applications with high power requirements, such as portable devices and sensor nodes.
• Simple and easy to learn : Use C language for programming, with rich development tools and resources.
• High-precision ADC : Suitable for applications requiring high-precision analog signal processing.

Suitable for : low power applications, sensor projects

Recommended learning resources :

• Texas Instruments official website ( https://www.ti.com/ )
• E-book: Getting Started with the MSP430 Launchpad by Adrian Fernandez, Dung Dang
• TI official forums and online resources

Suggested learning steps

1. Basic knowledge learning :

   • Understand the basic structure and working principle of microcontrollers.
   • Learn basic electronic circuit knowledge.

2. Select your development board :

   • Choose a development board that suits you (such as Arduino UNO, STM32F4 Discovery, etc.).

3. Install the development environment :

   • According to the selected MCU, install the corresponding development environment and tool chain.
   • For Arduino, you can download the Arduino IDE.
   • For STM32, you can download STM32CubeIDE or Keil.

4. Learn to program :

   • Learn the basics of C language, because most microcontroller programming is based on C language.
   • Learn how to write, compile, and download programs using a development environment.

5. Start with a simple project :

   • Start with simple projects like blinking an LED, reading keystrokes, and more.
   • Gradually increase the complexity of the project, such as implementing PWM control, ADC reading, communication interface, etc.

6. Participate in communities and forums :

   • Join relevant communities and forums to communicate with other developers and get help and resources.
   • For example, the Arduino official forum, ST community, etc.

Through systematic learning and practice, you will be able to master the basic knowledge and skills of microcontrollers, laying a solid foundation for subsequent more complex project development.

ningzhi

As an electronics engineer, getting started with microcontrollers (MCUs) is a very useful skill. Here are some MCUs suitable for beginners and their learning paths:

1. Choose the right microcontroller

Recommended MCU Platform

1. Arduino

   • Pros : Arduino is a popular choice for beginners, with an easy-to-use development environment and abundant online resources.
   • Model : Arduino Uno, Arduino Nano.
   • Scope of application : Suitable for simple embedded systems and rapid prototyping.

2. STMicroelectronics STM32

   • Advantages : The STM32 series is based on the ARM Cortex-M core, has powerful performance, and is widely used in industrial and consumer electronics.
   • Model : STM32F103 (commonly used by beginners), STM32F407 (high performance).
   • Applicable scope : Suitable for projects requiring higher performance and complexity.

3. ESP8266/ESP32

   • Advantages : Integrated Wi-Fi functionality, suitable for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
   • Model : ESP8266, ESP32.
   • Scope of application : Suitable for projects that require wireless connection.

4. Microchip PIC

   • Advantages : PIC microcontrollers are rich in variety and have good stability.
   • Model : PIC16F877A, PIC18F4520.
   • Scope of application : Suitable for various electronic projects, especially those requiring low power consumption and high stability.

2. Prepare tools

• Development board : Select a suitable development board (such as Arduino Uno, STM32 development board).
• Programming tool : USB programmer or programming interface provided by the development board.
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment) :
  • Arduino IDE : For Arduino development boards.
  • STM32CubeIDE : For STM32 development boards.
  • MPLAB X IDE : For Microchip PIC microcontrollers.
  • PlatformIO : A cross-platform development tool that supports multiple microcontroller platforms.

3. Learning Resources

• Official documentation and tutorials : Each platform has official documentation and introductory tutorials, so be sure to read them carefully.

  • Arduino official tutorial: Arduino Getting Started
  • STM32 official tutorial: STM32 Getting Started
  • ESP32 official tutorial: ESP32 Get Started
  • Microchip official tutorial: MPLAB X IDE

• books :

  • 《Arduino Project Tutorial》: Suitable for Arduino beginners.
  • "Introduction and Practice of STM32F103C8T6": suitable for STM32 beginners.
  • "ESP8266/ESP32 Quick Start and Application Development": suitable for ESP series beginners.
  • "Introduction and Practice of C Language for PIC Microcontroller": Suitable for PIC microcontroller beginners.

• Online courses and video tutorials :

  • There are many free microcontroller courses on platforms such as Udemy , Coursera , and edX .
  • Microcontroller tutorial videos on YouTube .

4. Hands-on Practice

• Basic project :

  • LED flashing : control the on and off of the LED and understand basic I/O operations.
  • Button input : read the button status and realize key control of LED.
  • Temperature sensor : read temperature sensor data and output through the serial port.

• Advanced Projects :

  • PWM Control : Use PWM to control LED brightness or motor speed.
  • Serial port communication : realize serial port communication between MCU and PC.
  • I2C/SPI Communication : I2C or SPI communication with sensors or other peripherals.

• Comprehensive Project :

  • IoT Project : Implementing Wireless Sensor Networks using ESP8266/ESP32.
  • Robotics Project : Use STM32 or Arduino to control robot movement and obstacle avoidance.

5. Join the community

• Forums and communities : Join official forums or third-party technical communities such as Arduino, STM32, and Microchip to exchange experiences with other developers and get help.
• Open source projects : Find and participate in MCU-related open source projects on GitHub or other open source platforms to learn and practice from them.

Through the above steps, you can gradually master the basic knowledge and skills of MCU, and through continuous practice and learning, deeply understand and apply MCU technology. I wish you a smooth study!