Nikhil Agnihotri

In the previous tutorial, we discussed multiplexing seven-segment displays (SSDs). Continuing with the display devices, in this tutorial, we will cover how to interface character LCD when using Arduino. Character LCDs are the most common display devices used in embedded systems. These low-cost LCDs are widely used in industrial and consumer applications. Display devices in embedded systems…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed interfacing RGB LEDs with Arduino. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to interface seven-segment display (SSD) when using Arduino.  When interfacing with any kind of display device, Arduino and other controllers use digital output or serial communication. Driving SSDs by Arduino is as simple as driving an LED on it. The seven-segment…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed analog input when using Arduino. So far, we have covered four out of the five ways that controllers can interface and interact with other electronic components and devices. This includes digital output, digital input, analog output, and analog input.  In this tutorial, we discuss how to interface RGB LEDs using Arduino.…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed Tkinter and TTK widgets. With the help of these widgets, we will be creating user interfaces to control embedded electronics. We have already created a blank GUI window for our ‘Raspberry Pi Embedded Electronics Control App’. In this tutorial, we will discuss ttk menus and will create one for…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed analog output in the form of PWM signals when using Arduino. We generated a PWM wave from Arduino by employing the analogWrite() function that approximates to a rectified sine wave. It, then, uses that analog output to fade an LED.  A controller can interface and interact with external electronic components…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the window widget in Tkinter and designed a blank GUI main window. The main window (which is not a child to any other window in the GUI application) and child windows serve as a container for other widgets. There is no point of blank windows. There must be other…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the digital input process for using Arduino. We also explained push buttons (momentary type buttons) and how to use them for data or command input via a digital input.  Any controller can interface and interact with other electronic devices in five ways: digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input,…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed digital output from Arduino to drive an LED. A controller can interface and interact with other devices in five ways: digital output, digital input, analog output, analog input, and serial communication.  In this tutorial, we will use digital input from Arduino to read the state of a tactile switch…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the basics about Arduino sketches, with a a quick Arduino language reference. Now, it’s time to get our hands dirty. Interfacing LED and driving digital output from a source is the “Hello World” of embedded systems.  As discussed in the previous tutorial, a microcontroller interfaces and interacts with other…

The previous tutorial included a discussion about the tools and components necessary to get started with Arduino. However, before starting with Arduino UNO (or any other Arduino board) — and experimenting with hardware projects on various sensors, actuators, and modules — it’s important to get through the basics of Arduino sketches and the embedded C…

Arduino are single-board microcontrollers that are easily programmable through a USB connection. They are used with electronics to design embedded system prototypes, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), and electronic gadgets.  Much like other microcontrollers, Arduino provides software-backed computing and embedded control to basic electronics applications. That means getting started with Arduino is no different than with other…

Embedded electronics are in a countless number of devices and appliances, with microcontrollers at the heart of the operation. A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit that controls a specific operation in an embedded system. There was a time when only BASIC stamp microcontrollers, with a simple interpreter, were available for designing, prototyping, and testing…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the object-oriented features of Python. These features are of great importance in organizing our code and structuring our applications. Now, let us talk about designing graphic interfaces in Python. Embedded applications developed on microcontrollers usually have LEDs, character LCDs, or small graphic LCDs as display devices. These displays cannot…

In the previous tutorials, we discussed sequences and unordered collections in Python. We also learned about operations, functions, and methods applicable to them. There can also be more complex data structures in an application. The data values in these data structures can have a complex relationship and behavior. These data structures are defined as user-defined…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed manipulating data values in lists and byte arrays. Python also has mutable unordered collections like sets and dictionaries. Let us see how data values/objects in sets and dictionaries can be manipulated. Sets Sets are unordered mutable collections of items. The items in a set can be any arbitrary immutable…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed basic syntax and elements of Python language. In Python, there are six types of sequences – strings, bytes, byte arrays, range, tuples, and lists. The strings, bytes, range, and tuples are immutable sequences and cannot be modified once defined. It is only possible to create or destroy these sequences.…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the syntax of Python — identifiers, keywords, comments, statements, literals, and some data types in Python. We also discussed that Python is object-oriented in that everything in Python is an object, and even data types are classes. Python objects can be mutable or immutable. Python objects that point to…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed the Python language, its applications, implementations (CPython, Jython, IronPython, and PyPy), and IDEs. We also discussed writing Python scripts and modules and learned to run Python scripts through IDLE and Bash shell. Before we jump to controlling hardware via Python scripts, it will be useful to have a strong…

In the previous tutorial, we successfully set up a Raspberry Pi Linux desktop. Let us now start learning Python. We could have jumped right to controlling hardware using Python scripts, but this will defeat the very purpose of using Raspberry Pi and a Very-High-Level-Language (VHLL) like Python to control electronics. We can easily control electronics…

In the previous article, we discussed the role of an operating system. We explored about Linux as a popular open-source operating system that can be used and modified to be used for desktop, mobile, server, cloud, mainframe, supercomputer, cluster, and embedded computing. Raspbian, the official OS for the Raspberry Pi itself is based on Debian…