Nikhil Agnihotri

Electronic door locks are safer than conventional door locks. There is no possibility of lock picking in such door locks as the entire mechanism is electronic. Such door locks have an underlying embedded access control system which is generally impenetrable. Several access control systems are used in electronic door locks. The most common access control…

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 learned how to interface a seven-segment display with Arduino. A seven-segment display is comprised of a unit of eight LEDs and seven of which are bar-shape and one is a dot. These display units are ideal for displaying numbers or letters. For example, they’re often used as a display unit…

In the previous tutorial, we discussed:  The functional blocks of a character LCD How character LCD works and is interfaced with a controller  How to display text on a character LCD In this tutorial, we will learn about scrolling long string of text on a character LCD, which can be tricky. A character LCD module has…

Mass is one of the seven basic physical quantities. In real-world applications, mass is often realized in the form of the object’s weight. The weight is the force of gravity acting on a body due to its mass. How is the weight of an object measured? It is done by sensing pressure exerted by it…

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 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 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…

RFID is a popular tagging and identification technology. Radio frequency identification involves one RFID tag and the second RFID reader. RFID tags and labels are low-cost and easily available. Compared to barcode tracking systems, RFID solutions have several advantages. One of the apparent advantages of RFID over barcodes is that it does not require a…

Motion tracking sensors are used in applications like robotics, gesture recognition, vehicle stabilization, position control in drones/quadcopters, pointing devices, game controllers, and fitness tracking devices. One of the popular motion tracking sensors is MPU6050. It is a six-axis MEMS motion tracking sensor that includes a MEMS accelerometer and a MEMS gyroscope. The sensor also has…

Machine learning and deep learning are the backbones of present-era artificial intelligence. While researchers are still finding their way to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the Weak/Narrow Artificial Intelligence has already grabbed a spot in all major industries. Almost 37 percent of organizations are using some form of Narrow AI in 2021. Artificial Intelligence has become…

Environment sensors are of great importance in embedded applications. Many temperature sensors measure the ambient temperature or temperature of a surface. For measuring water temperature and other fluids, waterproof temperature sensors are required. One of such temperature sensors is DS18B20. This sensor can measure the temperature of the air, liquids like water, and ground. The…

Today’s automobiles are not just a means of commuting and transportation; the vehicles are now designed feature-packed to make the journey a luxury experience. All of this comes by integrating sophisticated electronics with the vehicle’s ECU (Engine Control Unit). This new scenario has significantly changed how data communicate among different units of ECU. Traditional automotive…

Artificial Intelligence is a multi-disciplinary field that deals with making computers/machines intelligent like humans. Theoretically, it aims at simulating human cognitive functions and excelling them even better than humans. This theoretical concept of artificial intelligence is known as  “Artificial General Intelligence”. AI, from the view of its concept, is still in its infancy. Despite that,…

Data science is set to prevail in the 21st century. By the late 1900s, computers had already become an inseparable part of human civilization, all thanks to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. This followed the glorious rise of the internet all across the globe. Then with mobile phones, smartphones, and wearables, almost every person on…

BMP180 is a digital pressure sensor designed for low-power, low-voltage operation in mobile phones, navigation devices, and personal digital assistants. The sensor has an I2C interface to communicate sensor data. It can operate on 2.5~3.6V and consumes only 12 uA even in the ultra-high-resolution mode. The sensor can be used for several applications, including measuring…

Optical fingerprint scanners are prominent security devices nowadays. These scanners are low-cost and easy to use with any embedded hardware platform. The scanners have built-in memory and a controller to store and compare fingerprints. Usually, optical fingerprint scanners have a USB and/or UART port to communicate with external controllers or computers. The scanner handles enrollment…

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 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,…

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…