Yes, you read it right! Ever wondered how efficiently is your TV-remote that simply allows you to play with its keys or how your cell-phone has simplified your life. All the credit goes to that thing buried in your device i.e. the micro-controller. From the digital clocks to refrigerators to laser printers to anti-lock brakes name it and it is present. Basically, any product or device that interacts with its user has a micro-controller.

What is a Micro-Controller?

It is a computer. Confused? It’s alright! Let me give you some insights into this. Computers have a Central Processing Unit(CPU) that executes your program. A program is a set of rules that you as a user give to the computer to achieve a particular task. Micro-controllers are similar to the computers comprising three units:

• Input Unit
• Memory
• Output Unit

Thus, they are known as special-purpose computers.

Want to work on?

Arduino is the go to board for most folks looking for an introduction to microcontrollers. It is an open-source hardware. Arduino microcontrollers are pre-programmed with a boot loader that simplifies uploading of programs to the on-chip flash memory. The default boot loader of the Arduino UNO is the Opti boot loader. Boards are loaded with program code via a serial connection to another computer. To do so you use the Arduino programming language, and the Arduino Software (IDE), based on Processing. Wanting to work but don’t know how to? In order to do so, check out the getting started guide. You check out a variety of Tutorials on Arduino Project Hub. Further, you can also be a new member of the Arduino world by signing up on their website.

Moving onto Raspberry-Pie, No! No! it isn’t a piece of cake that you are thinking. Instead, it is a series of small single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the United Kingdom so as to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and in developing countries.

A small computer, as small as a credit card, the Raspberry-Pi is the operating system behind your TV or a keyboard. It is being used widely by students of all age groups in developing their electronics projects and robots. If you are someone who loves programming and are interested in learning more about this, you must check out the Raspberry-Pie and its various series.

Image Courtesy: www.parallax.com, Wikipedia.com, An Engineer’s Diary

admin