Introduction to Microcontrollers in Mechatronics

As a part of the Mechatronics College, the upcoming courses will all involve microcontrollers. So, what exactly is a microcontroller? Let’s take a brief look with Mechatronics Guru!

A microcontroller is an integrated circuit chip that uses very large scale integration technology to integrate a central processing unit (CPU) with data processing capabilities, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), various I/O ports, an interrupt system, timers/counters, and possibly additional circuits such as display driver circuits, pulse width modulation circuits, analog multiplexers, and A/D converters onto a single silicon chip, forming a compact and complete microcomputer system.

Microcontrollers are widely used in industrial control. Since the 1980s, they have evolved from 4-bit and 8-bit microcontrollers to today’s high-speed 32-bit microcontrollers operating at 300M.

1. Mainstream microcontrollers include CPU, 4KB ROM, 128 B RAM, 2 16-bit timers/counters, 4 8-bit parallel ports, full-duplex serial ports, ADC/DAC, SPI, I2C, ISP, and IAP.

2. Simple system structure, easy to use, and modular implementation;

3. High reliability, can operate for 10^6 to 10^7 hours without failure;

4. Strong processing capabilities and fast speed.

5. Low voltage, low power consumption, convenient for producing portable products;

6. Strong control capabilities;

7. Strong environmental adaptability.

Currently, microcontrollers have penetrated into various fields of our lives, and it is almost impossible to find a field without traces of microcontrollers. They are used in missile navigation devices, computer network communication and data transmission, real-time control and data processing in industrial automation processes, various widely used smart IC cards, safety systems in luxury civilian cars, control in video recorders, cameras, fully automatic washing machines, as well as in programmable toys and electronic pets. All of these rely on microcontrollers. Not to mention robots, smart instruments, medical devices, and various intelligent machinery in the field of automatic control. Therefore, the study, development, and application of microcontrollers will produce a group of scientists and engineers in computer applications and intelligent control.

1. Have the determination to study hard;

2. Have a complete set of learning and development tools;

3. Focus on combining theory with practice;

The process of learning microcontrollers is both exciting and exhausting, both frustrating and fulfilling, both lonely and enriching, both infuriating and gratifying, with feelings of loss and achievement. Mentally, one must have the determination to study hard, hardware-wise, one must have a complete set of learning and development tools, and software-wise, one must focus on the combination of theory and practice.