Getting Started With CUDA C on an Nvidia Jetson: GPU Architecture
In the previous blog post (Getting Started With CUDA C on Jetson Nvidia: Hello CUDA World!) I showed how to develop applications targeted at a GPU on a Nvidia Jetson Nano. As we observed in that blog post, performing a calculation on a 1-D array on a GPU had no performance benefit compared to a traditional CPU implementation, even on an array with many elements. In this blog post, we will learn about the GPU architecture to better explain the behavior and to understand the applications where a GPU shines (hint: it has to do with graphics).
MSP430 LaunchPad Tutorial - Part 4 - UART Transmission
Today we are going to learn how to communicate using UART with the Launchpad. For this purpose I will replace the default microcontroller that comes with the board with the MSP430G2553. It is the most powerful device in the MSP430 Value Line and...
How Embedded Linux is used in Spacecrafts !
This article dives into the application of Linux in spacecraft, examining the challenges it poses and proposing potential solutions. Real-life examples will be discussed, while also addressing the drawbacks of employing Linux in safety-critical missions.
How to Implement Image Processing Algorithms in FPGA Hardware
Recognized for their parallelism and reconfigurability, FPGAs prove ideal for real-time processing in medical imaging and computer vision. The step-by-step approach starts with understanding FPGA basics, emphasizing their reconfigurable nature and parallel processing. It guides users in algorithm selection based on factors like processing speed, resource utilization, and adaptability, then highlights designing modular and scalable algorithms. The process includes simulation for verification, synthesis using tools like Xilinx Vivado and Intel Quartus Prime, interfacing with image sensors, and testing on real hardware. The conclusion underscores FPGA's advantages in image processing, presenting ongoing opportunities for innovation in diverse industries.
My Guiding Principles As An Engineer
These are my guiding principles as an embedded systems software engineer, forged over 40 years of experience. They shape the way I work and approach problems, and maintain my attitude in the face of adversity. You may find them useful as...
Review: Hands-On RTOS with Microcontrollers
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book for evaluation.Hands-On RTOS with Microcontrollers: Building real-time embedded systems using FreeRTOS, STM32 MCUs, and SEGGER debug tools by Brian Amos is an outstanding book. It lives...
Boot Sequence for an ARM based embedded system
Hello all, Allow me to introduce myself. I am Deeksha and I come from plains of North India. My tryst with embedded technologies has been 5 years long and every single day I am amazed with the vastness and learning involved. The thing with...
VHDL tutorial - A practical example - part 3 - VHDL testbench
In part 1 (http://www.embeddedrelated.com/showarticle/85.php) of this series we focused on the hardware design, including some of the VHDL definitions of the I/O characteristics of the CPLD part. In part 2...
Stand-by or boot-up
Many factors affect the usability of devices - a key one is how long it takes to start up.
Write Better Code with Block Diagrams and Flowcharts
Reading and writing code without architectural diagrams is like trying to follow complex instructions without any explanatory pictures: nigh impossible! By taking the time to draw out the block diagrams and flowcharts for your code, you can help identify problems before they arise and make your code easier to design, write, test, and debug. In this article, I'll briefly justify the importance of architectural drawings such as block diagrams and flowcharts and then teach you what they are and how to draw them. Using two simple examples, you'll see first-hand how these drawings can significantly amplify your understanding of a piece of code. Additionally, I'll give you a few tips for how to implement each drawing once you've completed it and I'll share with you a few neat tools to help you complete your next set of drawings.
Getting Started With Embedded Linux - From Nothing To A Login Prompt
One of the famous observations that have been made related to embedded systems is referred to as “Moore’s Law”, which states that the number of transistors in integrated circuits doubles every year. This observation has held mostly true...
Skills For Embedded Systems Software Developers
Contents: Introduction Do I Need To Be An Expert In Everything? How Much Time Do I need? Do I need A College Degree? Why Is The List So Big? Do I Really Need All These Things? The Skills Software Hardware Software Development...
Five ‘80s Movies that Inspired Me to Become an Engineer
Five ‘80s Movies that Inspired Me to Become an EngineerMovies and pop culture can incredibly impact society, particularly children. However, we never really know what conversation, demonstration, or movie could inspire someone to become an...
3 Overlooked Embedded Software Elements
Have you ever wondered, while you and your team are busy writing software if the foundation of how embedded software systems are built has changed and left you in the dust? What if while you were busily focusing on getting your product out the...
Learning A New Microcontroller
Contents: Introduction Background For The Beginner The Peripherals System Complexity Support Software Do It Like Phil The Programs GPIO And Timers UART And Timers I2C/SPI PWM ADC Go Crazy And Combine Them All WET And DRY...
Development of the MOS Technology 6502: A Historical Perspective
One ubiquitous microprocessor of the late 1970s and 1980s was the MOS Technology MCS 6502. I included a section on the development of the 6502 in Part 2 of Supply Chain Games, and have posted it as an excerpt here, as I believe it is deserving...
Supply Chain Games: What Have We Learned From the Great Semiconductor Shortage of 2021? (Part 2)
Welcome back! Today we’re going to zoom around again in some odd directions, and give a roundabout introduction to the semiconductor industry, touching on some of the following questions: How do semiconductors get designed and...
Patterns of Thinking: Metaphors in Programming
Several years ago, I once attended an “Object-Oriented Analysis and Design” training. As most such courses go, the instructor began with brushing up on the fundamental OO concepts. When explaining inheritance, the instructor spontaneously...
Reading and Understanding Profitability Metrics from Financial Statements
Whoa! That has got to be the most serious-minded title I’ve ever written. Profitability Metrics from Financial Statements, indeed. I’m still writing Part 2 of my Supply Chain Games article, and I was about to mention something about...
A Second Look at Slew Rate Limiters
I recently had to pick a slew rate for a current waveform, and I got this feeling of déjà vu… hadn’t I gone through this effort already? So I looked, and lo and behold, way back in 2014 I wrote an article titled Slew Rate...
Getting Started With Zephyr: Devicetree Bndings
This blog post shines some light on how devicetrees are used in The Zephyr Project. Specifically, we understand the mechanisms that enable us to use nodes in the devicetree in the C source files. We use a sample provided in the Zephyr repository itself and work our way through portions of the Zephyr codebase to get insight into the mechanisms that make this possible.
C to C++: Bridging the Gap from C Structures to Classes
In our last post, C to C++: Proven Techniques for Embedded Systems Transformation, we started to discuss the different ways that C++ can be used to write embedded software. You saw that there is no reason to be overwhelmed by trying to adopt...
Important Programming Concepts (Even on Embedded Systems) Part VI : Abstraction
Earlier articles: Part I: Idempotence Part II: Immutability Part III: Volatility Part IV: Singletons Part V: State Machines We have come to the last part of the Important Programming Concepts series, on abstraction. I thought I might...
Peripheral Interaction Without a Linux Device Driver Using Spidev
Overview When integrating a new peripheral onto an embedded Linux platform, we might think we always need to implement a kernel module to serve as a device driver. However, as we all know, absolutes such as “always” and “never” are...
Patterns of Thinking: Metaphors in Programming
Several years ago, I once attended an “Object-Oriented Analysis and Design” training. As most such courses go, the instructor began with brushing up on the fundamental OO concepts. When explaining inheritance, the instructor spontaneously...
Learning Rust For Embedded Systems
The Motivational PortionBased on recommendations from Kevin Nause, the VolksEEG project is considering using Rust as the embedded system programming language. So I've been off on a tear skimming books and e-books and watching videos at 2x to...
Review: Prototype to Product
Prototype to Product: A Practical Guide for Getting to Market, by Alan Cohen, is a must-read for anyone involved in product development, whether in a technical, management, or executive role. I was reminded of it by Cohen's recent...
Scorchers, Part 2: Unknown Bugs and Popcorn
This is a short article about diminishing returns in the context of software releases. Those of you who have been working professionally on software or firmware have probably faced this dilemma before. The scrum masters of the world will...
Painting with Light to Measure Time
Recently I was faced with a dilemma while working from home. I needed to verify an implementation of first-order sigma-delta modulation used to adjust LED brightness. (I have described this in more detail in Modulation Alternatives for the...
So You Want To Be An Embedded Systems Developer
Then listen now to what I say. Just get an electric guitar and take some time and learn how to play. Oh, wait, that's a song by the Byrds. But the strategy is the same. Get some information and tools and learn how to use them. No need to...
