FAQ - microcontroller based projects and mathematics

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Richard Hull
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FAQ - microcontroller based projects and mathematics

Post by Richard Hull »

In many forums here, from construction to vacuum, and in this radiation forum, microcontrollers have been used to create modern instrumentation and readouts. In addition, microcontrollers have been used to make accessories, readouts and extensions to already extant older instrumentation. Such projects have been undertaken by people with special skills in electronics, programming and mathematics. The heart of the microcontroller is a microprocessor which must be programmed. A microcontroller is just a microprocessor with a lot of extra features that obviate the need for what use to be extra electronic components needed to interface with the outside world. This is what makes the microcontroller the choice of designers who are looking for a single chip component solution in all but the most complex applications.

Creating a useful instrument or adaptation by a single individual requires true strength in electronics to understand interfacing, analog and digital inputs and how to handle them electronically to link to a microcontroller. The microprocessor must be programmed to take in the data, process it and perform any mathematical operations needed upon the data so that it may be output in a useful manner. The output can be control signals to hardware, (more electronic knowledge needed), or to a visual readout of data to a computer or LCD screen.

You can see that such undertakings are not for the average person. I can't stress the need for an in-depth knowledge related to the mathematics required and its manipulation to output real world solutions and applications. The math is almost never complex. A solid grounding of high school algebra I & II and high school physics problem setup and solutions will suffice provided the student of those years was proficient in those areas.

Most of the assistance I have given to students of microprocessor applications has been to those with weak mathematical skills, but mostly in turning the mission at hand into a flow of data into a programmable solution for the application. We all hated those dreaded word problems in mathematics as we had to turn those words into equations that with often a simple turn of the crank, belched out the exact answer to the problem. When programming you have to be able to write the word problem! In doing so, and if successful, you will already have the way forward figured out. The equation is already in your head and the microprocessor will turn the crank for you.

For those newbies or anyone on a quest to assemble any electronic device with intelligence built in via a microprocessor, you have set yourself a formidable task, if you have none of the skill sets needed. You will need or must develop...

1. A mind capable of abstraction and reduction of a problem into a flow chart of processes that must be done.
2. Programming skills that can turn the ordered flow into a time ordered sequence of tasks that the microprocessor must do
3. Possess at least a modicum of real mathematical skills and abilities to turn all flow chart blocks with equations into programming language.
4. Electronic interfacing skills related to what voltages and currents are needed at both the input and output of the microprocessor.
5. Electronic assembly skills coupled with both programming and electronics debugging skills.

If you undertake the quest above and succeed, you have a saleable skill set that will make you readily employable at many companies. If you do this within doing fusion and succeed at both. then you qualify as a project manager at most any company including one that you might wish to start!

Again, one of the prime missions of this site is to teach, stimulate, and get people to "do". This will make any person from 17 to 80 a stronger and a more able individual of increased value to themselves and any prospective employer. In this day, employers value a person who is skilled, confident and can hit the ground running.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
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