The ESP32-S3 is one of Espressif's most capable microcontrollers, combining Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, USB support, a large number of GPIO pins, and hardware intended for signal-processing and AI workloads. However, taking full advantage of the ESP32-S3 requires understanding which GPIO pins are available and which pins have special functions. …
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PID tuning can be one of the most difficult parts of building a feedback control system. Even when your PID code is correct, the controller will not perform well until the proportional, integral, and derivative gains are properly adjusted. This PID tuning calculator uses the classic Ziegler-Nichols closed-loop method to …
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The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is a microcontroller development board and the successor to the original Raspberry Pi Pico. It features the RP2350, a 32-bit dual-core microcontroller that can run either Arm Cortex-M33 or Hazard3 RISC-V processors at speeds up to 150 MHz. The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 has a …
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When developing embedded systems, a USB-to-UART converter is probably one of the first tools you will add to your workbench. However, UART at 3.3 V or 5 V logic levels is not the only type of serial communication you will encounter. Industrial controllers, older equipment, PLCs, sensors, motor drives, and …
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A linked list in embedded systems is a collection of data elements connected using pointers. Unlike an array, the elements do not need to occupy consecutive locations in memory. Each element stores its own data and a pointer that identifies the next element in the list. Linked lists are common …
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A ring buffer in embedded systems is a fixed-size memory area used to temporarily store data. You will often find one between a fast peripheral and a slower part of the program. A UART interrupt, for example, can place received bytes into a ring buffer while the main application processes …
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The ESP32-CAM is a compact yet powerful development board that packs Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and camera capabilities into one low-cost module. But with its limited pin count and dual-purpose GPIOs, figuring out which pins to use can be confusing—especially for beginners. In this post, we’ll break down the ESP32-CAM pinout, explain …
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The ESP32 has become one of the most popular microcontrollers in the maker and IoT community thanks to its power, versatility, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features. Among its many modules, the ESP32-WROVER stands out because of its extended memory and performance, making it ideal for demanding projects like data …
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The ESP-12F is an advanced version of the popular ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, offering improved RF performance and a compact design. Manufactured by Ai-Thinker, this module is ideal for IoT projects requiring wireless connectivity.
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I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is a widely used communication protocol in embedded systems, particularly in STM32 microcontrollers. Configuring the correct clock settings for I2C communication is crucial for reliable data transmission. However, calculating the necessary parameters, such as the Clock Control Register (CCR), the Rise Time Register (TRISE), and the Timing …
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