Unit IV

Embedded target boards

and Interfacing
 Agenda
• Embedded target boards: Features of Arduino Board, Raspberry- pi and ESP8266.

• Sensors: temperature sensor, humidity and temperature sensor, light dependent sensor,
touch sensor, ultrasonic sensor, soil moisture sensor.

• Actuators: DC Motor, Stepper Motor, Motor Driver L293D, Relay.

• I/O Devices: 7-Segment Display, LCD, Keypad.

• Interfacing of Embedded target board with sensors, actuators and IO devices.

Embedded target boards
Specifications
 Specifications
Arduino Uno Raspberry Pi 3B+ ESP 8266
Single-board Microcontroller Single-board Computer Single-board Microcontroller

• Control Unit – ATmega328 • Control Unit – Broadcom • Control Unit – Tensilica L106
Microcontroller BCM2837B0 SoC Diamond series 32-bit
• RAM – 2KB • RAM – 1GB microcontroller
• CPU Architecture – 8bit • CPU Architecture – 64bit • RAM – 160 KB (SRAM)
• Operating System – No • Operating System – Yes • CPU Architecture – 32-bit RISC
• Processing Speed – 16MHz • Processing Speed – 1.4GHz • Operating System – RTOS SDK
• Power Consumed – 175MW • Power Consumed – 700MW • Processing Speed – Up to 160
• I/O Current Drive Strength – • I/O Current Drive Strength – MHz
40mA 16mA • Power Consumed – 70 mA
• I/O Current Drive Strength – 12
mA per GPIO pin
Modus Operandi

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 Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi

Modes of Operation
Single-board Microcontroller Single-board Computer Single-board Microcontroller
• Supports audio and GUIs
• Does not support audio and GUIs • Wide-range of Operating Software • Does not support audio and GUIs
• Arduino-specific IDE and Compiler • Uses “Hats” for extending • Arduino-specific IDE and Compiler
• Uses “Shields” for extending functionalities • Uses “GPIO pins” for extending
functionalities • Best at logical processing of data functionalities
• Best at controlling machines and and communicating with other • Best at wireless communication
performing repetitive tasks. systems. tasks.
 Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi

Boards Available
Arduino Raspberry Pi

Arduino Uno Raspberry Pi 1A+

Arduino Mega Raspberry Pi 2B

Arduino Lilypad Raspberry Pi Zero WH

Arduino Bluetooth Raspberry Pi 3B+

Boards Available (ESP8266)
Summary
 Futures of Arduino
•Evolving Ecosystem: Arduino continues to grow with new boards and accessories, offering more powerful
microcontrollers with increased memory, processing power, and connectivity options (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth).

•IoT Focus: With the rise of the Internet of Things, Arduino's low-power boards, such as the MKR series, and its support for
cloud-based services (Arduino Cloud) make it a strong candidate for IoT projects. It is becoming increasingly integrated into
smart home devices, industrial IoT, and automation systems.

•Education & STEM: Arduino has long been a go-to platform for beginners in electronics and coding. Its future in education
looks bright as schools increasingly adopt STEM curricula and emphasize hands-on learning.

•AI Integration: Arduino is likely to incorporate more AI capabilities, with platforms like TensorFlow Lite being used to run
machine learning models on microcontrollers, expanding its use in robotics and smart devices.
 Futures of Raspberry Pi
•Increased Computing Power: With boards like the Raspberry Pi 4 offering desktop-level computing, the future of
Raspberry Pi lies in providing powerful, low-cost computing for education, hobbyists, and even businesses. Newer
models will likely feature more powerful CPUs, better GPU capabilities, and support for advanced peripherals.

•IoT and Edge Computing: Raspberry Pi’s flexibility and support for a wide range of operating systems (e.g., Linux,
Windows IoT) position it well for IoT and edge computing applications. It is expected to continue being a popular platform
for creating IoT gateways and smart devices that process data locally at the edge of the network.

•AI and Machine Learning: Like Arduino, Raspberry Pi is expanding its role in AI, thanks to its compatibility with machine
learning frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and OpenCV. Its ability to handle more intensive computations makes it
suitable for edge AI applications.

•Education & DIY Projects: Raspberry Pi will remain a staple in educational environments and DIY projects, allowing
students and hobbyists to build computers, robots, and media centers at an affordable price.

•Industry Adoption: Raspberry Pi is increasingly being adopted for industrial applications due to its affordability and
ability to run industrial software. Future versions may focus more on industrial-grade features like rugged designs, real-
time operating systems, and more secure hardware.
 Futures of ESP8266
•IoT Dominance: The ESP8266 is widely used in IoT applications due to its low cost and integrated Wi-Fi capability.
Future iterations will likely see more powerful successors (e.g., ESP32) that offer better performance, more connectivity
options (Bluetooth, LoRa, etc.), and enhanced security features.

•Smart Devices and Automation: The ESP8266’s role in building smart home devices, sensors, and automation
systems will continue to expand. It is ideal for low-cost, low-power IoT applications, and future versions will focus on even
lower power consumption and wider wireless range.

•Increased Security: As IoT devices become more ubiquitous, security will be a growing concern. Future developments
in ESP8266 and related platforms will likely focus on stronger encryption, secure boot processes, and other security
features to ensure the safety of data and devices.

•Support for Cloud Services: Integration with various cloud services (such as AWS IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT) is growing,
and future iterations of ESP8266 or its successors will likely emphasize seamless cloud connectivity, making it easier to
implement large-scale IoT networks.
 Real Time
Application of
Sensors
Autopilot System
in aircrafts

Autopilot System in
aircrafts
What is a Sensor?
• Sensor as an input device which provides
an output (signal) with respect to a
specific physical quantity (input).
• The term “input device” in the definition of a
Sensor means that it is part of a bigger system
which provides input to a main control system
(like a Processor or a Microcontroller).
• Another unique definition of a Sensor is as
follows: It is a device that converts signals from
one energy domain to electrical domain
 Example of a sensor is an LDR or a Light Dependent Resistor
• It is a device, whose resistance varies according to intensity of light it is subjected to. When the light falling
on an LDR is more, its resistance becomes very less and when the light is less, well, the resistance of the LDR
becomes very high.
• We can connect this LDR in a voltage divider (along with other resistor) and check the voltage drop across the
LDR. This voltage can be calibrated to the amount of light falling on the LDR. Hence, a Light Sensor.
Classification of Sensors

In the first classification of the sensors, they are divided into Active and Passive. Active Sensors
are those which require an external excitation signal or a power signal.

Passive Sensors, on the other hand, do not require any external power signal and directly
generates output response.

The final classification of the sensors are Analog and Digital Sensors. Analog Sensors produce
an analog output i.e. a continuous output signal with respect to the quantity being measured.

Digital Sensors, in contrast to Analog Sensors, work with discrete or digital data. The data in
digital sensors, which is used for conversion and transmission, is digital in nature.
Different Types of Sensors

All these sensors are used for measuring

one of the physical properties like
Temperature, Resistance, Capacitance,
Conduction, Heat Transfer etc.
• Temperature Sensor
• Pressure Sensor
• Light Sensor
• Ultrasonic Sensor
• Touch Sensor
• Humidity Sensor
 Temperature Sensor
• One of the most common and most popular sensor is the Temperature Sensor. A Temperature Sensor,
as the name suggests, senses the temperature i.e. it measures the changes in the temperature.
Temperature Sensor, the changes in the Temperature correspond to change in its physical property
like resistance or voltage.
• Thermistor
• Thermocouple
• A thermistor can be used to detect the variation in temperature. It has a negative temperature
coefficient that means when the temperature increases the resistance decreases. So, the thermistor’s
resistance can be varied with the rise in temperature which causes more current flow through it.
• Another component that can detect the variation in temperature is a
thermocouple. In its construction, two different metals are joined together to
form a junction
• LM35 is a Celsius scale temperature sensor device with its output directly
proportional to the temperature. LM35 can measure temperatures in the range
of -550C to +1500C
 Ultrasonic Sensor
• An Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact type device that can be used to measure distance as well as
velocity of an object. An Ultrasonic Sensor works based on the properties of the sound waves
with frequency greater than that of the human audible range.
• There are two kind of an ultrasonic sensor is, “active ultrasonic sensor” and “passive ultrasonic
sensors”. An active ultrasonic sensors generates the high frequency sound wave to receive back
the ultrasonic sensor for evaluating the echo. But, passive ultrasonic sensors are just used for
detecting ultrasonic noise which is present under specific conditions.
• Ultrasonic means nothing but the range of the frequencies. Its range is
greater than audible range (>20 kHz)
• This ultrasonic sensor is used to calculate the distance between the
ultrasonic transmitter and the target and also used to measure the velocity
of the target.
• Ultrasonic sensor HC-SR04 can be used to measure distance in the range of
2cm- 400cm with an accuracy of 3mm.
• The 4 pins of Ultrasonic sensor are Vcc, Gnd, Trig and Echo. Trig is connected
to Pin 11 of Arduino and Echo is connected to Pin 10. With respect to
Arduino, Pins 10 and 11 are input and output respectively.
 humidity sensor
• A humidity sensor (or hygrometer) senses, measures and reports both moisture and air
temperature. The ratio of moisture in the air to the highest amount of moisture at a particular
air temperature is called relative humidity(RH). Relative humidity becomes an important
factor when looking for comfort.
 LDR(LIGHT DEPENDENT RESISTOR)
• A light dependent resistor (LDR) or a photo resistor or photocell is a light controlled
variable resistor . Its resistance changes with Light intensity that falls on it.
• The resistance of a photo resistor decreases with increasing Incident light intensity . In
other words , it exhibits photoconductivity.
• The resistance range and sensitivity of a photoresistor can substantially differ among
dissimilar devices.
• They are made up of semiconductor materials having high resistance.
• Photocells or LDRS are non linear devices. There sensitivity varies with the wavelength of light
incident on them.
• Some photocells might not at all response to a certain range of wavelength.
 What is a Touch Sensor?
• Touch Sensors are the electronic sensors that can detect touch. They operate as a switch
when touched. These sensors are used in lamps, touch screens of the mobile, etc… Touch
sensors offer an intuitive user interface.
• ouch sensors are also known as Tactile sensors. These are simple to design, low cost and
are produced in large scale. With the advance in technology, these sensors are rapidly
replacing the mechanical switches. Based on their functions there are two types of touch
sensors- Capacitive sensor and Resistive sensor
• Capacitive sensors work by measuring capacitance and are seen in portable devices. These
are durable, robust and attractive with low cost. Resistive sensors don’t depend on any
electrical properties for operation. These sensors work by measuring the pressure applied
to their surface.
 Working Principle of Touch Sensor
• Touch sensors work similar to a switch. When they are subjected to touch, pressure or force they get
activated and acts as a closed switch. When the pressure or contact is removed, they act as an open switch.
• Capacitive touch sensor contains two parallel conductors with an insulator between them. These conductors'
plates act as a capacitor with a capacitance value C0.
• When these conductor plates come in contact with our fingers, our finger acts as a conductive object. Due to
this, there will be an uncertain increase in the capacitance.
• A capacitance measuring circuit continuously measures the capacitance C0 of the sensor. When this circuit
detects a change in capacitance it generates a signal.
• The resistive touch sensors calculate the pressure applied on the surface to sense the touch. These sensors
contain two conductive films coated with indium tin oxide, which is a good conductor of electricity, separated
by a very small distance.
• Across the surface of the films, a constant voltage is applied. When pressure is applied to the top film, it
touches the bottom film. This generates a voltage drop which is detected by a controller circuit and signal is
generated thereby detecting the touch.
 What is a Soil Moisture Sensor?
• The soil moisture sensor is one kind of sensor used to gauge the volumetric content of water within the soil.
As the straight gravimetric dimension of soil moisture needs eliminating, drying, as well as sample weighting.
These sensors measure the volumetric water content not directly with the help of some other rules of soil like
dielectric constant, electrical resistance, otherwise interaction with neutrons, and replacement of the
moisture content.
• The relation among the calculated property as well as moisture of soil should be adjusted & may change
based on ecological factors like temperature, type of soil, otherwise electric conductivity. The microwave
emission which is reflected can be influenced by the moisture of soil as well as mainly used in agriculture and
remote sensing within hydrology.
• The FC-28 soil moisture sensor includes 4-pins
• VCC pin is used for power
• A0 pin is an analog output
• D0 pin is a digital output
• GND pin is a Ground
• This module also includes a potentiometer that will fix the threshold value, & the value can be evaluated by
the comparator-LM393. The LED will turn on/off based on the threshold value.
 Soil Moisture Sensor
• Working Principle:
• This sensor mainly utilizes capacitance to gauge the water content of the soil (dielectric permittivity). The
working of this sensor can be done by inserting this sensor into the earth and the status of the water content
in the soil can be reported in the form of a percent.
• This sensor makes it perfect to execute experiments within science courses like environmental science,
agricultural science, biology, soil science, botany, and horticulture.
• Specifications
• The required voltage for working is 5V
• The required current for working is <20mA
• Type of interface is analog
• The required working temperature of this sensor is 10°C~30°C
Actuator
• Actuators are components that convert electrical signals from the embedded system
into physical actions. They enable the system to manipulate or control various devices
and mechanisms.
• An actuator is a device that converts energy into motion. It is used to control a mechanism
or system. Actuators are used in a wide variety of applications, including robotics,
automation, and manufacturing.

Servo Motor Vibration Motor Voice Coil Actuator

DC Motor Gear Motor Rack and Pinion Actuator
Stepper Motor Brushless Motor
Solenoid Continuous Rotation Servo
Relay Module Linear Servo
Piezo Buzzer Shape Memory Alloy Actuator
Linear Actuator Hydraulic Actuator
Pneumatic Cylinder Thermal Actuator
Electromagnetic Lock Magnetic Actuator
 DC MOTORS
• Designed to work on DC power.

• Mainly of three types :

– Permanent Magnet Type
– Brushed DC Motors
– Brushless DC Motors

• These are simple motors used for simple purpose.

• Apply +12V (generally) and they start rotating. Apply -12V and they rotate in the
opposite direction!
• Speed can be reduced by reducing the voltage supplied, however that’s not an
efficient way of doing things.
• Torque and speed are inter-related. A 10rpm motor has relatively high torque.
Generally a 100rpm – 300rpm
servo motor
• Servo motor is a type of actuator that uses feedback to control its
position. It consists of a motor, a sensor, and a controller.
• The motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, the
sensor measures the position of the motor shaft, and the controller
compares the measured position to the desired position and sends a
signal to the motor to adjust its speed or torque until the desired
position is reached.
 Servo motors
Servo motors have three wires: power, ground, and signal.
The power wire is typically red, and should be connected to the 5V pin on the Arduino board.
The ground wire is typically black or brown and should be connected to a ground pin on the
Arduino board.
The signal pin is typically yellow, orange or white and should be connected to a digital pin on the
Arduino board.
Note that servos draw considerable power, so if you need to drive more than one or two, you'll
probably need to power them from a separate supply (i.e. not the +5V pin on your Arduino). Be sure
to connect the grounds of the Arduino and external power supply together.
• They are used for specific purposes (for instance, in grippers, etc.)
• They have a restricted rotation of 180 or 360 degree. The least rotation angle possible is 1 degree.
• They are driven through microcontrollers. Power comes separately from a battery (12V, generally).
• Arduino has one line command for driving a servo . Using an Atmega PWM needs to be generated
to drive a servo.
• Speed can be reduced by sending the commands at a delay. This doesn’t reduce the efficiency of
the motor.
 Servo motors
The basic behind Servo Control is Pulse Width Modulation.
Pulse Parameters :
• Minimum Pulse
• Maximum Pulse
• Repetition Rate
The general concept is to simply send an ordinary logic square wave to your servo at a specific wave length, and your
servo goes to a particular angle (or velocity if your servo is modified). The wavelength directly maps to servo angle
 STEPPER MOTORS
• Electromechanical device which converts electrical pulses
into discrete mechanical movements.
• The speed of the motor shafts rotation is directly related to
the frequency of the input pulses
• Length of rotation is directly related to the number of input
pulses applied.
• Brushless motors.
• Full torque at stand still.
• Open loop control.
Relay module
Relay module is a circuit board that contains one or more relays. Relays
are electromechanical devices that can be used to control a high-power
load, such as a motor or a solenoid, using a low-power signal.
MOTOR DRIVERS

• H-bridge
• L293/L293D
• Timer
• Pulse Width Modulation
H-Bridge

An electronic circuit that enables a voltage to be applied across a

load in either direction.
L293/L293D Motor Driver
• It has two H-bridges, hence two motors can be driven.

• Note: A motor driver doesn’t amplify current, it only acts as switches. An L293 is nothing but
four switches.!
L293
• Drivers are enabled in pairs, with drivers 1 and 2 being enabled by the EN Pin. For EN=1 or +5V,
the outputs are active and in phase with their inputs.
• When EN Pin is low, the output is low(disconnected), irrespective of the input.
• Asserting both logics to either high or low will stop the motor.
Popularity