Microcontrollers

A microcontroller is a small computer typically used

to control electronic devices. It is often used in
Internet of Things (IoT) applications because it is
inexpensive, has low power consumption, and can
easily integrate into various devices.
A microcontroller is a single chip that contains a
processor, memory, and input/output parts. The
processor runs instructions, the memory stores data
and programs, and the I/O parts let the
microcontroller communicate with the environment
using sensors and tools.
 Microcontrollers

Microcontrollers are essential for connecting to

and communicating with other systems and
devices in an IoT system. They gather sensor
data, process it, and send it via wired or wireless
communication protocols to other devices or
systems. Additionally, they can receive and
decipher commands and control signals from
other devices, which they can then use to
control the actions and behaviors of the
embedded device.
 Microcontrollers

Microcontrollers are ideal for use in Internet of

Things (IoT) systems because of their small size,
low cost, and low energy consumption. They can
be programmed to do many different tasks,
making them suitable for many IoT applications.
They are also great for battery-powered devices
as they use less energy.
 Selection of microcontroller for iot application

Determine your application's requirements − This covers

the kinds of sensors and actuators you'll be using, how
much memory and processing power you'll require, the
communication protocols you'll employ, and the operating
environment (temperature, humidity, etc.).
Consider the MCU architecture − There are different types
of MCU architectures, such as 8, 16, and 32-bit. The type
you choose will depend on your project's complexity and
the memory and power you need.
 Selection of microcontroller for iot application

Look at the available MCUs − Once you know your

application needs, you can look for the right
microcontroller unit (MCU). It is important to compare
different MCUs to make sure it meets your
requirements.
Consider the communication protocols − IoT
applications frequently need to communicate with the
outside world in some way. Make sure the MCU you
select is compatible with the wireless, Bluetooth,
cellular, or Zigbee protocols you intend to use.
 Selection of microcontroller for iot application
Evaluate the development tools and support − It is
important to consider the availability of development
tools and support for the MCU you are considering. Look
for an MCU with a well-established ecosystem of
development tools and a strong community of
developers who can help you get started and
troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Test and evaluate − Once you have narrowed down your
options, it is a good idea to test and evaluate the
performance of the MCUs you are considering. This can
help you determine the best fit for your application.
 IOT Microconrollers
ESP32 − This is a good choice for Internet of Things
projects because it has WiFi and Bluetooth, a fast
processor, and uses little energy.
Arduino − Arduino boards are popular for Internet of
Things projects because they are easy to use and not
too expensive. They have many features, like digital and
analog inputs and outputs, and they support different
programming languages.
Raspberry Pi − The Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost
computer popular in IoT projects because of its
versatility and ability to run a full operating system. It
can build many IoT devices, from simple sensors to
complex systems.
 IOT Microconrollers
STM32 − The STM32 family of microcontrollers is
widely used in IoT applications due to their high-
speed processing capabilities, low power
consumption, and support for various
communication protocols.
ATtiny − The ATtiny microcontroller is affordable
for basic Internet of Things projects. It has digital
and analog inputs and outputs and can be
programmed with Arduino.
 What are Sensors?

A sensor is a device that detects changes and

events in a physical environment. It may
convert physical parameters like humidity,
pressure, temperature, heat, motion, etc., into
electrical signals. This signal can be converted
into a human-readable display and sent across
a network for additional processing.
IOT Hardware
 Transducer

A transducer converts a signal from one

physical structure to another.
It converts one type of energy into
another type.
It might be used as actuator in various
systems.
 Sensors characteristics :
Static
Dynamic
1. Static characteristics :
It is about how the output of a sensor changes in
response to an input change after steady state
condition.
Accuracy: Accuracy is the capability of measuring
instruments to give a result close to the true value of
the measured quantity
Range: Gives the highest and the lowest value of the
physical quantity within which the sensor can actually
sense.
 Sensors characteristics :
Resolution: Resolution is an important specification for selection
of sensors. The higher the resolution, better the precision.
Provide the smallest changes in the input that a sensor is able to
sense.
Precision: It is the capacity of a measuring instrument to give the
same reading when repetitively measuring the same quantity
under the same prescribed conditions.
Sensitivity: Sensitivity indicates the ratio of incremental change
in the response of the system with respect to incremental
change in input parameters.
Dynamic Characteristics :
Properties of the systems
Zero-order system: The output shows a response to the input
signal with no delay. It does not include energy-storing elements.
Ex. potentiometer measure, linear and rotary displacements.
First-order system: When the output approaches its final value
gradually.
Consists of an energy storage and dissipation element.
Second-order system: Complex output response. The output
response of the sensor oscillates before steady state.
 Sensor Classification :

Passive & Active

Analog & digital
Scalar & vector
Passive Sensor –
Can not independently sense the input. Ex- Accelerometer, soil moisture,
water level and temperature sensors.
Active Sensor –
Independently sense the input. Example- Radar, sounder and laser altimeter
sensors.
Analog Sensor –
The response or output of the sensor is some continuous function of its input
parameter. Ex- Temperature sensor, LDR, analog pressure sensor and analog
hall effect.
Digital sensor –
Response in binary nature. Design to overcome the disadvantages of analog
sensors. Along with the analog sensor, it also comprises extra electronics for
bit conversion. Example – Passive infrared (PIR) sensor and digital temperature
sensor(DS1620).
Scalar sensor –
Detects the input parameter only based on its
magnitude. The answer for the sensor is a function of
magnitude of some input parameter. Not affected by
the direction of input parameters.
Example – temperature, gas, strain, color and smoke
sensor.
Vector sensor –
The response of the sensor depends on the magnitude
of the direction and orientation of input parameter.
Example – Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetic field
and motion detector sensors.
 Types of sensors –
Electrical sensor :
Electrical proximity sensors may be contact or non contact.
Simple contact sensors operate by making the sensor and the
component complete an electrical circuit.
Non- contact electrical proximity sensors rely on the electrical
principles of either induction for detecting metals or
capacitance for detecting non metals as well.
Light sensor:
Light sensor is also known as photo sensors and one of the
important sensor.
Light dependent resistor or LDR is a simple light sensor available
today. The property of LDR is that its resistance is inversely
proportional to the intensity of the ambient light i.e when the
intensity of light increases, it’s resistance decreases and vise
versa.
 Types of sensors –

Touch sensor:
Detection of something like a touch of finger or a stylus is
known as touch sensor.
It’s name suggests that detection of something.
They are classified into two types:
Resistive type
Capacitive type
Today almost all modern touch sensors are of capacitive types.
Because they are more accurate and have better signal to noise
ratio.
 Types of sensors –

Range sensing:
Range sensing concerns detecting how near or far a component is
from the sensing position, although they can also be used as
proximity sensors.
Distance or range sensors use non-contact analog techniques.
Short range sensing, between a few millimetres and a few hundred
millimetres is carried out using electrical capacitance, inductance
and magnetic technique.
Longer range sensing is carried out using transmitted energy waves
of various types eg radio waves, sound waves and lasers.
Mechanical sensor:
Any suitable mechanical / electrical switch may be adopted but
because a certain amount of force is required to operate a
mechanical switch it is common to use micro-switches.
 Types of sensors
Pneumatic sensor:
These proximity sensors operate by breaking or disturbing an air
flow.
Optical sensor:
In there simplest form, optical proximity sensors operate by
breaking a light beam which falls onto a light sensitive device such
as a photocell.
Speed Sensor:
Sensor used for detecting the speed of any object or vehicle which
is in motion is known as speed sensor .For example – Wind Speed
Sensors, Speedometer ,etc.
Temperature Sensor:
Devices which monitors and tracks the temperature and gives
temperature’s measurement as an electrical signal are termed as
temperature sensors .
 Types of sensors
PIR Sensor:
PIR stands for passive infrared sensor and it is an
electronic sensor that is used for the tracking and
measurement of infrared (IR) light radiating from objects
in its field of view and is also known as Pyroelectric sensor
.It is mainly used for detecting human motion and
movement detection .
Ultrasonic Sensor:
The principle of ultrasonic sensor is similar to the working
principle of SONAR or RADAR in which the interpretation
of echoes from radio or sound waves to evaluate the
attributes of a target by generating the high frequency
sound waves .
 Actuators in IoT

An actuator is a machine component or system that moves

or controls the mechanism of the system. Sensors in the
device sense the environment, then control signals are
generated for the actuators according to the actions needed
to perform.
A servo motor is an example of an actuator. They are linear
or rotatory actuators, can move to a given specified angular
or linear position. We can use servo motors for IoT
applications and make the motor rotate to 90 degrees, 180
degrees, etc., as per our need.
Actuators in IoT
 Types of Actuators :

1. Hydraulic Actuators –
A hydraulic actuator uses hydraulic power to perform a mechanical
operation. They are actuated by a cylinder or fluid motor. The
mechanical motion is converted to rotary, linear, or oscillatory
motion, according to the need of the IoT device.
2. Pneumatic Actuators –
A pneumatic actuator uses energy formed by vacuum or compressed
air at high pressure to convert into either linear or rotary motion.
Example- Used in robotics, use sensors that work like human fingers
by using compressed air.
 Types of Actuators :
3. Electrical Actuators –
An electric actuator uses electrical energy, is usually actuated by
a motor that converts electrical energy into mechanical torque.
An example of an electric actuator is a solenoid based electric
bell.
Thermal/Magnetic Actuators –
These are actuated by thermal or mechanical energy.
Mechanical Actuators –
A mechanical actuator executes movement by converting rotary
motion into linear motion. It involves pulleys, chains, gears, rails,
and other devices to operate. Example – A crankshaft.
Interfacing of Sensors with microcontroller
 Data acquisition
Data acquisition refers to the process of
collecting data from various sources or sensors.
This data can be in the form of signals, images,
videos, text, or any other format depending on
the application. The goal of data acquisition is to
capture relevant information accurately and
efficiently. Some common methods of data
acquisition include:
 Data acquisition

Sensors: Sensors are devices that measure physical

quantities such as temperature, pressure, light, sound,
etc. Sensors convert these physical quantities into
electrical signals that can be processed by computers.
Scanning: Scanning involves systematically moving a
sensor or a device over a region of interest to capture
data. For example, in medical imaging, CT scans and
MRI machines use scanning techniques to acquire
detailed images of the body.
 Data acquisition
Sampling: Sampling involves taking periodic
measurements of a signal or phenomenon. This
is commonly used in fields such as digital signal
processing and telecommunications.
Remote Sensing: Remote sensing techniques
involve using satellites or aircraft to capture
data about the Earth's surface, atmosphere, or
oceans. Remote sensing data can include
images, spectral measurements, and other
information.
 Data Fusion

Data Fusion: Data fusion is the process of integrating

multiple sources of data to provide a more complete
and accurate understanding of a situation or
phenomenon than would be possible with individual
sources alone. The goal of data fusion is to combine
complementary information from different sources to
improve decision-making, inference, or analysis. There
are several types of data fusion techniques:
 Data fusion techniques
Sensor Fusion: Sensor fusion combines data from
multiple sensors to improve the accuracy and
reliability of measurements. For example, in
autonomous vehicles, sensor fusion techniques are
used to integrate data from cameras, lidar, radar, and
other sensors to perceive the environment.
Feature Level Fusion: Feature level fusion involves
combining extracted features or characteristics from
different sources of data. This can include combining
texture features from images, spectral features from
remote sensing data, or statistical features from
sensor measurements.
 Data fusion techniques
Decision Level Fusion: Decision level fusion combines
decisions or outputs from multiple sources of data.
This can involve techniques such as voting, averaging,
or using machine learning algorithms to combine
decisions from different classifiers or models.
Temporal Fusion: Temporal fusion involves combining
data collected at different points in time to track
changes or trends over time. This can include
techniques such as time-series analysis, Kalman
filtering, or recurrent neural networks.