Teaching Real-Time Programming for Embedded Microcontrollers by Using Cloud-Based Simulator

Abstract

In "normal" times, students of electronic department enrolled in the course "Real-Time Digital Signals Processing" (RT-DSP) use real hardware – dedicated development boards containing microcontrollers and additional electronic components, and dedicated software (installed on the personal computer) to program those development boards. However, because of COVID 19 limitations, the distribution of development boards and dedicated software to the students became problematic. Even more, technical assistance in case of installation and/or hardware problems became practically impossible. Learning real-time algorithms and their practical implementation is an important part of Electronic Engineer's education; hence, it was decided to adapt the RT-DSP course to distant learning by using a cloud-based TinkerCad simulator. It was found that by using some tricks and simplifications, reasonably sophisticated electronic projects can be implemented. Additionally, it was found that the cloud-based TinkerCad simulator can run in parallel with the ZOOM session, while the Internet speed of the lecturer's computer is at least 50 Mbps – which means that providing frontal lectures and exercises (containing plain PowerPoint presentations and live simulations demonstrations) is feasible, at least for the groups of 30 students. After evaluating and grading homework and micro-projects created by students in the frames of this course, we may conclude that the professional level of the designed systems is good enough to continue this course in the frames of distant learning, in case “normal” options are not available.



Author Information
Samuel Kosolapov, Braude Academic College of Engineering, Israel

Paper Information
Conference: PCE2022
Stream: Teaching Experiences

This paper is part of the PCE2022 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Kosolapov S. (2022) Teaching Real-Time Programming for Embedded Microcontrollers by Using Cloud-Based Simulator ISSN: 2758-0962 The Paris Conference on Education 2022: Official Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0962.2022.8
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2758-0962.2022.8


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Posted by James Alexander Gordon