Designing Embedded Systems with Arduino Microcontrollers: A Way Forward for Technological Advancement in Nigeria

Abstract

Arduino Microcontroller has allowed many engineers to incorporate embedded systems in their designs due to its ease of use: There is no need to master many intricate computer technologies involving data lines, bits, instruction sets with their programming syntax and vocabularies. An engineer needs no other machine to program the Microcontroller apart from his desktop computer or laptop. Its open source status has allowed creation of various communities and groups on social media and elsewhere that do one project or the other using the Microcontroller. The paper provides short means of understanding the device by highlighting one-stop topics that new beginners would want to know. Arduino Uno Microcontroller structure is explained with its basic programming syntax and functions. As an example, a simple sequential timing system for an advertisement display was designed while its operational codes written and compiled on an Arduino Integrated Development Environment IDE while its simulation done on UnoArduSim V2.1. It is believed that this short communication will provide understanding for Electrical and Electronic engineers and enthusiast alike thereby providing enduring springboards for prototyping of Electrical and Electronic systems with its attendant socio-economic benefits.