Intermediate Microcontrollers: Security

The Intermediate Microcontrollers workshop provides a 5-session training that builds upon the skills learned in the Beginner workshop. Workshop topics include building circuits and programming microcontrollers to operate sensors to fulfill technical objectives.

Participants learn how to manipulate and construct circuits with sensors for physical security purposes, using the engineering design process to optimize their algorithms and sensor circuit. These skills are essential for developing applications in early warning detection, automation systems, tracking systems and more.

Takeaways:

• Introductory understanding of the physics of sound waves, piezoelectricity (electric polarization in a substance resulting from mechanical stress) and infrared radiation
• Understand how ultrasonic sensors work
• Learn how force sensitive resistors (FSR) work, with an introduction to calibration specifically as it relates to an FSR
• Understand how a piezoelectric buzzer works
• Learn the transmission-reception process between an infrared (IR) remote and receiver
• Understand the use of functions in C++ and how to declare, implement and call them
• Utilize .h files and libraries using C++
• Introduction to classes, their instantiation and accessing their public data members
• Detect the proximity of an object using an ultrasonic sensor
• Play melodies using a piezoelectric buzzer
• Use an FSR to detect pressure being applied to it
• Use nested conditional statements in C++ code
• Use switch statements in C++ code

Who should take this workshop: Anyone seeking hands on-experience programming microcontrollers and operating sensors for more complex security utilizations. 

Career applications for this workshop: This workshop develops essential skills to use microcontrollers at a professional level in robotics, electronics design, sensor control and IoT (Internet of Things, the interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects). Specific applications include early warning detection, automation systems, tracking systems and more.

Workshop Microcontrollers Kit: The Security Kit is used for classwork and homework and is available for purchase. Kits are also available on loan during workshops and office hours for no charge, but can't be taken home. 

Laptop Requirements: Participants use their personal Mac or PC laptop, with no system requirements to run Arduino software.

Pre-requisite: Completion of Beginner Microcontrollers or equivalent