The next issue of Circuit Cellar is coming next week! What’s coming up in November Circuit Cellar? 5G wireless technologies, string-less guitar MCU project, automotive security, COVID-19, 5G, wireless, tiny embedded boards, voltage regulators, motion control, 8-bit dumb terminal project and more!! This 84-page magazine serves up a delicious table of embedded technology articles for your reading consumption.
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Here’s a sneak preview of November 2020 Circuit Cellar:
TECHNOLOGY FOR TODAY’S WORLD
5G Wireless Technologies
By Jeff Child
Most people hear about 5G in the context of marketing campaigns by cell phone network carriers. But the real power in 5G is really is its impact in IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) systems where speedy wireless data movement is critical. Here, Circuit Cellar’s Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Child, looks at the key technology and product trends in 5G wireless.
Wearable for Self-Isolated COVID-19 Patients
By Andrei Florian
Many people with COVID-19 either have symptoms that aren’t severe enough for them to be hospitalized—or are asymptomatic. Such people have to self-isolate at home, and therefore need to monitor their own health without any hands-on medical professional’s help. With that in mind, Andrei designed a wristband device that monitors the patient’s vitals and geolocation, while they fight the virus within the constraints of their home. The device is powered by an Arduino MKR GSM 1400 and is equipped with both an IR temperature sensor and a heartrate sensor.
Low-Level Automotive ECU Security
By Colin O’Flynn
What keeps an automotive electronic control unit (ECU) secure? A lot of this depends its main microcontroller’s security, so in this article Colin investigates how electromagnetic fault injection (EMFI) can bypass security of a particular automotive MCU. Knowing this will you make smarter decisions about building a device, even with the vulnerability present.
RESOURCES FOR SYSTEM DESIGNS
Datasheet: Tiny Embedded Boards
By Jeff Child
An impressive amount of computing functionality can be squeezed on to a small form factor board these days. These tiny board-level products meet the needs of applications where extremely low SWaP (size, weight and power) beats all other demands. This Datasheet section updates readers on this technology trend and provides a product album of representative small and tiny embedded boards.
Voltage Regulators: Beat the Heat
By Jeff Bachiochi
Voltage regulators are a key technology for managing the heat dissipation in an electronic system. In this article, Jeff takes you through the evolution, science and functionality of voltage regulators. He looks and the heat and efficiency characteristics of voltage regulators and compares linear vs. switching technologies.
Motion Control for Industrial IoT
By Jeff Child
Motion control technology continues to advance, as chip- and board-level solutions evolve to meet new demands. An important piece of today’s connected industrial IoT systems, motion control involves a blending of precise analog technologies to control position, torque and speed with signal processing to enable accurate, real-time motor control. Here, Circuit Cellar’s Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Child, looks the latest technology and product advances in motion control for the IIoT.
MICROCONTROLLERS ARE DOING EVERYTHING
String-less Bass Guitar Uses PIC32
By Peter Cook, Jackson Kopitz, and Caitlin Stanton
A string-less bass guitar isn’t something you’d be likely see at your next rock concert. But these three Cornell students used a Microchip PIC32 MCU together with several beam break sensors, a distance sensor, a plank of wood and an algorithm for additive synthesis to create just that.
Making a Retro Dumb Terminal
By Brian B. Beard
Because he builds a lot of 8-bit MCU-based projects, Brian wanted a monitoring and debugging platform right-sized for 8-bit systems. With that in mind, he decided to build the Retro Dumb Terminal, a classic ASCII dumb terminal built with 8-bit MCUs, some programable logic and simple user interface gear.
Build a Multi-Purpose Signal Generator: Using the ESP32
By Brian Millier
The Espressif Systems ESP32 wireless MCU has powered a variety of Brian’s projects. Here, he shares the details of his effort to use the device to build a multi-purpose signal generator. The project illustrates how rich the ESP32’s set of on-chip peripherals is, beyond its wireless capabilities—which he doesn’t even use this time!
Building a Smart Weather Cube: Using a Raspberry Pi 3B+
By Alberto Lopez Delgado and Carlos Gutierrez
The Raspberry Pi, combined with compatible RPi add-ons (HATs), is a versatile technology for all types of projects. Here, learn how these two Cornell students built, SmartCube, a wirelessly controlled device for displaying weather information on your desk. It uses Raspberry Pi and Microchip’s PIC32 MCU. While showing weather info, it also functions as a desk lamp or night light, display calming, colorful animations.
