Interactive Training Modules in Microcontrolling and Microprocessing Essay

Computer Engineering Department lacks equipment when it comes to new kinds of microcontrollers and modules. Developing interactive training modules is our proposed solution to that problem. This interactive training module will be a medium to help students and enable them to get ideas on how to do their projects. This project presents the Interactive Training Modules for Microcontrolling and Microprocessing. It consists of combinations of different modules that are used for training that is available in the market and an interactive manual. The main objectives of this project is to have a low cost training module for Computer Engineering Department that can be used as an educational material in teaching basic microcontrolling and microprocessing to give the students ideas in creating their own projects. The interactive training modules will consist a microcontroller and different types of sensors, input/output devices, motors, and communication modules. Each module will have several easy to understand educational experiments and other using the combination of different modules. The interactive manual will contain all the instructions for the experiment, information about the microcontroller and other details that can be very helpful for the user of the trainer. A Gizduino (Arduino based microcontroller) will be used for this project because of being a low-cost microcontroller and easy to understand programming language which is C-based. We decided to purchase a ready made and low cost trainer that is easy to use and will have an additional feature like having a Ethernet Shield that can be used in controlling other modules. B. Statement of the problem The proponents aim to present the general problem and specific problems. Microprocessing and Microcontrolling have become important over a wide range of applications from hobby, manufacturing, surgery until to the handling of hazardous materials. Consequently, it’s important to understand how they work, and what problems exist in designing effective project interactive training modules. In designing interactive training modules, we must understand it requires a lot of knowledge and basic information about the modules. From other research and studies, there are several problems statements that are clarify and noticed †¢Cost Initially, the cost for purchasing an interactive training module is very expensive. A quality and suitable materials for this project will cost a lot of budget and it’s clearly not affordable. This will cause a difficulty for educational purposes and many students and instructors will find lots of difficulties in doing their studies and research. Thus this project will help them to deliver a better understanding about the basic operation and functions of a Microprocessor and Microcontroller. †¢Hardware system To construct a interactive module, there are few procedures to be considered which are process etching, installating component, soldering process, testing and troubleshooting. If the constructed circuit does not function, troubleshooting must be done, thus it needs a lot of focus and knowledge about circuit process. †¢System integration Technically, it is always difficult to integrate the hardware and software. There are many ways to integrate the system to function according to instructions that are given. Loads of research and studies must be done in order to achieve the expected result for this project. Also this study provides answers to the following questions: †¢What are the problems encountered by the students and instructors in using the existing instructional tools available for the Computer Engineering Department? †¢What are the solutions that can be provided to address the problems? C. Objectives of the study The objectives of this project are: i.To have an up-to-date and low cost training module that can be used by the Computer Engineering students. ii.To produce an interactive training manual as a guide for educational purpose. iii.To build and develop both the training modules hardware and software system that could be integrated to support the application system of a basic microcontroller and microprocessor. D. Scope and Delimitation Basically the scope of this project will be the following: i.Doing research and development for the project. ii.Gathering informative source about the topic from multiple source such as books, journals, internet and also magazines. iii.Start developing and installing the materials for the hardware. iv.Integrating the developed hardware and software. v.Doing performance testing to the developed project. E. Significance of the Study This project would be beneficial for the following: i.Instructors: It will provide sample in discussing how to create projects that need microcontrolling and microprocessing, it can also be used as an instructional tool for the laboratory experiments on employing effective learning in their class. ii.Students: It will serve as a basis of reference for conducting study and a way of training themselves in basic microcontrolling and microprocessing. iii.Campus: It will provide better method of teaching new technologies to Computer Engineering students. iv.Researchers: It will serve as a future reference on the subject of Microcontroller and Microprocessor. F. Definition of Terms Arduino – is an open source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy to use hardware and software. Ethernet – is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). Interactive – Accepting input from a human. Interactive computer systems are programs that allow users to enter data or commands. Most popular programs, such as word processors and spreadsheet applications. Microcontroller – A microcontroller (sometimes abbreviated  µC, uC or MCU) is a small computer on a single integrated circuit containing a processor core, memory, and programmable input/output peripherals. Microprocessor – incorporates the functions of a computer’s central processing unit (CPU) on a single integrated circuit (IC), or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results as output. Module – A self-contained assembly of electronic components and circuitry, such as a stage in a computer that is installed as a unit. Motor – A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric current into mechanical power. Sensors – A sensor (also called detector) is a converter that measures a physical quantity and converts it into a signal which can be read by an observer or by an (today mostly electronic) instrument.