Mechatronics Systems Interfacing and Control with AVR

Microcontrollers

Course Description:

A three-day, hands-on, short course on Mechatronics Systems Interfacing and Control with AVR
Microcontrollers that uses for illustration the Arduino UNO development board which is built
around the ATmega328 microcontroller. The course focuses on microcontroller basics, programming
languages and tools, control software structures and programming techniques, interface and
communication methods, and application examples with hardware and software details. This course
is suitable for individuals who: would like to get exposure and training in using microcontrollers for
interfacing and control of mechatronics systems; perform laboratory work and would like to
implement microcontroller-based systems in their work; or conduct/supervise projects that make use
of microcontrollers. The course uses a series of hands-on interactive exercises that are performed by
every participant to give training in the topics covered in the course.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the function and operation of the basic components of a microcontroller

• Define the programming languages and programming tools for AVR microcontrollers
• Explain the different interfacing techniques of microcontrollers such as digital I/O, A/D, and
PWM
• Explain the concept of time and timers, and their implementation in AVR microcontrollers
• Explain the serial interfacing (asynchronous and synchronous) of a microcontroller to PC and
other devices
• Describe the control software structure to perform measurement and control tasks, and develop
state transition diagrams for control of physical systems
• Explain power management, interrupts, and other features of a microcontroller
• Define the process of interfacing of MATLAB, LabView, and Visual Basic with AVR
microcontrollers
• Explain the process of integration of software and hardware elements in the implementation and
design of several mechatronics systems

Keywords: microcontrollers; programming; digital I/O; A/D conversion; serial interfacing; timing;
control software; power management; interrupts; interfacing; system integration.

Detailed Course Outline:

Day 1 of 3
Introduction Objective: Explain the function of the basic components of a
microcontroller.

 Introduction to embedded systems and AVR microcontrollers

 MCU terms
 Development board
 Course outline and outcomes

1
Programming Languages Objective: Define the programming languages and programming tools
and Tools for AVR microcontrollers

 Programming tools
 Compilers
 Wiring language details

Exercise: Connecting to the Arduino board

Oscillator Sources, Digital Objective: Explain oscillator sources, and the process of performing
I/O, and A/D digital I/O and A/D

 Numbering systems
 Oscillator sources
 Digital I/O
 Analog input

Exercise: Digital and analog interfacing (LED, switch, potentiometer)

Timing, Reset, and Objective: Explain timers, reset, and EEPROM access operations
EEPROM
 Timing
 Reset operations
 EEPROM access

Exercise: Implementing an event timer

Day 2 of 3
PWM & Hardware Objective: Describe PWM actuation and how a microcontroller can be
Interfacing interfaced to devices with different voltage and current capabilities

 PWM actuation
 Hardware interfacing
 Transistors
 H-bridge drivers

Exercise: Hobby servo motor control

Asynchronous Serial Objective: Explain the serial interfacing (asynchronous) of a
Interfacing microcontroller to PC and other devices

 Asynchronous and synchronous serial communication

 RS232 interfacing

Exercise: PC serial interfacing

Synchronous Serial Objective: Explain the serial interfacing (synchronous) of a
Interfacing microcontroller to PC and other devices

 SPI Interfacing
 I2C Interfacing

Exercise: I2C sensor interfacing

2
Control Software Objective: Describe the control software structures to perform
Structures I measurement and control tasks

 Control software structures

 States/tasks

Exercise: Sequence control application

Day 3 of 3
Control Software Objective: Describe the control software structures to perform
Structures II measurement and control tasks

 Control software structures

 States/tasks

Exercise: Open loop control application

Advanced Features Objective: Explain advanced features on the microcontroller

 Power management
 Watchdog timer
 Interrupts

Exercise: Power management and interrupts

Interfacing Arduino with Objective: Define the process of interfacing packages such as MATLAB
other software packages and LabView with Arduino

 MATLAB interface with Arduino

 LabView interface with Arduino
 Visual Basic Express interface with Arduino

Exercise: Interfacing MATLAB with Arduino

Applications Objective: Describe detailed programs that integrate many of the topics
covered

 Portable measurement and control system

 Gear changer system

Conclusion Objective: Summarize the main topics covered, find resources for further
training, and evaluate the course

 Summary
 Resources
 Evaluations

Prerequisites: Interest in programming and prior experience with any programming language is
helpful.

3
Note: Participants need to provide their own laptop for this course. Each participant will be provided
with a kit that includes an Arduino board plus mechatronic components to demonstrate the topics
covered in the course.

Instructor: The course will be taught by Professor Musa Jouaneh from the University of Rhode
Island (URI), USA who has been teaching courses in the mechatronics area for more than 24 years,
and is the director of the Mechatronics Lab at URI. Dr. Jouaneh received his B.S. degree in
Mechanical Engineering in 1984 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and his Master and
Doctorate degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 1986
and 1989 respectively. His research interests include mechatronics and robotics with particular
interest in motion control systems. He has served as a consultant to many companies in the Northeast
and has received two College of Engineering Faculty Excellence Awards and the URI Foundation
Teaching Excellence Award. He is the author or co-author of over 65 publications including two US
patents. He is also the author of two recently published textbooks on Mechatronics. Dr. Jouaneh is a
Fellow member of ASME, a senior member of IEEE, and a member of ASEE.