Predictable Designs Podcast · 14 Dec 2022 · 18m
John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs Podcast, explains how to choose between a microcontroller (MCU) and a microprocessor (MPU) for electronic products. He argues that 90% of projects should start with an MCU, citing the STM32F469 as a high-performance example that bridges the gap for displays. Specific use cases like 1080p video, USB 3.0, and complex GUIs require an MPU, while battery life and simple control favor an MCU. Teel also contrasts development platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi to guide prototype-to-production decisions.
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Hosts Alicia and Christopher White discuss listener questions regarding BASIC, C++ automatic destructors, and microcontroller selection. They detail the criteria for choosing microcontrollers, such as cost, power, and peripherals, and compare ARM Cortex-M processors with 8-bit architectures like PIC and Atmel. The conversation also covers programming paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and procedural styles, and addresses ethical dilemmas in engineering.
Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the newly announced Arm Cortex-M7 microcontroller, analyzing its performance metrics, instruction set architecture, and market positioning relative to the Cortex-M4 and application processors like the Raspberry Pi's ARM11. They compare STMicroelectronics' STM32F7 series, which implements the M7 core, against Microchip's PIC32MZ series, noting the latter's lower performance and significant silicon errata issues. The conversation highlights the blurring line between microcontrollers and microprocessors, with the M7 offering high performance suitable for complex IoT and embedded applications, though potentially at the cost of power efficiency compared to lower-end M0/M4 parts.
Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss the ethical and practical implications of using AI tools like code reviewers and physics explainers, while also offering advice to a listener struggling with a new management role. They debate learning modalities, comparing the efficacy of books, audiobooks, and videos for technical education, and address a student's question about using hardware abstraction libraries versus writing low-level drivers for the TI MSP430. The episode concludes with guidance on selecting microcontrollers based on peripheral requirements rather than raw performance metrics.
The host of The Electromaker Show reviews the Arduino Uno R4's major upgrade to a 32-bit Renesas processor, the STLink-V3PWR debugger with power profiling, and the Pi Pico Identify security hat. He also highlights the Aeroh Link IR smart home device and showcases Electromaker of the Month winners, including a Cyberpunk-themed AI companion and a mechanical clock.
Hosts Karl and Corey discuss the role of microcontrollers in embedded electronics, starting with a clarification that Arduino is a software ecosystem and community rather than a microcontroller itself. They analyze the trade-offs of abstraction in Arduino, citing a specific failure where the library's slow ADC sampling rate made it unsuitable for audio processing. The conversation then compares various manufacturers, highlighting Microchip's longevity and documentation, NXP's I2C ecosystem, and the challenges of using Freescale parts due to fragmented documentation and lack of community support.
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