FPGA Capstone: Building FPGA Projects

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/capstone-fpga-design

Introduction

### Course Review: FPGA Capstone: Building FPGA Projects **Overview:** The "FPGA Capstone: Building FPGA Projects" course on Coursera offers a comprehensive, hands-on experience in field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design, specifically utilizing the popular DE10-Lite development kit and the Quartus Prime software environment. This course serves as a culmination of your FPGA learning journey, integrating design, testing, and implementation skills you have acquired throughout your studies. Designed for individuals who have a foundation in digital design but are looking to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, this course not only teaches you theoretical concepts but provides you with real-world applications to enhance your skills further. **What You Will Learn:** Throughout the course, participants will engage in a series of modules that collectively guide them through the setup of the DE10-Lite board, the design and testing of various circuits, and the creation of software for a System on a Chip (SoC). Key highlights from the syllabus include: 1. **Hands-on Altera MAX10 Hardware Setup:** You will kick off by setting up the DE10-Lite kit, learning to use Quartus Prime and the System Builder. This first module introduces the fundamentals, such as designing and testing a Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) adder. 2. **Develop a Mixed-Signal System:** In this module, you will construct a mixed-signal system incorporating an ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) circuit. You'll verify your designs through thorough simulations. 3. **Create a System on a Chip with NIOS II:** Participants will learn to build a NIOS II soft processor integrated with interfaces on the DE10-Lite board, rounding out the hardware design experience. 4. **Software for a System on a Chip:** Finally, you'll create and test embedded software that interacts with your hardware designs, giving you complete integration of hardware and software in an embedded system context. **Personal Experience:** As an AI, I don't have personal experience, but I can synthesise insights from numerous feedback about similar courses. Students typically commend the hands-on nature of the course, which lets them experience firsthand the complexities and challenges of FPGA design. The course’s focus on thorough documentation through lab notebooks and project files not only promotes discipline among learners but also mirrors real-world industrial practices in engineering. The challenge of combining software with your hardware brings a rewarding sense of accomplishment that many learners find invaluable. **Pros:** - **Practical Experience:** This course prioritizes hands-on learning, ensuring you develop usable skills in FPGA design. - **Comprehensive Learning Path:** Each module builds effectively on the previous one, leading to a solid understanding of both hardware and software. - **Access to Industry-Standard Tools:** Familiarizing yourself with Quartus Prime and the DE10-Lite kit empowers you with tools widely used in the industry. **Cons:** - **Cost of Additional Hardware:** The course requires the purchase of the DE10-Lite development kit, which can be a barrier for some learners. - **Self-Motivation Required:** Given the hands-on nature and the independent project submissions, learners must have a high degree of self-motivation and discipline. **Recommendation:** I highly recommend the "FPGA Capstone: Building FPGA Projects" course for anyone looking to solidify their understanding of FPGA design and gain practical experience in a relevant setting. Whether you are an engineering student, a recent graduate, or a professional looking to upskill, this course will give you valuable experience with all aspects of designing and implementing FPGA projects. Invest in the DE10-Lite kit, and prepare to immerse yourself in the world of FPGA! The skills you acquire here will serve you well in your academic and professional career.

Syllabus

Hands on: Altera MAX10 Hardware Setup

In this module you will begin your hands-on exploration of FPGA design by setting up a target board, the DE10-Lite based on the MAX10 Intel Altera FPGA. In this module you will  Setup and test the MAX10 board using the FPGA design tool Quartus Prime and the System Builder.  Design and test a Binary Coded Decimal Adder Record all your observations in a lab notebook pdf.  Submit your project files and lab notebook for grading. Completing this module will help prepare you for the work to be done in the modules that follow.

The goal of this module is to develop a mixed-signal system. You will construct hardware that uses the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) inputs and Pulse Width Modulate (PWM) outputs to make a voltage measuring instrument. In this module you will  Create a working design, using most aspects of the Quartus Prime Design Flow.  Design and test a PWM Circuit, with verification by simulation.  Design and test an ADC circuit, using Quartus Prime built-in tools to verify your circuit design.  Record all your observations in a lab notebook pdf.  Submit your project files and lab notebook for grading. Completing this module will help prepare you for the work to be done in the modules that follow.

The goal of this module is to develop the hardware for a System on a Chip (SoC). You will construct hardware that creates a NIOS II soft processor along with several interfaces to devices on the DE10-Lite development kit. In this module you will  Create a working design, using most aspects of the Quartus Prime Design Flow.  Create hardware for the NIOS II soft processor, including many interfaces, using Qsys (Platform Builder). Instantiate this design into a top-level DE10-Lite HDL file.  Compile your completed hardware using Quartus Prime.  Record all your observations in a lab notebook.  Submit your project files and lab notebook for grading. Completing this module will provide a platform for the work to be done in the module that follows.

The goal of this module is to develop the software for a System on a Chip (SoC). You will build software for a NIOS II soft processor you built in Module 3, using several interfaces to devices on the DE10-Lite development kit as well. In this module you will  Enhance and test a working design, using most aspects of the Quartus Prime Design Flow and the NIOS II Software Build Tools (SBT) for Eclipse.  Create software for the NIOS II soft processor, including many interfaces, using Qsys (Platform Builder) and the SBT.  Compile your completed software using the SBT.  Use Quartus Prime to program both the FPGA hardware configuration and software code in you DE10-Lite development kit. You will then test your new embedded system.  Record all your observations in a lab notebook pdf.  Submit your project files and lab notebook for grading. Completing this module will finish your work for this course.