Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internet-of-things-sensing-actuation

Introduction

# Course Review: Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices If you've ever found yourself fascinated by how smart devices interact with each other and the physical world, the course **"Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices"** on Coursera could be the perfect opportunity for you. This comprehensive program, offered in a user-friendly format, caters to both beginners and intermediate learners. Here, I'll delve into a review of the course content, experience, and recommendations. ### Course Overview The course provides a hands-on approach to understanding the essential concepts of IoT devices. You will learn how physical devices communicate with processors, determine optimal design choices for sensors, engagement through actuators, and much more. With practical sessions centered on the **DragonBoard™ 410c**, this course brilliantly balances theoretical knowledge and practical application. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Welcome and Introductory Lectures**: The course begins with a series of lectures that set the stage for what's to come. These sessions are great for anyone looking to refresh their knowledge. 2. **Terminology/Cheat Sheet**: A vital section for beginners, this module provides essential tech terminologies and concepts. If you're already familiar with IoT jargon, you may skip this, but it’s recommended for all participating in the course. 3. **GPIO Programming**: Understanding GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) programming is crucial for any IoT project. This segment explores the interfaces between the DragonBoard™ and the external world, establishing foundational knowledge for the course. 4. **Amplifier Build**: Here, you will learn about making a basic voltage amplifier. The hands-on nature of this module reinforces the knowledge acquired in earlier sections. 5. **Stepper Motors**: This module dives into robotics, a fascinating field where stepper motors play a pivotal role. You’ll learn about motor types, circuit designs, and practical building tasks that culminate in constructing a functional circuit to operate a stepper motor. 6. **LED Block**: In this engaging module, you will manipulate an 8x8 LED matrix to create visuals, games, and displays. This creative aspect of the course enhances not only technical skills but also fosters creativity. 7. **Infrared Sensors**: This segment introduces you to infrared technology. You will learn how to build interactive systems using IR communication, gaining a deeper understanding of remote control applications. 8. **Bluetooth Remote**: Expanding on the IR module, this section introduces Bluetooth technology. You'll learn how to enable close-range control over your DragonBoard using smartphones and other devices. 9. **DragonBoard™ 410c Monitoring and Control**: The final module challenges you to integrate everything you've learned, mixing software and hardware skills to build a system that can send and receive data over the internet. ### Course Experience The course is well-structured, with a mixture of theoretical lectures and practical lab sessions that require creativity and analytical skills. The hands-on projects, coupled with guided instructions, make complex topics accessible. The DragonBoard™ 410c serves as an excellent platform, providing real-world applications for the concepts learned. The instructors are knowledgeable and highly engaged, providing support throughout the learning process. The forums are also a great way to engage with fellow learners and troubleshoot common issues with the help of the community. ### Recommendations - **Who Should Enroll?**: This course is ideal for engineering students, professionals in tech, hobbyists interested in IoT, and anyone eager to understand how devices interact in a digital world. - **Skills Needed**: While beginners can find value here, some familiarity with basic programming concepts and electronics will enhance your experience. - **Takeaway**: By the end of this course, you will have built several projects that showcase your newfound IoT skills. The knowledge gained can be incredibly beneficial whether you are looking to innovate in your current role or exploring IoT as a career path. ### Conclusion The **"Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices"** course is a gateway into IoT, offering rich insights and practical skills that can impact both professional and personal projects. If you’re ready to embrace the exciting world of technology that transforms everyday objects into intelligent devices, I wholeheartedly recommend enrolling in this course. With a blend of theory and practice, you’ll emerge with a comprehensive understanding of IoT that could pave the way for future innovations.

Syllabus

Welcome

Before jumping into the lab section of this course, we would like to offer you a short lecture series. This lecture series will compliment everything you are about to do for the remainder of the course.

In this course, you will see a lot of new words and acronyms you might not be familiar with. If you feel comfortable with your knowledge of tech terminology, feel free to skip these lessons since they will not affect the overall integrity of the course. If you see something that you want to know a little more about, feel free to watch the video to gain insight on some basic concepts. We do expect you to know the majority of this material before going into the next module, we would recommend going through the lessons as a quick brush up.

Hello everyone and welcome to GPIO Programming! In order for the DragonBoard™ 410c to interact with the world there has to be an interface between them. For the purpose of this project the GPIO interface will serve as a way to sense and interact with the environment. In this lesson we will talk about General Purpose Input/Output pins and why they are important to this project. We will try to define them as well as provide other resources that could help further explain their purpose. In taking a look at the low speed expansion header on the DragonBoard™ 410c we will locate and explain all other GPIO interfaces. Since only the 12 GPIO will be necessary for this course, most of this lesson will focus on them. Once a greater understanding of the GPIO is achieved we will then access them via command prompt be it through a PC host or on board OS such as Ubuntu. Finally in this lesson we will show you how to make your first program/application capable of controlling a GPIO.

Time to build your very own amplifier! In order to interact with a wide variety of components, including many of the components that will be used throughout this course the voltage output from the DragonBoard™ 410c low speed expansion header will need to be amplified. In this lesson we will talk about a very basic voltage amplifier design. This design will be used to boost the signal voltage from the GPIO’s located on the DragonBoard™ 410c low speed expansion header. Once familiar with this basic amplifier, one can make adjustments to create personalized amplifiers geared toward specific future projects.

We are all basically made of motors, not really, but most robots are! When working with robotics, motors among several other things are some of the most important components you will chose for a project. In this lesson we will compare a variety of different motors widely used in DIY projects, especially DIY projects centered around robotics. We will take a deeper look at the stepper motor and what they are made of. We will then talk about the H-Bridge integrated circuit chip, why it is necessary for this projects and how it is used. Lastly, this lesson will guide you through the process of building a circuit capable of running a stepper motor. Schematics and code will be provided in order to gain a greater understanding of the stepper motor, as well as to facilitate the step by step instructions found in this lesson's documentation.

It was amazing when we turned our first LED on. What if we told you one was just the beginning! In this Module we will manipulate 8x8 LED matrices to execute a variety of custom schemes. We will program and build games, and digital displays that can be used for fun or business. The 8x8 LED matrix is just the beginning. Our code and ultimately our concepts can be applied to larger more intricate projects as you grow your IoT toolbox.

Using sensors that work on the infrared spectrum we can send and receive information. With this knowledge we are ready to program/build a way to use this to our benefit. In this Module you will gain access to code that will allow you take tremendous steps forward in your pursuit to claim of piece of the IoT movement. We are also going talk about the infrared spectrum on a higher level to gain a better understanding of how we are able to use it for these projects. By the end of this Module, you will be able to take a household remote and control various aspects of your DragonBoard™ 410c, especially peripherals through GPIO manipulation.

If you thought the IR remote module was fun, this will take your wireless control of the DragonBoard™ 410c to a whole new level. Here we will use multiple devices to communicate and control peripherals using Bluetooth. We will walk you through the steps we took in order to send and receive data through the Bluetooth modules on multiple devices. By the end of this module you will be able to control a variety of components (including GPIOs) on your DragonBoard™ 410c from other devices using close range Bluetooth connectivity. We are very excited to share this code with you, and we are even more excited to see all of the cool stuff you will all come up with when you are finished with this Module.

Its time to expand on what we did in Course 2! That being said, I am sure you all had a blast creating your server and checking the status of various components on your board. What if I told you we can use some of these ideas to also control peripherals on your board! Well that is exactly what we are going to do in this Module. Its time to mix your software knowledge with your hardware skills to create a system that can both receive and send information using HTTP! Buckle up because we are about to introduce you to a new sensor while also providing you with everything you will need to officially use the internet for controlling your things (IoT pun)!