need help in Skill development

[RishabhG]

suggest training course

This question is for people in India...

I am a third year engineering student. I want to get into the field of Embedded Systems. For that I am trying to learn the PIC Microcontroller. But to build and develop projects, I need to get more knowledge and skills. So for please suggest some training institutes or courses that I could join in the month of december. I have holidays for about a month.

Preferred Location: bangalore,chennai

preferred course: ARM processor or FPGA based Embedded Systems

Also professionals and experienced engineers can you advice me on other alternatives for skill development.

Thanks

 

[ckshivaram]

a months time is not enough to learn any course especially hands on......... you need to devote time for that, maybe 6 months to year, in order to learn some good basics...
In embedded you should know RTO's. without which your scope as embedded engineer is very limited.

 

[RishabhG]

Sir,I actually want the introduction and not gain mastery instantly through the course. I know getting a good grasp will take time. What I want is to get into the right direction so that I can start working on my own. I hope you understand what you mean.

Still what would you suggest for a 6 month course...?

Thank you sir.

 

[i_chaitanya]

then in my suggestion don't go for any course right now instead buy a trainer board (can msg me for one ) and a programmer and start practicing on it
hell lot of tutorials are available online to help you through.

 

[nikhilsigma]

I would like to suggest that you should :

• Buy a Trainer kit/ Development board OR just a microcontroller with a programmer...
• The software and compiler for developing code are available from vendors(MPLAB in case of PIC)
• And buy a book for that microcontroller.... BEST book is by MAZIDI (it comes for many microcontrollers)
• you will get almost everything in book, but incase you need more help then you can always come to net...

And Since you want to start with PIC, you will need :

• a Microcontroller : PIC16f or PIC18f will be fine for you...
• Programmer : PICKIT 3
• SOFTWARE : IDE and Compiler are available from microchip : MPLAB X
• BOOK : MAZIDI for PIC
• DATASHEET for your microcontroller: very useful.....you can download it from net for free...
• breadboard and other components(power source, resistors etc)....

and you are all set to go...... :-D

Hardware Setup : This is how you will first setup your hardware all together...
:idea:

 

[RishabhG]

I already a PIC development board and PIC kit 2 programmer. I actually wanted to migrate to ARM but now I feel its too early for that. First I think I have to work with PIC thoroughly and only should I migrate to ARM. I hope I am correct..?

Also I have the Mazidi book but I program PIC16F877A and use HITeCH C Compiler...Mazidi teaches PIC18F using C18 compiler. Can you suggest some ways to bridge the gap?

 

[xpress_embedo]

Have a look at this link...

https://sites.google.com/site/coolembeddedlaboratory/

This site has examples based on almost all C Compilers of PIC
MPLAB C18, Hi Tech 18F and 16F, CCS PIC -C, mikroC
Have a look..
Have any problem ask here..
on this board..

and see PIC16F877A and PIC18F4550 Sections...

Hi-Tech C for PIC16F is easy and if you are able to manage to write your codes in one compiler than you can do it with other also...

 

[RishabhG]

thanks arun

 

[BabaYaga]

If you are keen on PIC microcontroller and want a quick start then instead of MPlab use MicroC , it provides a really good library with code snippets, I would suggest you have a look at it once before going to MPlab the software is free(upto 2K-Code size limited).

Just download and install this Compiler-IDE and go to help and look into the hardware libraries for the pre-built C functions which you can directly use to start your programs, there are some really fast and simple functions for a relatively complex tasks like RS-232 communication, SPI communication etc.,

you can do all these complex tasks within a single function call with appropriate arguments.
I hope this was helpful.

 

[RishabhG]

Well microC may be good but I have already started with MPLAB and have done some programs on LED,switch,timers .. Also my aim is not to get things done(had that been the case I would have started with Arduino I guess!);my aim is to learn micros from scratch and well enough to be a good embedded design engineer.

Hope you get what I mean.

 

[BabaYaga]

I got your point, and yes your approach is right and yes there are some things to compromise in MikroC, and since you want to learn things from scratch i guess that's how you do it. i also suggest you write a couple of assembly codes just to get around the basic concepts.

 

[bigdogguru]

Also my aim is not to get things done(had that been the case I would have started with Arduino I guess!);my aim is to learn micros from scratch and well enough to be a good embedded design engineer.

A wise choice.

In my opinion the most C standard compliant PIC compilers are either Hi-Tech or Microchip.

Also it is worth mentioning, Microchip purchased Hi-Tech and has been slow integrating Hi-Tech compiler features into new releases of Microchip compilers.

The Microchip C18, C30 and C32 compilers all offer an extensive library of routines, allow with source code, which is entirely lacking for all the MikroE compilers.

I'm often shocked at how many programmers have either forgotten or never learned how to properly use header files as well as they are at a total loss when attempting to compile muti-source code file projects.

Learning Assembly language will give you a good foundation by which to build a solid understand of many underlying principles of C compilers.

Besides, there are still times when the use of Assembly language is required to obtain the desire results, like critical and accurate software timing routines.


BigDog