Pic Microcontroller Free Online Course

Microcontrollers are tiny computer chips that are essential components in numerous electronic devices. They are used to control various systems such as sensors, motors, and displays. Due to their widespread use, the demand for professionals with expertise in microcontroller programming and design is on the rise. Online courses have become a popular choice for individuals seeking to learn about microcontrollers. In this article, we will discuss some of the best online microcontroller courses currently available. These courses cover topics ranging from basic microcontroller programming to advanced techniques in microcontroller design and development.

Here’s a look at the Best Microcontroller Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

Pic Microcontroller Free Online Course

1. Mastering Microcontroller and Embedded Driver Development by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy, Kiran Nayak (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The Mastering Microcontroller and Embedded Driver Development course by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy and Kiran Nayak (MCU1) provides an in-depth understanding of microcontroller programming. The course covers bare-metal driver development using Embedded C, and students learn to write drivers for STM32 GPIO, I2C, SPI, USART from scratch. The course is designed for beginners to advanced audiences and includes English subtitles/CCs. Updates include the latest STM32CUBEIDE, live session coding for all drivers, a dedicated support team, and fixed English closed captions. The course demystifies the internal workings of the microcontroller and its peripherals, developing software drivers entirely from scratch by extracting maximum information from datasheets, reference manuals, specs, and other sources. It covers coding for peripherals step-by-step, protocol decoding using logic analyzers, debugging, testing, and hints and tips. Mastering Microcontroller and Embedded Driver Development course is designed to help engineers and students learn different aspects of embedded systems by providing advanced lectures at a low price. The course teaches students to write their peripheral driver for the most commonly used peripherals such as GPIOs, I2C, SPI, USART, etc., from scratch. No 3rd party libraries or blind coding are used, and students learn to code and implement APIs by dealing with the peripheral registers of the MCU. The course is generic and can be applied to any microcontroller, and the code developed can be used as templates to build peripheral drivers for MCUs on-chip peripherals. The course is not bound to any specific MCU, and the code is developed so that it can be ported to any MCU. The course includes sections on understanding MCU memory map, bus interfaces, clocks, vector table, interrupt design, GPIO programming structure, registers, peripheral clock control, driver development overview, SPI, I2C, USART, and exercises. There are recommended learning orders for beginners to the field of embedded systems.

2. Mastering Microcontroller: Timers, PWM, CAN, Low Power(MCU2) by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy, Kiran Nayak (Udemy)

The Mastering Microcontroller: Timers, PWM, CAN, Low Power (MCU2) course, taught by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy and Kiran Nayak, provides step-by-step guidance on how to learn and master advanced microcontroller programming. The course covers Timers, PWM, CAN, RTC, and Low Power modes of the STM32F4x Micro-controller. The course includes both theory and practical exercises to help develop a thorough understanding of the peripherals discussed.

The Timer section of the course covers basic and general-purpose timers, input and output capture channels, PWM generation, and exercises. The CAN section covers the protocol, frame formats, signaling, bit timing calculation, network with transceivers, self-testing, and code exercises. The Power Controller section covers ARM Cortex Mx Low Power Modes, SLEEP, STOP, STANDBY modes, current measurement, and waking up MCU using wakeup pins, EXTI, RTC, etc. The RTC section covers the functional block diagram, clock management, calendar unit, wake-up unit, time stamp unit, and RTC interrupts.

The course also covers the STM32 Device HAL framework, including details of the framework, APIs, interrupt handling, callback implementation, peripheral handling, configurations, and code exercises. The course provides detailed step-by-step coverage with lots of code exercises. The course does not cover auto-generating code using STM32CubeMx software.

The hardware used in the course is the STM32F446RE-NUCLEO Board and CAN Transceivers. The IDE used is Eclipse-based OpenSTM32 SystemWorkbench.

3. C Programming Basics For Microcontrollers & Embedded System by Educational Engineering Team, Ashraf Said (Udemy)

Course Title: C Programming Basics For Microcontrollers & Embedded System
Course Instructors: Educational Engineering Team, Ashraf Said

Course Short Description: This course aims to teach you programming using C and C# languages, specifically for Microcontrollers and Embedded Systems. It covers the basics of C, and provides additional comprehensive C# material to help you practice easily with real-life examples.

Course Long Description: The course is designed to give you a quick look and get you started quickly in Programming using C language. Almost every lecture and section of the course is delivered with the goal to help you learn how to program a microcontroller from scratch, and gain a strong understanding of how it works.

Why you should take this course? Upon completion, you will have learned to use C and C# languages for programming Microcontrollers, understand the difference between these two languages, and become a master in embedded system technology.

This course is modular in nature, and we take you step-by-step through the lessons, providing sample code and documentation to ensure that you are supported through the course. We provide quizzes, examples, and bonuses to make sure you are engaged throughout the course.

The course is continually updated, and we encourage questions and feedback from the students. With more than 5200 students enrolled, the course has received positive feedback, with students describing it as very informative and great.

4. ARM Cortex M Microcontroller DMA Programming Demystified by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy, Kiran Nayak (Udemy)

The ARM Cortex M Microcontroller DMA Programming Demystified course is offered by FastBit Embedded Brain Academy and instructed by Kiran Nayak. It is designed to help beginners to intermediate students in the field of Embedded Systems and programming understand the Microcontroller DMA controller internals and its programming with various peripherals.

The course covers topics such as the Multi AHB bus matrix and ARM Cortex M Bus interfaces, MCU Master and Slave communication over bus matrix, DMA internals including channel mapping, streams, FIFO, Master ports, Arbiter, and more. Additionally, DMA different transfer modes such as M2P, P2M, M2M, and DMA with peripherals like ADC, GPIO, UART_RX/TX, and many other peripherals are covered in the course.

The course utilizes the STM32F446RE Nucleo64 board for hardware and KEIL MDK V5, Openstm32 system workbench, and CubeMx software from ST for software. The installation procedure is covered in the course.

The course is focused on understanding the Direct Memory Access Controller of the Micro-controller and how to use it in embedded applications. The course uses ARM Cortex M based STM32 Micro-controller for all theory discussion and code exercises. The course also discusses generic details of the DMA which can be leveraged to other Micro-controllers but may require changes to the code.

The course will help students raise their confidence in handling their MCU’s DMA controller and connect the dots by going through various levels of discussion. Different types of DMA transfers like M2M, P2M, and M2P are covered as well as various DMA configurations.

FastBit Embedded Brain Academy recommends taking their courses in a specific order for beginners in the field of embedded systems. The ARM Cortex M Microcontroller DMA Programming Demystified course is suggested as the seventh course in the sequence.

5. Basics of Embedded C Programming for Beginners by Smart Logic Academy (Udemy)

The Basics of Embedded C Programming for Beginners course is offered by Smart Logic Academy. The course aims to teach beginners the basics of embedded C programming, which is a standard language used to program microcontrollers. The course is designed for individuals who have no prior experience with C programming. It is ideal for electronic hobbyists and students who want to learn the C programming language in an embedded environment.

The course features several lectures that cover topics such as the architecture of 8051 microcontrollers, steps to burn/embed a program in the microcontroller, and programming in KEIL IDE software. Additionally, there is a lecture that explains the differences between microprocessors and microcontrollers.

The course is regularly updated, and the latest update as of December 23, 2018, includes new lectures on microcontrollers and their architecture. The update also includes a new article and lecture on Proteus Simulation software installation.

The course has several features, including the fact that no programming experience is necessary, and students can download sample programs. The course provides a step-by-step process to burn/embed a program in the microcontroller using embedded C programming tool.

The course content is divided into several sections, including Introduction, Basics of Embedded C, Bitwise operations in Embedded C, Microcontroller Programming, and FLASH MAGIC for programming flash-based microcontrollers. Overall, the course aims to teach beginners the fundamentals of embedded C programming in a structured and comprehensive manner.

6. PIC Microcontroller Step by Step: Your complete guide by Educational Engineering Team, Ashraf Said (Udemy)

This course titled PIC Microcontroller Step by Step: Your complete guide is instructed by the Educational Engineering Team and Ashraf Said. The course provides 8.5 hours of high definition content and is designed to introduce the hardware and programming environment of the PIC Microcontroller to enable students to start building projects immediately. The course is practical, organized in an easy-to-follow manner, and provides detailed information on all aspects of microcontroller interfacing. It covers every aspect of interfacing, from analog signal to digital interfacing. The course contains practical examples and exercises, and is an excellent introduction for those who may have been put off by the mathematical nature of most programming courses.

The course is aimed at anyone who is interested in learning electronic design, and no prior experience is required. The PIC Microcontroller is an electronic device that can be used easily in both hardware and software, and it is intended for anyone who wishes to make interactive hardware projects by connecting it with a power source, few LEDs, and resistors. The course also includes a bonus section, where students can take a PIC Microcontroller practice exam course for free, worth $200.

The course has received 4-star ratings and more than 1600 students have enrolled. The course receives positive feedback from students, who commend the instructor for being able to explain complex concepts in a simple and understandable way. The material is enjoyable to follow, with bug-free and detail explanations, and the instructor responds promptly to questions.

The course covers topics on LED, resistors, push buttons, LCD screens, seven-segment displays, motor and keypads, and DIY projects. This course is a tool for creating any device imaginable and has become a favorite of electronic students and anyone interested in device manufacturing because of their ease of use and extremely low cost. Example projects include Ardupilot, a UAV platform that controls aerial drones.

In summary, this course is a comprehensive guide to mastering the PIC Microcontroller hardware and programming environment.

7. 8051 Microcontroller – Embedded C and Assembly Language by Smart Logic Academy (Udemy)

The 8051 Microcontroller – Embedded C and Assembly Language course offered by Smart Logic Academy takes a hands-on approach to teach students about 8051 microcontroller programming. The course includes 25+ code examples and covers software such as KEIL IDE, PROTEUS, and FLASH Magic. Students will learn about the interfacing of various components, including LEDs, switches, and temperature sensors. The course also covers programming of I/O Ports, Timer, Counter, Serial Communication (UART), and Interrupts. The course includes two projects, the first being speed control of DC motor and LED dimming using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) technique, and the second being wireless control of LEDs using a Smartphone. The course also includes MCQs for testing what students learned, as well as bonus lectures and interview questions and answers. The course provides extra learning material to help even an absolute beginner, including on number systems and binary logic. The course has received positive feedback from over 3555 students and offers certification of completion. The course is continually updated, with recent updates covering Analog to Digital Converter and stepper motor. The course is designed to be easy to understand, with practical step by step examples in both Embedded C and Assembly language. The course aims to make students future ready and able to quickly learn any complex microcontroller and microprocessor.

8. Embedded Systems with 8051 Micro Controller using Embedded C by Amit Rana (Udemy)

This course is an in-depth study into embedded systems with 8051 microcontrollers, utilizing embedded C programming. The course is designed for both beginners and intermediate developers in embedded systems, with a focus on hands-on experimentation. The course covers the basics of 8051 microcontrollers and their simplicity in usage, as well as their interfacing with peripheral devices such as LEDs, switches, LCDs, temperature sensors, and more. The course also includes a brief introduction to C programming.

The course content is led by a developer with over 10 years of experience in developing more than 150 projects in 8051 microcontrollers alone. The course covers barebone controller coding, which teaches participants to write programs for each of its features, and simulations for exercises. Participants can take the free preview before enrolling to see if the course content and presenter fit their needs.

The course is broken down into several sections, including software installation, input and output interfacing, 8051 interfaces, and concepts on LCDs and serial ports, among others. The course concludes with a program downloading section.

9. Microcontrollers for the Internet of Things by Thomas Tongue (Udemy)

The Microcontrollers for the Internet of Things course is led by Thomas Tongue and focuses on the Arduino platform, specifically the ESP8266 microcontroller. The Arduino platform is an open-source hardware and software platform that has made microcontrollers and electronics accessible to makers. With dozens of variations on the platform, a diverse ecosystem of vendors and enthusiasts has emerged, leading to the development of devices with more networking and communication capabilities, pushing towards applications on the Internet of Things.The course begins with the fundamentals of Arduino programming and builds expertise in Analog/Digital Input & Output, and other core topics used to prototype electronic devices. The course then focuses on programming the ESP8266 to scan and connect to pre-existing WiFi networks or create its own network as an access point. Students will have access to lectures with information to help them build the demonstrations as they go and will be challenged to extend the lecture-provided circuits and code to add additional features. The course also includes a projects section at the end where new projects will be added to illustrate special topics and techniques based on student interests and questions.The course is divided into four sections: Class Overview, Organization and Motivation; Microcontroller and Arduino Fundamentals; WiFi Fundamentals and the Internet of Things; and Projects and Special Topics.

10. Mastering Microcontroller Programming by Umesh Lokhande (Udemy)

The Mastering Microcontroller Programming course, taught by Umesh Lokhande, teaches 8-bit AVR microcontroller programming for utilizing peripherals such as GPIO, Timer, Interrupt, PWM, ADC, Serial UART, and more. The course is designed to help those who may feel stuck in their current learning, even if they are new to microcontrollers or already have a basic knowledge.

The course starts with the basics of setting up the official Atmel Studio7 IDE, installing programming utilities, and hooking up circuits with the ATmega328 chip on Arduino Uno. This keeps the hardware part simple in the beginning, allowing more time to focus on core microcontroller features through AVR C Programming. Later on, more advanced debugging techniques will be taught using the ATmega328 Xplained Mini evaluation kit.

The primary objective of the course is to help students build a strong understanding of microcontroller architecture and peripheral registers in order to use them while writing professional embedded systems software. Every circuit will be set up from scratch and microcontroller firmware will be written for it. Enough time will be spent in the beginning to ensure the basics are understood, ultimately saving time in the long run and building confidence in working with Microcontroller Architecture and C Programming.

In addition to the fundamentals, mini projects will be built that use LED, Switches, Analog and Digital Sensors (temperature/humidity/light Intensity/distance), IR Sensor, Relays, and more. These projects may be small but are powerful enough to lay a strong foundation for using GPIO, Timer/Counter, Interrupt, PWM, ADC, Serial UART, and other peripherals while developing embedded software and hardware. The course is broken down into 10 sections: Introduction, Setup and Install Software, Basics of Bit Manipulation, Control Digital Devices (LED, Switches, etc.), Timer and Counters, Interrupts and ISR, Pulse Width Modulation, Serial Communication: UART, Create Multiple File Project, and Analog to Digital Conversion (ADC).