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Internet of Things

Sensing and Actuation From Devices

Ganz Chockalingam and Harinath Garudadri

Have you wondered how information from physical devices in the real world gets communicated to Smartphone processors? Do you want to make informed design decisions about sampling frequencies and bit-width requirements for various kinds of sensors? Do you want to gain expertise to affect the real world with actuators such as stepper motors, LEDs and generate notifications?

In this course, you will learn to interface common sensors and actuators to the DragonBoard™ 410c hardware. You will then develop software to acquire sensory data, process the data and actuate stepper motors, LEDs, etc. for use in mobile-enabled products. Along the way, you’ll learn to apply both analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion concepts.

Learning Goals: After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Estimate sampling frequency and bit-width required for different sensors.

2. Program GPIOs (general purpose input/output pins) to enable communication between the DragonBoard 410c and common sensors.

3. Write data acquisition code for sensors such as passive and active infrared (IR) sensors, microphones, cameras, GPS, accelerometers, ultrasonic sensors, etc.

4. Write applications that process sensor data and take specific actions, such as stepper motors, LED matrices for digital signage and gaming, etc.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome

Course 3 Lecture series

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.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a solid foundation for learning how physical devices in the real world communicate with Smartphone processors

Taught by instructors with experience in the field

Develops skills in interfacing common sensors and actuators to hardware

Covers topics relevant to mobile-enabled product development

Provides hands-on experience through labs and interactive materials

Requires students to have basic knowledge of tech terminology

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Reviews summary

Practical iot sensing and actuation

According to learners, this course offers a highly practical approach to Internet of Things sensing and actuation, focusing on hands-on labs and projects. Students particularly highlight the value gained from working directly with GPIOs, sensors, and actuators to build functional circuits and systems like amplifier builds, stepper motor controls, LED matrices, and Bluetooth remotes. The course is described as delivering exactly what it promises in terms of practical implementation. However, a recurring point raised by students is the course's strong dependency on the specific DragonBoard 410c hardware kit. While some learners see this as a necessary part of gaining real-world experience, others view it as a significant barrier due to cost and accessibility, especially compared to more common platforms. Lectures are generally seen as providing a decent overview but may sometimes feel rushed or lack depth for those seeking deeper theoretical understanding.

Practical labs are the core strength.

"The labs are well-designed and give hands-on experience."

"Fantastic course! The labs are the highlight. Building the amplifier, controlling stepper motors, and working with the LED matrix were incredibly rewarding."

"Good course for understanding the fundamentals of interfacing. The hands-on projects were the most valuable part."

"Excellent practical course! It delivers exactly what it promises - getting hands-on with sensing and actuation using a specific board."

"Solid hands-on experience. The labs are excellent for practical skill building."

"Highly practical and engaging course. The focus on implementing concepts with real hardware is its main strength. Working with GPIOs, motors, and sensors provided invaluable experience."

"The practical labs make this course worthwhile. I learned a lot about interfacing sensors and actuators."

Lectures can lack depth or feel rushed.

"The lectures cover the necessary theory, but sometimes feel a bit rushed."

"The lecture quality varies, and some concepts could be explained more deeply."

"Lectures provide a decent overview, but I often found myself needing to look up additional information elsewhere for deeper understanding."

"Lectures could be clearer and more detailed on theory."

Requires a specific, potentially costly board.

"Requires purchasing the specific hardware kit, which is a commitment."

"However, the reliance on the specific DragonBoard 410c board is a major drawback."

"Disappointed with the course. The dependency on the DragonBoard 410c is a huge barrier and expense."

"The hardware requirement is something to consider beforehand."

"Content is relevant but execution is tied to the DragonBoard which is not ideal. I struggled to source the board and the specific components easily."

"My main criticism is the dependency on the specific hardware kit, which adds cost and complexity."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices with these activities:

Review of Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog Conversion

Show steps

Solidify the understanding of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Analog-to-digital Conversion

Show steps

Review course materials and notes on analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion.

GPIO Programming - Review

Show steps

Reinforce understanding of the fundamental concepts of GPIO programming covered in the course.

Show steps

Review course notes and materials on GPIO programming.
Go through online tutorials or documentation on GPIO programming.

Actuator Control with Stepper Motors

Show steps

Enhance understanding of actuator control by following guided tutorials on stepper motor usage.

Show steps

Locate tutorials or documentation on stepper motor control.
Follow the instructions to build a circuit and control a stepper motor.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Sensor Data Processing Exercises

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Hone the skills of processing sensor data by working through practice problems.

Show steps

Solve practice problems on sensor data acquisition and processing.
Implement code solutions to these problems.

LED Matrix Controller

Show steps

Apply the knowledge gained on LED block to build a simple project.

Show steps

Design the circuit for the LED matrix controller.
Assemble the components and build the circuit.
Develop software to control the LED matrix.
Test and refine the project.

Infrared Sensor Applications Discussion

Show steps

Engage in discussions with peers to explore various applications of infrared sensors.

Show steps

Participate in online forums or discussion groups on infrared sensor applications.

Assist Students with GPIO Programming

Show steps

Reinforce understanding of GPIO programming by assisting other students with their own projects.

Show steps

Offer help to peers or junior students who are struggling with GPIO programming concepts.
Answer questions, provide guidance, and share resources.

Career center

Learners who complete Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

IoT Engineer

As an IoT Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining IoT systems. IoT systems are systems that connect physical devices to the internet. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of IoT, including topics such as sensors and actuators, data acquisition, and wireless communication. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design, build, and maintain IoT systems. If you are interested in a career as an IoT Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for IoT Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

As an Embedded Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining embedded systems. Embedded systems are computer systems that are designed to be part of a larger system, such as a car or a medical device. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of embedded systems, including topics such as hardware and software design, real-time operating systems, and power management. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to troubleshoot embedded systems and to create custom applications. If you are interested in a career as an Embedded Systems Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Systems Engineer

Robotics Engineer

You will be responsible for designing, building, and maintaining robots. Your knowledge of stepper motors, digital-to-analog conversion, and the other topics covered in this course will give you a strong foundation for success in this role. The course will also help you develop the skills you need to program robots and create custom applications. If you are interested in a career as a Robotics Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Computer Engineer

As a Computer Engineer, you will design, develop, and test computer systems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of computer engineering, including topics such as computer architecture, operating systems, and programming languages. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design, build, and test computer systems. If you are interested in a career as a Computer Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Engineer

Mechatronics Engineer

As a Mechatronics Engineer, you will combine your knowledge of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and control systems to design, develop, and maintain mechatronic systems. Mechatronic systems are systems that integrate mechanical, electrical, computer, and control systems. The course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of mechatronics, including topics such as sensors and actuators, data acquisition, and control systems. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design and build mechatronic systems. If you are interested in a career as a Mechatronics Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechatronics Engineer

Electrical Engineer

As an Electrical Engineer, you will design, develop, and test electrical systems. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of electrical engineering, including topics such as circuit analysis, electronics, and power systems. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design, build, and test electrical systems. If you are interested in a career as an Electrical Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Hardware Engineer

As a Hardware Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing electronic hardware. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of hardware design, such as digital logic, analog circuits, and embedded systems. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design and test electronic hardware. If you are interested in a career as a Hardware Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Electronics Engineer

As an Electronics Engineer, you will design, develop, and maintain electronic systems for a variety of industries, including telecommunications, aerospace, and manufacturing, and use your knowledge of sensors and actuators to create devices, while your understanding of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion will be valuable for tasks such as signal processing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electronics Engineer

Control Systems Engineer

As a Control Systems Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining control systems. Control systems are systems that regulate the behavior of physical systems, such as temperature, pressure, and speed. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of control systems, including topics such as feedback control, PID control, and state-space control. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design, build, and maintain control systems. If you are interested in a career as a Control Systems Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Control Systems Engineer

Automation Engineer

As an Automation Engineer, you will work with electrical and mechanical engineers to develop, install, and maintain automated systems. Using your knowledge of sensors, actuators, and control systems, you will be able to design automation systems that can help improve efficiency and productivity. This course will help you understand the fundamentals of automation, including topics such as PLC programming, motion control, and process control. If you are interested in a career as an Automation Engineer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automation Engineer

Product Designer

As a Product Designer, you will be responsible for designing and developing new products. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of product design, including topics such as human-computer interaction, product development, and prototyping. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design and develop new products. If you are interested in a career as a Product Designer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Industrial Designer

As an Industrial Designer, you will design and develop products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of industrial design, including topics such as human-computer interaction, product development, and prototyping. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to design and develop new products. If you are interested in a career as an Industrial Designer, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Industrial Designer

Systems Analyst

As a Systems Analyst, you will work with businesses to analyze their systems and processes. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of systems analysis, including topics such as requirements gathering, data analysis, and process improvement. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to analyze systems and develop solutions to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. If you are interested in a career as a Systems Analyst, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Developer

As a Software Developer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. Of particular value to you will be the course topics on analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. The course also provides a good foundation in programming principles and best practices, which are essential for success in this role. As this course applies programming and software to the world of electronics and gadgets, this may be a good course for someone wishing to work in a subset of software development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Quality Assurance Tester

As a Quality Assurance Tester, you will be responsible for testing software and hardware products to ensure that they meet quality standards. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of quality assurance, including topics such as testing methodologies, test automation, and defect management. The course will also help you to develop the skills you need to test software and hardware products and to identify and report defects. If you are interested in a career as a Quality Assurance Tester, this course is for you.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Tester

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices.

Building Wireless Sensor Networks

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Provides a more advanced look at wireless sensor networks, which would be of interest to students who want to learn more about the topic.

Internet of Things

Sensing and Actuation From Devices

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical iot sensing and actuation

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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