How to Select the Right Microcontroller for an Application

This free online class will give you IEEE hours while you learn how to choose the right microcontroller.

Design News Staff

July 11, 2022

3 Min Read
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Image courtesy of Alamy

Starting on Monday, July 25 and running through July 29, Design News will present the free course, How to Select the Right Microcontroller for an Application. Each class runs an hour, beginning at 2:00 Eastern. You can also earn IEEE Professional Development Hours for participating. If you are not able to attend the class schedule, the course will be available on demand.

This course by Jacob Beningo will examine how to select a microcontroller using a modern process. We will examine traditional selection techniques and how modern techniques examine security, machine learning, and the software ecosystem. We will define a process that attendees can follow, and we will walk through several case studies for selecting a microcontroller based on applications such as IoT, sensor nodes, machine-learning devices, etc.

Here’s a Breakdown of How to Select the Right Microcontroller for an Application day by day:

 Day 1: The Microcontroller Industry Today

The number of microcontrollers available today is growing, and the technologies available are vast. Microcontrollers are finding their way into cutting-edge applications using machine learning and into the most basic applications. In this session, we will explore the current state of the microcontroller industry. Attendees will learn what’s available today and the various architectures as well as where the industry may be going in the next decade.

Related:Diving into STMicroelectronics Microcontrollers

Day 2: MCU Selection Criteria

With so many microcontroller options available today, it can be difficult to find just the right one for an application. In this session, we will examine the various criteria that designers should consider when selecting their microcontroller. Attendees will walk away from this session with an unbiased process to help them evaluate whether a microcontroller is right for their application. 

Day 3: The Modern MCU Selection Process

Microcontrollers are traditionally chosen by the electrical team, but today’s products require that designers forgo tradition and allow software to drive their microcontroller selection. In this session, we will explore a modern process for selecting microcontrollers that leverages the core product differentiator, software. Attendees will gain an understanding of the process for selecting a microcontroller for a modern product. 

Day 4: Microcontroller Selection Use Cases

In this session, we will walk through several application examples on how to select the right microcontroller for an application. Attendees will see how to select a microcontroller for a machine-learning system and an IoT sensor node.

Day 5: Microcontroller Selection Best Practices

The criteria, processes, and examples that we have covered in this course will provide many modern ideas on how to select a microcontroller. In this session, we will explore corner cases and additional considerations that are often overlooked. Attendees will walk away understanding how to choose the right microcontroller and ensure that it can scale for their future needs.

Instructor Jacob Beningo

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Leading the course will be Jacob Beningo. Jacob is a frequent contributor to Design News, primarily on embedded software issues. He is an embedded software consultant who currently works with clients in more than a dozen countries to dramatically transform their businesses by improving product quality, cost and time to market. He has published more than 300 articles on embedded software development techniques, has published several books, is a sought-after speaker and technical trainer, and holds three degrees which include a Masters of Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Digi-Key Continuing Education Center

Digi-Key Continuing Education Center, presented by Design News, will get you up to working speed quickly in a host of technologies you've been meaning to study, but haven't had the time – all without leaving the comfort of your lab or office. Our faculty of expert tutors has divided the interdisciplinary world of design engineering into five dimensions: microcontrollers (basic and advanced), sensors, wireless, power, and lighting.

You can register for the free class here.

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