Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internet-of-things-sensing-actuation
Have you ever stared at your smartphone, wondering how the physical world translates into the digital commands you issue? Or perhaps you’ve dreamt of building your own interactive gadgets, controlling lights, motors, and more with just a few lines of code. If so, Coursera’s ‘Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices’ course is your gateway to making those dreams a reality.
This course, built around the DragonBoard™ 410c, provides a hands-on, practical approach to understanding the fundamental building blocks of the Internet of Things (IoT). It demystifies how devices communicate with processors and equips you with the knowledge to make crucial design decisions regarding data sampling and bit-width requirements for various sensors. More excitingly, it empowers you to actively influence the physical world through actuators like stepper motors and LEDs, and even generate notifications.
The syllabus is thoughtfully structured, starting with essential terminology and a foundational lecture series to ensure everyone is on the same page. The ‘GPIO Programming’ module is a brilliant introduction to General Purpose Input/Output pins, explaining their critical role in interfacing the DragonBoard™ with its environment. You’ll learn to locate and utilize these pins, and even write your first program to control them – a truly rewarding experience.
From there, the course delves into practical applications. The ‘Amplifier Build’ module teaches you how to amplify voltage outputs, a necessary step for interacting with a wider range of components. Then, prepare to be fascinated by ‘Stepper Motors,’ where you’ll compare different motor types, understand the inner workings of stepper motors, and learn about the crucial H-Bridge circuit. Building a circuit to run a stepper motor, complete with provided schematics and code, is a significant takeaway.
The ‘LED Block’ module takes your interaction to the next level by guiding you through programming and building custom schemes with 8×8 LED matrices, opening doors to creating games and digital displays. The ‘Infrared Sensors’ module introduces you to harnessing the infrared spectrum for communication, allowing you to control your DragonBoard™ with household remotes. Finally, the ‘Bluetooth Remote’ and ‘DragonBoard™ 410c Monitoring and Control’ modules push the boundaries further, enabling wireless control via Bluetooth and even internet-based monitoring and control using HTTP, truly bringing the ‘Internet of Things’ to life.
Overall, ‘Internet of Things: Sensing and Actuation From Devices’ is an exceptional course for anyone looking to dive into the practical aspects of IoT. The blend of theoretical explanation and hands-on lab work, especially with the provided hardware and code, makes complex concepts accessible and engaging. Whether you’re a student, a hobbyist, or a professional looking to expand your skillset, this course offers invaluable knowledge and practical experience to start building your own connected devices.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/internet-of-things-sensing-actuation