Teaching Microcontroller Systems with a Neuromorphic Application
Scott Koziol, Christian Tulowiecki, John DiCecco, Jason E. Gaudette · 2020
This paper describes a series of experiments designed to teach microprocessor system principles to students at Baylor University.This three credit class is a required course taken by third year electrical and computer engineering students.The students in this course use the Atmel AVR 8bit microcontroller.Through a series of individual lab experiences the students will learn serial communication, MATLAB-AVR interface, SPI communication, Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) use and basic theory, Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) use and basic theory, and an introduction to Neuromorphic engineering."Neuromorphic" is the name given to an interdisciplinary field which combines concepts from neuroscience, engineering, computer science, and biology.A Neuromorphic investigator's goal is to design systems based on biological nervous systems.The students in this class will apply their newly learned microcontroller skills to control and read from a brain inspired analog neuron circuit.