Design and Development of a Low-Cost Embedded System Laboratory Using TI MSP430 LaunchPad

Abstract

In this paper, we present a series of experiments starting from Hello World!, up to project-based experiments using Texas Instrument (TI) MSP430 LaunchPad, which is an inexpensive kit from TI, USA. Two dedicated boards are designed and developed to perform experiments described herein, which are an outcome of the author’s experience in teaching computer architecture and embedded systems in theory. These experiments can be introduced to the under-graduate students of engineering: electrical, electronics and communication, computer science, and post-graduate science students specialized in electronics. The salient feature of experiments presented in different modules is that, each experiment is explained by its hardware description, software development which includes the dumping of program on to the microcontroller’s flash memory, leading to a hands-on experience. Our experience with the conduct of a 120 min-end of semester practical examination show that, with the chronological increase in hardware design, the student exhibited the confidence in designing new stand-alone systems with fairly complicated hardware and software. Setting up a laboratory of this type is easy with the material described in this paper. A small alteration is suggested on MSP430 LaunchPad.