This post discusses creating custom wood business cards with integrated RFID chips using a laser cutter, plywood, veneer, and NXP NTAG213 RFID stickers. It explains the components, programming the RFID, and provides links to necessary resources. The writer presents it as an easy and customizable option, suitable for modern smartphones ..read more

Rust programming language gains popularity in embedded systems, and tools like probe-rs make it easier. The NXP MCU-Link debug probe, affordable at $15, is compatible with Rust and Visual Studio Code for debugging. With simple installation and usage, it offers a versatile and cost-effective solution for Rust applications. Links: probe-rs, MCU-Link debug probe ..read more

The article explains ways to avoid float and double data types in embedded applications to prevent precision, code size, and performance issues. It introduces using pragma to 'poison' these data types and setting options for software floating point runtime routines, as well as catching them in libraries through linker options. These methods ensure no floating point operations are used, providing greater control over the application ..read more

The article discusses the use of floating point operations on ARM Cortex-M devices, highlighting the significance of checking for hardware support. It introduces the GNU readelf tool as a convenient way to determine if a binary file utilizes hardware for floating point operations. The tool can be especially beneficial for inspecting externally built binaries ..read more

The post showcases recent designs for cutting boards made from 20 mm oak sheets using a desktop CNC and laser cutter. The simple design takes 5-6 minutes to cut and results in a raw cutting board, which can be produced in different sizes. The boards are treated with olive oil for a personalized finish. Links to related projects are provided ..read more

At HSLU IET we have developed an Open Source Hardware (OSHW) CMSIS-DAP debug probe in KiCad for versatile use in hardware development. The probe offers multiple integration options, USB-C connectivity, and a 3D printable enclosure, making it a compact and cost-effective solution. The project is available on GitHub ..read more

The latest FreeRTOS V11 release introduces heap protection, which detects memory corruption during runtime. When enabled, the heap block pointers are obfuscated with an XOR operation and validated within the heap boundaries. This enhancement improves early detection of heap issues, although it only protects part of the heap management structure ..read more

The 'Swiss Museum of Transport' in Lucerne opened a new 'Experience Energy!' exhibition in April 2023. The project involved creating a sustainable construction kit to explore energy, featuring renewable energy, energy storage, and usage. The kit highlights energy concepts using customized hardware and software, promoting energy education ..read more

To measure voltage, current and power, I quickly had to write a software driver for the Texas Instruments INA260 power sensor, using the Adafruit INA260 breakout board for a research project at HSLU university. The driver, implemented with necessary functions and configurations, is available on GitHub. Its command-line interface and support for a single INA260 make it simple and efficient ..read more

The new FreeRTOS V11 has Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) integrated, simplifying its usage for single-core and multi-core applications. SMP support, previously available through dedicated forks, is now integrated into the mainline. Configuration options for SMP are available, and debugging for multi-core applications is also possible. However, some limitations with debugging support currently exist ..read more