Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x

After the excellent Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x, Dr. Jonathan Valvano —who has written many books on embedded systems— and Dr. Ramesh Yerraballi, both at the University of Texas at Austin, are offering a new MOOC about RTOS and Bluetooth.
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As with previous MOOC, hardware is based on Texas Instruments boards, including the MSP432 LaunchPad (or TM4C123 LaunchPad), the Educational BoosterPack MK-II, and the CC2650 LaunchPad or CC2650 BoosterPack. 
The syllabus contains six chapters:
  1. Introduction to I/O using the BSP and debugging
  2. Thread management for a personal fitness device
  3. Thread synchronization and scheduling for a personal fitness device
  4. Real-time operating system for a hand-held video game
  5. File system using the flash ROM of the micro-controller
  6. Bluetooth personal area network

Software remains unchanged and relies on Keil uVision with the TExaS add-on.

​My Own Experience

The course started September 15th, 2016 and I've completed it successfully.

​This MOOC shares the same presentation that made the Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x so successful and enjoyable. Each chapter includes videos, text, checkpoints, examples, quizzes and labs for graduating, along with references and a forum. One example, a personal fitness device, goes though all the chapters of the course.
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  • The first chapter is a general introduction to embedded systems, and provide useful reminders on most basics. And yes, we do assembly!
  • Chapters 2 and 3 are massive, and present the most important RTOS concepts. Their corresponding labs are divided into 5 steps, to ensure each element runs successfully. However, they would benefit from being split, to provide a more gradual approach. 
  • Chapter 4 adopts a more normal pace, and the lab features a video game!
  • Chapter 5 focuses on file system and explains different options.
  • Final chapter 6 presents Bluetooth and adds the last features to the personal fitness device. The final lab set BLE services and characteristics, and connects the LaunchPad to a smartphone.

​The forum is very useful to exchange tips, with students helping each other.
Lab 4 on Keil IDE
Using a logic analyser to debug the tasks

Conclusion

I've enjoyed this MOOC as much as I did with the previous one. As an exercise, I took Lab 4 and implemented it on the MSP432 with Energia MT and the Galaxia library with embedXcode. No major surprises, clocks, semaphores and mailbox work as expected.

This is the first edition of the Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World, and I'm confident next session will include some improvements, especially splitting some chapters to make them easier to attend.

Now, to be really successful, be ready and commit yourself with one or two-hour-long distraction-free session a day for 6 weeks, a notebook to take notes, and a large desk for the labs!

Pros

  • Excellent introduction to RTOS​
  • Great labs with tools

​Cons

  • Some chapters are really heavy and would benefit from being split

Wrap-Up

  • Excellent introduction to RTOS
  • Be ready to invest time and effort to make  this course successful

Links