Embedded Systems Engineering
Full-cycle embedded systems development β from microcontrollers and firmware to IoT gateways and real-time data processing.
Overview
With decades of experience in electronics and embedded systems, I design and implement complete embedded solutions for industrial, agricultural, and commercial applications. My expertise spans the entire stack:
- Hardware selection β choosing the right microcontroller for the job.
- Firmware development β reliable, efficient, and maintainable code.
- Connectivity β LoRa, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wired protocols.
- Integration β connecting embedded devices to cloud platforms and dashboards.
Core Capabilities
1. π§© Microcontroller Platforms
I work with a wide range of microcontrollers, selecting the best fit for each projectβs power, performance, and cost requirements:
| Platform | Applications | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32 | IoT sensors, gateways, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth devices | Dual-core, built-in Wi-Fi/BLE, low cost |
| ESP8266 | Simple IoT sensors, Wi-Fi actuators | Ultra-low cost, small footprint |
| STM32 | Industrial controls, precision timing | High performance, extensive peripherals |
| Arduino | Prototyping, education, quick proofs-of-concept | Ease of use, vast ecosystem |
| Raspberry Pi | Edge computing, gateways, AI at the edge | Full Linux, powerful CPU, camera/GPIO |
2. π‘ Wireless Protocols & Connectivity
I design robust wireless communication for industrial and outdoor environments:
- LoRa / LoRaWAN β Long-range, low-power IoT networks.
- Wi-Fi (802.11) β High-bandwidth local networks.
- MQTT β Lightweight publish/subscribe messaging for IoT.
- I2C β Master/slave communication between sensors and controllers.
- SPI / UART β High-speed serial communication.
- Bluetooth LE β Low-power local device connectivity.
3. πΎ Firmware Development
I write production-grade firmware that runs reliably 24/7:
- C / C++ β Primary language for microcontrollers.
- MicroPython β Rapid prototyping and scripting.
- FreeRTOS β Real-time operating systems for complex tasks.
- OTA Updates β Over-the-air firmware updates for deployed devices.
- Power management β Deep sleep modes for battery-powered devices.
4. π Industrial Integration
Embedded systems donβt live in isolation β I integrate them with the broader infrastructure:
- Industrial protocols β Modbus, CAN bus, PROFIBUS.
- Edge computing β Processing data locally before sending to the cloud.
- Gateway design β Aggregating data from multiple field devices.
- SCADA integration β Connecting to industrial control systems.
Example Projects
π‘ LoRa Monitoring Network
A complete environmental monitoring system deployed across a 10kmΒ² agricultural site:
- Devices: 50+ ESP32-based sensor nodes with LoRa transceivers.
- Sensors: Temperature, humidity, soil moisture, rainfall.
- Gateway: LoRa concentrator + MQTT broker.
- Backend: Data stored in PostgreSQL, visualized in Grafana.
- Impact: Reduced water usage by 30% through real-time soil monitoring.
Tech: ESP32 Β· LoRa Β· MQTT Β· PostgreSQL Β· Grafana
π Industrial Controller with STM32
A custom industrial controller for a manufacturing line:
- MCU: STM32F4 series.
- Features: 16 digital inputs, 12 relay outputs, 4 analog inputs.
- Communication: CAN bus for equipment control, UART for local display.
- Firmware: Bare-metal C with interrupt-driven architecture.
- Uptime: 99.95% over 3 years.
Tech: STM32 Β· CAN bus Β· C Β· RTOS
π Raspberry Pi Edge Gateway
A multi-protocol edge gateway for industrial IoT:
- Hardware: Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB RAM.
- Connectivity: LoRa concentrator, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G LTE.
- Software: Node.js for data routing, MQTT broker, local SQLite cache.
- Cloud integration: Publishes data to AWS IoT Core.
- Resilience: Stores data locally during internet outages, syncs later.
Tech: Raspberry Pi Β· Node.js Β· MQTT Β· LoRa Β· AWS IoT Β· SQLite
βοΈ Morse Code β High-Level Sport Master
Beyond professional engineering, I hold the prestigious High-Level Sport Master qualification in Morse Code. This unique skill reflects:
- Exceptional hearing and pattern recognition.
- Discipline and precision.
- Understanding of RF communications at a fundamental level.
This expertise directly informs my work in RF engineering and antenna design.
Key Achievements
- 50+ embedded devices deployed in production environments.
- 12 LoRa gateways installed across 5 countries.
- 3 industrial control systems designed and deployed.
- 100% OTA update success rate on deployed devices.
- 30% reduction in water usage through precision agriculture monitoring.
- 99.95% uptime on industrial controller over 3 years.
Technology Stack
Microcontrollers & SoCs
- ESP32, ESP8266
- STM32 (F0, F1, F4 series)
- Arduino (Uno, Nano, Mega)
- Raspberry Pi (3B+, 4B)
- ATmega, ATtiny
Protocols & Buses
- LoRa / LoRaWAN
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
- MQTT, HTTP, WebSockets
- I2C (Master/Slave)
- SPI, UART, CAN bus, Modbus
Languages & Tools
- C / C++
- MicroPython
- Node.js (for gateways)
- PlatformIO, Arduino IDE, STM32CubeIDE
- FreeRTOS, Zephyr (basic)
Integration
- Docker (for gateway containers)
- PostgreSQL, SQLite
- Grafana, Prometheus (monitoring)
- MQTT brokers (Mosquitto, VerneMQ)
Related Projects
p1_scalable_iot_systems.md
- Scalable IoT Systems β Complete IoT platform.
- Industrial Infrastructure Platform β Backend and DevOps.
Hardware & Testing Setup
My development lab includes:
| Equipment | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Oscilloscope | Debugging signals and timing. |
| Logic analyzer | Protocol analysis (I2C, SPI, UART). |
| Spectrum analyzer | RF signal quality and interference. |
| Variable power supply | Testing under different voltage conditions. |
| Environmental chamber | Testing temperature extremes (-40Β°C to +85Β°C). |
| LoRa test kit | Range testing and antenna tuning. |
This equipment allows me to deliver field-tested, reliable solutions.
For a detailed technical discussion or embedded systems consultation, feel free to reach out.