Overview

The Ratio Embedded Systems Development Kit – Core provides the hardware platform used in our embedded systems training courses.

The kit is built around an STM32 microcontroller platform and includes a collection of sensors, interface modules and electronic components that allow engineers to explore embedded firmware development through practical exercises.

The hardware supports labs covering:

• microcontroller programming
• peripheral configuration
• interrupt-driven firmware
• communication protocols
• real-time embedded systems development using FreeRTOS

Participants receive the development kit before the course so they can complete the hands-on labs during the workshop and continue experimenting afterwards.

Core Development Platform

STM32 Nucleo Development Board

An ARM Cortex-M based microcontroller platform widely used in embedded systems development.

Features include:

• integrated ST-Link debugger
• USB programming interface
• access to GPIO and peripheral interfaces
• support for STM32CubeIDE and FreeRTOS

Hardware Included

The kit includes the components required to build practical embedded systems exercises.

Development Hardware

• STM32 Nucleo development board
• USB programming cable
• breadboard
• jumper wire set

Electronic Components

• LED pack
• resistor assortment
• push buttons

Used for learning:

• GPIO control
• interrupt handling
• event-driven firmware.

Display Module

0.96″ I²C OLED display

Used for displaying sensor data, task output and embedded system status information.

Sensor Modules

BME280 environmental sensor

Used for labs involving:

• periodic sensor readings
• real-time data acquisition.

MPU6050 accelerometer and gyroscope

Used for motion sensing and interrupt-driven applications.

User Interface Components

Rotary encoder

Used for learning:

• hardware interrupts
• user input handling.

Supported Development Environment

The kit is designed for use with:

STM32CubeIDE

This development environment provides:

• compiler and debugger
• project management tools
• FreeRTOS integration
• embedded firmware development tools.

Courses Using This Kit

The Core Development Kit is used in the following courses:

• STM32 Embedded C Programming
• Real-Time Embedded Systems with FreeRTOS
• Modern Embedded C++ for Microcontrollers

Participants keep the development kit after the course so they can continue experimenting with embedded systems development.

Software Included – Core Development Kit

Participants receive access to the Ratio Embedded Developer Toolkit, a collection of development tools, drivers and example projects used throughout the training.

Development Environment

STM32CubeIDE

The primary development environment used during the course.

Includes:

• GCC compiler
• integrated debugger
• project management tools
• STM32 peripheral libraries
• FreeRTOS integration

Device Drivers

ST-Link USB Drivers

Required for programming and debugging the STM32 development board.

These drivers enable:

• firmware flashing
• live debugging
• serial communication via USB.

STM32 Firmware Libraries

Participants receive access to the STM32Cube firmware libraries, including:

• hardware abstraction layer (HAL)
• peripheral drivers
• example firmware projects.

These libraries simplify interaction with the STM32 hardware peripherals.

Example Firmware Projects

The toolkit includes example projects used throughout the course, including:

• GPIO control examples
• interrupt-driven firmware examples
• sensor interface examples
• communication interface demonstrations.

These projects allow participants to explore embedded firmware development using real hardware.