Avionics On Boarding Activity

This activity will show how to connect an STM32 microcontroller to your laptop, program multiple LEDs to blink, and how to wire it all together

Instructions

Step 1 - Install Arduino IDE

We will use the Arduino IDE for simple code editing and for uploading our code to the board.

• Install Arduino IDE using the link below. Get the version which matches your operating system.

https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

• You'll have to click "just download" several times to avoid donating
• Once you install Arduino IDE, launch it and you see a screen like this:

Step 2 - Configure Arduino IDE for STM32

We have to install support for STM32 boards.
Instructions taken from here, but the follow the ones given below.

2.1 Collecting the boards

Go to File > Preferences and then add the following URL to the "Additional Boards Managers URLs" field

https://github.com/stm32duino/BoardManagerFiles/raw/main/package_stmicroelectronics_index.json

Add the URL given above to "Additional Boards Managers URLs" field and then click OK.

2.2 Installing the boards

Now, go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager

Within the board manager, select the "contributed" type and search for "STM32 MCU based boards" and then click install

2.3 Selecting the board

Go to Tools > Board > STM32 MCU based boards

Select Generic STM32L4 series

2.4 Selecting the port

Go to Tools > Port

Select the port which is connected to the STM32-Board

Note: If the STM32 is not connected to your laptop over USB, then it will not show up under ports.

2.5 Select Board Part Number

Go to Tools > Board part number

Select "Generic L412KBTx"

2.6 Add the code

Add the template code found in template.ino

There's a copy button in the top right to get all of the code.

Replace ALL of the code in the sketch with the template.

Step 3 - Install STM32CubeProgrammer

Before you can upload and run the code, you need to have the STM32CubeProgrammer installed on your system.

The program can be installed from here

Scroll the red buttons near the bottom and install for the system you have.

You'll be asked to give an email and then they will send the download link to that email.

The download will include an installer. Run it and proceed through all of its steps.

Step 4 Wiring

4.1 STM32 Nucelo Board

Place the STM32 Nucleo Board on the breadboard with the median separating the pins as such:

4.2 Wire the LEDs

Wire the LEDs with each being grounded through a resistor and being connected to pins on the STM32 board.

The smaller leg of the LED needs to be connected to ground while the longer leg should be connected to a GPIO pin on the STM32

LED Color	STM32 Pin
Red	A1
Green	A7
Blue	A2
Orange (Looks white)	A3

Make sure to ground each LED with a resistor.

Note Connect the GND pin on the STM32 to the "-" channel on the breadboard to make it easier to connect each LED to ground via a resistor

Step 5 - Running your code

5.1 - Upload code

Make sure the STM32 is connected via USB and select "Upload" on the Arduino IDE

You should see the red LED start blinking, toggling every second.

5.2 - Editing the code

Within the setup method, add the pin configuration commands for the green, blue, and white LEDs.

// the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board
void setup() {
  // initialize digital pins
  pinMode(RED, OUTPUT);
  
  // TODO: Initialize GREEN, BLUE, and WHITE below
  pinMode(GREEN, OUTPUT);
  ...

  // #################################################
}

Within the loop method, play around with toggle timings and try adding the other LEDs

// the loop function runs over and over again forever
void loop() {
  toggleLED(RED);
  delay(1000);
  
  // TODO: Toggle the GREEN, BLUE, and WHITE LEDs somewhere below 
  toggleLED(GREEN);
  ...

}

What kind of cool patterns can you make?