I am requested to perchase boards and boosterpacks for an embedded systems laboratory. We have decided to teach students the MSP430 platform. The laboratory already has a box of MSP430FR5739 launchpads.
The following are the goals of this course as long as the MSP430 MCUs are concerned.
- Understand the MCU and program at register level
- controls GPIO
- Use ADC
- Use PWM
- Use TIMERs
- Provide visual feedback by means of a display and take in touch input from a user. NOTE: It is okay if the visual display is small and touch input is taken using a capacitive touch boosterpack. For this type of advanced application, we will not be using register level programming. I believe MSP430ware is the way to go. May be the experts here would recommend a good touchscreen display instead of using the earlier combination. I don't mind, as long as I have code support, I am more than happy to consider a recommended solution.
- We are also open to change the MCU. We want students to be able to apply what they learnt in their future projects. Since MSP430G2553 comes in a PDIP package, I have taken permission from the university to put away the FR57 boards and order G2553 launchpads. May be this is a good decision for the sake of simplicity? If i were a student, I would be happy to first learn an MCU which I would be able to lay down on a breadboard and hook things to it. But I have my options open for now for your recommendations.
- Lastly there will also be a lab about WIFI connectivity. Hence ,I need a recommendation for a WIFI boosterpack for the MCU you will recomend.
Since the orders would be large quantity and we don't have plans of changing the content anytime sooner, I want to make sure that the things we buy will be supported by TI in time to come. e.g. I am scared to buy the CC3000 boosterpack because there is a newer one available.
I would highly appreciate if an expert/s share their recommended MCU and the recommended set of booster packs so that I could proceed with ordering.
Thank you for your time.
