Use cases

Use Cases

Circuits & Systems Course with Red Pitaya

As part of the Smart4All EU funded project, Red Pitaya has developed a comprehensive Circuits and Electronics course that universities can integrate into their curriculum. This course combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications using Red Pitaya hardware, offering students a hands-on learning experience. Key features of this course include:

  • A series of engaging video lessons covering various Circuits and Electronics topics, freely available on YouTube.
  • Detailed text instructions for practical experiments and theory explainers available through Red Pitaya's knowledge base.
  • Modules covering essential topics such as resistor circuits, transient response, diodes, operational amplifiers, digital-to-analog converters, function generators, and transistors.
  • Practical experiments using Red Pitaya STEMlab hardware, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios.
  • The flexibility for universities to incorporate these materials as a foundation for their Circuits and Electronics courses, enhancing the learning experience with both theoretical explanations and hands-on examples.

This Red Pitaya-based course serves as an excellent starting point for universities looking to modernize their Circuits and Electronics curriculum, providing students with a solid foundation in both theory and practical application of electronic principles.

Digital Signal Processing

At Southern Methodist University in Dallas Texas, Prof. Prasanna Rangarajan has used Red Pitaya to run his course on Signals & Systems. Red Pitaya was used in different ways:

  • The oscilloscope, bode analyzer and spectrum analyzer apps enabled students to observe different properties of signals.
  • Using the LTI DSP Workbench app which is freely available on Red Pitaya's app marketplace, students could learn about filters.
  • For advanced signal processing, students used MATLAB through which Red Pitaya can be controlled.

Measurements in Electrical Engineering at Darmstadt University

At Darmstadt University in Germany, Dr. ing. Wilfried Dankmeier has developed a comprehensive course on Measurements in Electrical Engineering using Red Pitaya. This course has been translated and adapted to create teaching materials that can be used by other institutions. The course focuses on fundamental measurement techniques crucial for electrical engineering students:

  • Students learn about measuring uncertainty, capacitance, inductance, and frequency using Red Pitaya's versatile hardware.
  • The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical experiments, allowing students to apply concepts in real-world scenarios.
  • Each topic includes detailed theory explanations and corresponding hands-on experiments using Red Pitaya, such as measuring uncertainty in voltage measurement and determining the oscillating frequency of RLC circuits.
  • The adapted materials provide a structured approach to understanding measurement techniques, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and precision in scientific inquiry and technological development.

This Red Pitaya-based course offers a solid foundation in measurement techniques, preparing students for advanced work in electrical engineering and related fields. The materials can be easily integrated into existing curricula at other universities, providing a practical, hands-on approach to learning essential measurement skills.

Control Systems and PID Applications with Red Pitaya

Red Pitaya offers powerful capabilities for teaching and implementing Control Systems, particularly in the area of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. This versatile platform enables students and researchers to explore advanced control theory concepts with hands-on experiments:

  • Red Pitaya's MIMO PID controller features 4 standard PID controllers, allowing students to experiment with various P, I, and D parameter settings and integrator reset control.
  • The high-speed FPGA implementation makes Red Pitaya an exceptionally fast and capable PID controller, suitable for real-time control applications.
  • Students can visualize PID control responses in real-time using Red Pitaya's built-in oscilloscope functionality.
  • The platform supports various tuning techniques, from manual tuning to implementing algorithms like the Ziegler-Nichols method.
  • Red Pitaya's flexibility allows for the simulation of different control scenarios, helping students understand the impact of parameter adjustments on system response.
  • The system can be used to demonstrate advanced concepts such as cascade control, feedforward control, and adaptive control strategies.

Red Pitaya's Control Systems capabilities make it an excellent tool for courses covering:

  • Introduction to Control Theory
  • Advanced Control Systems
  • Mechatronics and Robotics
  • Industrial Automation
  • Process Control in Chemical Engineering

By integrating Red Pitaya into these courses, educators can provide students with practical, hands-on experience in implementing and tuning PID controllers, preparing them for real-world applications in various engineering fields. The platform's versatility also allows for exploration of other control strategies beyond PID, making it a comprehensive tool for Control Systems education.

FPGA Programming at University of Ljubljana

At the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, Prof. Trost has integrated Red Pitaya into his FPGA programming course, focusing on Verilog programming. Red Pitaya has been instrumental in providing students with hands-on experience and practical skills in digital systems design. Here’s how Red Pitaya has been utilized in the course:

  • Verilog Programming: Students use Red Pitaya to write and test Verilog code, developing a deep understanding of digital logic design.
  • FPGA Development: The FPGA capabilities of Red Pitaya allow students to implement and debug complex digital circuits.
  • Practical Applications: By using various Red Pitaya applications, students can visualize their designs in real-time, enhancing their learning experience.
  • Integration with PYNQ: Students can leverage Python for rapid prototyping and easier FPGA programming, combining the power of Verilog with the simplicity of Python.

Red Pitaya’s versatile platform helps students at the University of Ljubljana bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in FPGA programming.

RF Engineering with Red Pitaya

Red Pitaya offers powerful capabilities for teaching and implementing RF Engineering concepts, particularly as a vector network analyzer (VNA) and spectrum analyzer. This versatile platform enables students and researchers to explore advanced RF concepts with hands-on experiments:

  • Vector Network Analyzer: With an additional VNA bridge module, Red Pitaya can characterize two-port networks such as amplifiers and filters, measuring crucial S-parameters.
  • Spectrum Analyzer: Red Pitaya's 2-channel DFT Spectrum Analyzer application allows for real-time visualization of frequency components in RF signals.
  • Practical Applications: Students can engage in antenna design and testing, RF circuit characterization, and signal integrity analysis.
  • Versatility: Red Pitaya's signal generator capabilities and programmability complement its VNA and spectrum analyzer functions, allowing for comprehensive RF system testing and custom measurement setups.

This affordable and flexible platform is ideal for courses in RF Circuit Design, Wireless Communications, Antenna Theory, and Microwave Engineering, providing students with practical experience in modern RF measurement techniques.

Embedded Systems and Computer Architecture with Red Pitaya

Red Pitaya serves as an excellent platform for teaching Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, and low-level programming concepts:

  • FPGA Programming: Students can develop Verilog code and implement complex digital circuits, bridging theory with practice.
  • Computer Architecture: Red Pitaya's ARM-based processor allows students to explore modern computer architecture concepts hands-on.
  • Assembly Programming: Students can write and execute assembly code directly on the platform, gaining deep understanding of low-level system operations.
  • Real-Time Systems: The high-speed FPGA implementation enables work on real-time control and signal processing applications.
  • IoT and Edge Computing: Demonstrates IoT concepts and edge computing capabilities.
  • AI Integration: Supports implementation of AI algorithms on embedded hardware.
  • Cybersecurity: Allows exploration of embedded system security concepts.

Red Pitaya is ideal for courses in Digital Systems Design, Computer Architecture, Assembly Language Programming, Real-Time Embedded Systems, and IoT, providing students with practical experience in modern embedded system development and low-level programming.

Renewable Energy Systems with Red Pitaya

Red Pitaya offers a versatile platform for teaching and implementing concepts related to Renewable Energy Systems, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with real-world applications:

  • Power Quality Analysis: Students can use Red Pitaya's high-speed data acquisition to analyze power quality in renewable energy systems, including harmonics and transients.
  • Solar Panel Monitoring: The platform can be used to monitor and analyze the performance of solar panels, measuring voltage, current, and power output in real-time.
  • Wind Turbine Simulation: Red Pitaya's signal generation capabilities allow for the simulation of wind turbine behavior under various conditions.
  • Grid Integration: Students can explore the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources into the power grid, using Red Pitaya for data acquisition and control.
  • Energy Storage Systems: The platform can be used to monitor and control battery systems, essential for understanding energy storage in renewable setups.
  • MPPT Algorithm Implementation: Students can implement and test Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithms for solar energy systems.

Biomedical Engineering with Red Pitaya

Red Pitaya offers a versatile platform for teaching and implementing Biomedical Engineering concepts, allowing students to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge medical technologies:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Red Pitaya is a key component in the Open Concept Relaxometry Analyzer (OCRA) project, an open-source MRI console developed at MIT. Students can learn about MRI technology and contribute to its development using this accessible platform.
  • Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): As demonstrated in this Xilinx Open Hardware contest submission, Red Pitaya can be used to create a BCI system. This allows students to explore the intersection of neuroscience and engineering, developing systems that interpret brain signals.
  • Biosignal Processing: The platform's high-speed data acquisition capabilities make it ideal for capturing and analyzing various biosignals, such as ECG, EMG, and EEG.
  • Medical Imaging: Beyond MRI, Red Pitaya can be used in other medical imaging applications, providing students with hands-on experience in image acquisition and processing.
  • Telemedicine Systems: Students can develop remote patient monitoring systems using Red Pitaya's networking capabilities.
  • Prosthetics Control: The platform's real-time processing abilities make it suitable for developing control systems for advanced prosthetics.

As a flexible platform, Red Pitaya is ideal for courses in Medical Instrumentation, Biomedical Signal Processing, Neural Engineering, and Medical Imaging, providing students with practical experience in developing and working with state-of-the-art biomedical technologies.