Evolution of the Hardware

The development of computer hardware is crucial for technology, particularly in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems. The beginnings date back to the 1940s when the first electronic computers, such as ENIAC, were created.

In the 1970s, the first processors, such as the Intel 4004, appeared, revolutionizing the computer industry. Processors are advanced computing units in computers, smartphones, and other devices. Their main tasks are performing computational operations, managing memory, and controlling system components. Microprocessors are a subset of processors designed to work in more specialized devices, such as televisions or industrial equipment. They are small, efficient, and energy-saving, making them ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Microprocessors became the foundation for the development of microcontrollers, which are the heart of embedded systems. Microcontrollers differ from processors and microprocessors in applications and functionality—small, standalone units with built-in memory, clocks, and interfaces.

Microcontrollers are complex integrated circuits designed to act as the brain of electronic devices. The central processing unit (CPU) plays a key role in their operation, controlling the microcontroller's functions and performing arithmetic and logical operations. Inside the microcontroller are registers, communication interface controllers, timers, and memory, all of which are connected by a common bus. Modern microcontrollers have built-in functions such as analog-to-digital converters (ADC) and communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C).

There are several types of microcontrollers, including PIC (Microchip Technology), AVR (Atmel), ESP8266/ESP32 (Espressif), and TI MSP430 (Texas Instruments).