Real-Time Bluetooth Networks - UTAustinX

Free

Learn the design fundamentals of a real-time operating system (RTOS) and how to build a Bluetooth network in this hands-on project-based course.

FreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Company

University of Texas at Austin

Visit Website GitHub (40 stars)

About Real-Time Bluetooth Networks - UTAustinX

This GitHub repository contains course materials for the UTAustinX course 'Real-Time Bluetooth Networks - Shape the World.' It provides a hands-on, project-based curriculum focused on the design fundamentals of a real-time operating system (RTOS) and building a Bluetooth personal area network. The repository includes six laboratories covering topics such as I/O using a board support package (BSP), thread management, synchronization, scheduling, real-time OS design, file system logging, and Bluetooth interaction with a smartphone. Code is primarily written in C and assembly for the ARM Cortex M4 (MSP432) microcontroller, with Keil µVision V5.21.1.0 as the development environment. The course was developed by Professors Jonathan Valvano and Ramesh Yerraballi at The University of Texas at Austin.

Key Features

Six hands-on laboratories covering RTOS and Bluetooth network design

Io with board support package (BSP)

Thread management, synchronization, and scheduling (spinlock, blocking semaphores, round-robin, priority scheduler)

Real-time operating system implementation for a hand-held video game

File system on flash ROM with data logging and playback

Bluetooth personal area network interacting with a smartphone

Uses Keil µVision V5.21.1.0

Board support package for MSP432 microcontroller

Embedded software in C for ARM Cortex M reference

Pros & Cons

Pros

Hands-on, project-based learning with real hardware
Structured curriculum from a reputable university (UT Austin)
Open source and free to use
Complete lab materials, code, and documentation provided
Covers both RTOS fundamentals and practical Bluetooth implementation

Cons

Requires specific hardware (MSP432 LaunchPad and MK-II boosterpack) which may not be easily accessible
Depends on Keil µVision IDE, which is proprietary and may require a license for commercial use
Materials appear to be from around 2016 and may not reflect the latest tool versions

Best For

Learning embedded systems and real-time operating system designBuilding Bluetooth personal area networks with microcontrollersAcademic course projects in electrical and computer engineeringSelf-study for engineers interested in RTOS and Bluetooth connectivity

FAQ

What is this repository?

It contains the course materials for the UTAustinX course 'Real-Time Bluetooth Networks - Shape the World,' including six hands-on labs covering RTOS and Bluetooth network design.

What hardware is required?

The labs are designed for the MSP432 microcontroller and the MK-II boosterpack.

What software is needed?

Keil µVision V5.21.1.0 is used as the development environment. The repository also includes a board support package for MSP432.

Is this course free?

Yes, the repository is open source and freely available on GitHub.