Embedded Real-Time Systems with RTOS: Hands-On Projects for Modern Microcontrollers and IoT Systems

Embedded Real-Time Systems with RTOS: Hands-On Projects for Modern Microcontrollers and IoT Systems by Sarah L. Nakamura

Have you ever wondered how your car’s airbag system reacts in milliseconds? Or how a drone stabilizes itself midair despite sudden wind changes? What if you could design systems that make those decisions — fast, reliable, and in real-time?

This book isn’t just another technical manual. It’s a conversation between you and the heartbeat of modern embedded engineering — the Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). It takes you from curiosity to competence, from understanding what an RTOS is to mastering how it works in the real world.

So, what makes this book different? Instead of bombarding you with dry theory, Sarah L. Nakamura guides you through practical, hands-on projects that mirror real industry challenges. You’ll design, build, and debug embedded systems that interact with sensors, actuators, and the cloud — all while learning how to make your code predictable, efficient, and robust.

You’ll ask yourself:

How do multiple tasks run “simultaneously” on a single microcontroller?

What happens when two processes need the same resource?

How can I make my IoT system respond instantly — every single time?

Can I really design a system that never misses a deadline?

Through clear explanations and guided experimentation, you’ll discover how FreeRTOS, Zephyr, and ThreadX bring timing precision and multitasking control to microcontrollers and IoT devices. You’ll explore task scheduling, semaphores, interrupts, memory management, and communication protocols — not just as abstract ideas, but as living parts of a working embedded ecosystem.

Each project builds upon the last, challenging you to think critically and engineer creatively. By the time you finish, you won’t just “know” RTOS — you’ll have experienced it. You’ll see your code run predictably, your devices respond intelligently, and your projects scale efficiently.

This isn’t theory — it’s transformation. Whether you’re a student, hobbyist, or professional developer, this book equips you with the mindset and tools to build real-time systems that power the future — from autonomous drones to smart home networks, from industrial controllers to next-gen IoT platforms.

Are you ready to move beyond blinking LEDs and simple loops? Ready to design systems that think and react in real-time?

Your journey into the world of embedded intelligence starts here.