MegaBits: Electronic PnP modules for non-engineering students

This paper is devoted to the design and development of MegaBits, which are open-source electronic plug and play (PnP) modules for non-engineering students. Although MegaBits share a similar idea from LittleBits, they are equipped with the function of input and output pair assignment by using personal computers or smart phones. Since each module is controlled via a microcontroller to communicate with each other and a main master module, input and output functions can be easily implemented in a single module. Therefore, the combination of these electronic PnP modules can easily achieve simultaneously multiple complex tasks, which current commercially available similar products are not capable to finish. Moreover, the communication among chain connected MegaBits modules can be done in 1ms. This means that the PnP chain connected MegaBits modules can also perform stringent realtime control tasks.