Electronics Workshop by Aeronautics and
Space Technology Club (ASTC)
Date: October 13, 2025
Further Study Resources for ASTC Recruitment Projects
Welcome to the exciting world of electronics! This document provides a curated list of resources
to help you further explore the topics covered in today's workshop and prepare for future ASTC
recruitment projects. We encourage you to delve into these materials to build a strong
foundation in electronics, a critical field for aeronautics and space technology.
1. Basic Electronics
Introduction: This section covers the fundamental building blocks and analytical tools of
electronics. Understanding basic concepts like current, voltage, resistance, and the behavior of
passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors) is crucial. We'll also explore essential
circuit analysis techniques like Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Laws, and network theorems (Thevenin's
and Norton's) which simplify complex circuits. Power sources and their characteristics are also
vital for practical circuit design.
Lecture Videos:
• Khan Academy - DC Circuits
• Coursera/edX - Introduction to Electronics (e.g., from Georgia Tech or MIT)
• Wondrium (formerly The Great Courses) - Understanding Modern Electronics
Documentations/Online Resources:
• All About Circuits:
– Volume I - DC: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/direct-current/
• SparkFun Learn - Basic Electronics Tutorials:
– Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm's Law:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/voltage-current-resistance-and-ohms-law/
all
Books:
• "Practical Electronics for Inventors" by Paul Scherz and Simon Monk
• "The Art of Electronics" by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill
• "Engineering Circuit Analysis" by William Hayt
2. Basic Analog and Digital Electronics
Introduction: This section bifurcates into the two main realms of electronics: analog and digital.
Analog electronics deals with continuous signals and components like operational amplifiers
(op-amps) and transistors acting as switches or amplifiers. Digital electronics, on the other
hand, works with discrete signals (binary 0s and 1s) and focuses on logic gates, combinational
and sequential circuits (latches, flip-flops, registers), and memory. Simulation software is
indispensable in both domains for design verification and understanding circuit behavior without
physical construction.
Lecture Videos:
• Digital Electronics:
– Neso Academy - Digital Electronics
• Analog Electronics:
– MIT OpenCourseware - Circuits and Electronics (6.002X)
– EETech - Op-Amp Basics
• Simulation Software Tutorials:
– Tinkercad Tutorials (official): Search YouTube for "Tinkercad tutorial" to learn
circuit simulation.
– KiCad Tutorial for Beginners (e.g., from Tech Explorations): Search YouTube for
"KiCad tutorial for beginners" for step-by-step guides on schematic capture and
PCB layout.
– LTspice IV Tutorial (e.g., from Linear Technology/Analog Devices): Search
YouTube for "LTspice tutorial" to learn circuit simulation.
Documentations/Online Resources:
• All About Circuits - Digital: https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/digital/
• All About Circuits - Semiconductors (Diodes, Transistors, Op-Amps):
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/semiconductors/
• Tinkercad Circuits Documentation: https://www.tinkercad.com/learn/circuits
• KiCad Documentation: https://kicad.org/help/documentation/
• LTspice Getting Started Guide (Analog Devices)
Books:
• "Digital Fundamentals" by Thomas L. Floyd
• "Microelectronic Circuits" by Adel S. Sedra and Kenneth C. Smith
• "Learning the Art of Electronics: A Hands-On Lab Course" by Thomas C. Hayes and
Paul Horowitz
3. Microcontrollers
Introduction: Microcontrollers are the "brains" of many embedded systems, combining a
processor, memory, and peripherals on a single chip. They are essential for controlling robotic
systems, avionics, and various electronic devices. This section explores their architecture, how to
program them, and the different levels of hardware interaction, from high-level Hardware
Abstraction Layers (HALs) to direct Bare Metal programming.
Lecture Videos:
• GreatScott! - What is a Microcontroller?
• Paul McWhorter - Arduino Tutorials
• STMicroelectronics (official) - STM32 Getting Started Series
• The Engineering Projects - Bare Metal Programming Series (e.g., for STM32): Search
for "bare metal programming STM32" for deeper dives into direct hardware control.
Documentations/Online Resources:
• Arduino Official Documentation & Tutorials: https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide
• SparkFun Learn - Microcontroller Basics
• Microchip Academy
• STMicroelectronics Documentation
• HAL vs. Bare Metal Explanations: Search for "HAL vs Bare Metal programming" on
engineering blogs and forums (e.g., Embedded.com, EE Times) for detailed discussions.
Books:
• "Arduino Cookbook" by Michael Margolis
• "Embedded Systems Fundamentals with Arm Cortex-M Microcontrollers" by Joseph
Yiu
• "Make: AVR Programming" by Elliot Williams
4. Electrical Power Systems (EPS)
Introduction: The Electrical Power System (EPS) is the lifeblood of any electronic device or
spacecraft, providing stable and efficient power to all subsystems. This section delves into the
critical components of an EPS, including battery packs (with considerations for cell selection,
series/parallel combinations, and thermal management), power conversion circuits (e.g., DC-DC
converters), and essential safety mechanisms like Battery Management Systems (BMS) and
protection circuits against overcurrent, overvoltage, and short circuits.
Lecture Videos:
• EEVblog - Power Supply Design Tutorials: Search YouTube for "EEVblog power supply
design" for practical insights into power electronics.
• The Engineering Mindset - How a BMS Works
• Renata Electronics - Basics of LiPo Batteries: Search for "LiPo battery basics" for
understanding lithium polymer battery characteristics and safety.
• Switching Power Supply Design (various channels): Search for educational videos on
buck, boost, and buck-boost converters for power conversion basics.
Documentations/Online Resources:
• Battery University: https://batteryuniversity.com/
• Texas Instruments (TI) Power Management Resources: https://www.ti.com/power-
management/overview.html
• Analog Devices (ADI) Power Management:
https://www.analog.com/en/products/power-management.html
• SparkFun Learn - LiPo Battery Basics
• BMS Explained Articles: Search for "Battery Management System explained" on
electronics forums and technical blogs for in-depth articles.
Books:
• "Power Electronics: Converters, Applications, and Design" by Ned Mohan, Tore M.
Undeland, and William P. Robbins:
• "Fundamentals of Power Electronics" by Robert W. Erickson and Dragan Maksimovic:
• "Lithium-Ion Batteries: Basics and Applications" by Reiner Korthauer (Editor):
In case of further doubts regarding specific topics, contact the following people:
1. Subrat Panda - 8595566141
2. Ayan Aslam - 7987187558
