STM32F411 BlackPill

The STM32F411 BlackPill is a powerful microcontroller development board for embedded systems.

Introduction

The STM32F411 BlackPill is a development board featuring the STM32F411 microcontroller, based on the ARM Cortex-M4 architecture. It provides high-performance computing capabilities with support for various peripherals, making it an ideal choice for embedded applications. The board is widely used for learning, prototyping, and developing embedded systems.

Pinout

The STM32F411 BlackPill comes with the following key pins:

Pin	Name	Description
1	VCC	Power supply input (3.3V).
2	GND	Ground pin.
3	PA0	Analog input, ADC1.
4	PA1	Analog input, ADC2.
5	PA9	USART1 TX (transmit).
6	PA10	USART1 RX (receive).
7	PB0	Digital I/O, SPI1 MISO.
8	PB1	Digital I/O, SPI1 MOSI.
9	PB6	Digital I/O, USART1 TX.
10	PB7	Digital I/O, USART1 RX.

Features

ARM Cortex-M4 processor with Floating Point Unit (FPU) running at up to 100 MHz.
512 KB Flash memory and 128 KB SRAM.
Multiple communication interfaces: USART, SPI, I2C.
12-bit ADC with up to 16 channels.
Built-in USB 2.0 full-speed device.
Low power consumption with various sleep modes.
PWM output, Timers, and DAC.

Applications

Robotics control and automation systems.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Data logging and sensor interfacing.
Embedded control systems and custom electronics projects.
Motor control applications.
Wearable devices and health monitoring systems.

Programming the STM32F411 BlackPill

The STM32F411 BlackPill is typically programmed using the Arduino IDE or STM32CubeIDE. To use the Arduino IDE, you will need to install the STM32 board support package and configure the correct settings for the STM32F411 microcontroller. Additionally, the board can be programmed via a USB-to-serial adapter or an ST-Link programmer.

Here is a simple example code to blink an LED connected to pin PA13:

        #include "Arduino.h"
        
        void setup() {
            pinMode(PA13, OUTPUT);
        }
        
        void loop() {
            digitalWrite(PA13, HIGH);  // Turn the LED on
            delay(1000);                // Wait for 1 second
            digitalWrite(PA13, LOW);   // Turn the LED off
            delay(1000);                // Wait for 1 second
        }

Troubleshooting

If you're facing issues with the STM32F411 BlackPill, consider the following tips:

No power: Ensure the board is properly powered via the VCC pin (3.3V) and the GND pin is connected.
Programming issues: Double-check the USB-to-serial adapter or ST-Link connection. Ensure you have selected the correct board and port in the Arduino IDE or STM32CubeIDE.
LED not blinking: Ensure the correct pin is being used in your code. The default onboard LED is often connected to PA13 on the BlackPill.
Communication issues: Verify that the serial communication is set up correctly, especially the baud rate for USART communication.