Embedded Microcontrollers Using the Xilinx MicroBlaze
In the previous chapter, we learned about the Digilent PMODs and interfacing with SPI and UART devices. As we’ve progressed through the book, we’ve covered many topics – the Xilinx MIG, complex state machines, and driving a display, to name a few. As our skills developed, we turned to packaging our IPs, so that we could use them in new designs with minimal effort. We have mentioned microcontrollers and microprocessors, and in this chapter, we will introduce the Xilinx MicroBlaze processor, learning how to implement one using Vivado and how to develop software for it using Vitis.
In this chapter, we are going to cover the following main topics:
- Understanding embedded microcontrollers
- Introduction to Xilinx MicroBlaze
- Implementing a MicroBlaze for the Nexys A7 using Vivado
- Writing a simple “Hello World” program and loading it using Vitis
