Desarrollo de una consola de codificación simplificada utilizando un ESP32 para la enseñanza de programación orientada a objetos

Abstract

The teaching of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and embedded systems in engineering often presents a high cognitive load for students, driven by technical hardware complexity and the abstraction of virtual environments. To address this issue, this thesis details the development of a simplified and interactive coding console using an ESP32-S3 microcontroller. The applied methodology consisted of five sequential phases: requirements specification, electronic and mechanical design (CAD modeling and FDM manufacturing with PLA), C++ firmware development with FreeRTOS integration, electromechanical integration, and both technical and pedagogical validation. The final hardware features a TFT RGB565 screen, an analog joystick, two action buttons, and power autonomy via a LiPo cell. Technical results demonstrated 4.2 hours of continuous battery life, stable thermal control at 26 °C on the outer casing, and smooth graphic rendering at 35 FPS via Direct Memory Access (DMA). Pedagogical validation was carried out through five progressive laboratory practices and a usability survey, achieving an outstanding satisfaction rate (4.65/5). It is concluded that the console effectively mitigates the learning curve, allowing students to physically interact with their code and assimilate OOP concepts through a robust Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL).