Member Onboarding
Welcome to ACLAB! This guideline gets new members up to speed in their first weeks β accounts, software to install (by skill domain), bench skills, and where to go next in the Knowledge Base.
First stepsβ
- Read the Lab Rules & Safety guide before using any equipment.
- Join the ACLAB accounts & channels (below).
- Install the software for your skill domain(s) (below).
- Set up your project environment β see the matching technical category.
- Meet your mentor and pick a starter task.
Accounts & channelsβ
Get access and follow our channels:
| Channel | Link |
|---|---|
| GitHub organization | https://github.com/orgs/ACLAB-HCMUT/dashboard |
| YouTube β ChipFC | https://www.youtube.com/@chipfc |
| Facebook group | https://www.facebook.com/groups/aclabbachkhoa/ |
| Facebook page | https://www.facebook.com/aclabhcumt/ |
Ask your mentor to add you to the GitHub org and the relevant project team/channel.
Software setup by skill domainβ
Install only what your work needs β pick the domains relevant to your project, and check the linked Knowledge Base guide for deeper setup.
Version control & collaborationβ
| Tool | Purpose | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| Git | Version control | https://git-scm.com/downloads |
| GitHub | Repos, issues, PRs, collaboration | https://github.com/ACLAB-HCMUT |
| VS Code | Editor (Git, PlatformIO, extensions) | https://code.visualstudio.com/ |
β More: DevOps & Research Infra.
Embedded systems & firmwareβ
| Tool | Purpose | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino IDE | Beginner-friendly MCU programming (incl. ESP32) | https://www.arduino.cc/en/software |
| STM32CubeMX | STM32 pinout/clock/peripheral configuration | https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubemx.html |
| STM32CubeIDE | STM32 build, flash & debug (HAL/C) | https://www.st.com/en/development-tools/stm32cubeide.html |
| PlatformIO | Multi-board build system (VS Code plugin) | https://platformio.org/ |
| Proteus | Circuit & MCU simulation (used in our courses) | Provided by the lab |
β More: Embedded Firmware Β· hands-on labs in Courses β Microcontrollers and Courses β IoT.
PCB & electronics designβ
| Tool | Purpose | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| KiCad | Schematic capture & PCB layout (open source) | https://www.kicad.org/download/ |
β More: PCB Design & DFM.
Mechanical / CADβ
| Tool | Purpose | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| Fusion 360 | 3D CAD, enclosures, 3D-printing & CAM | https://www.autodesk.com/products/fusion-360 |
Use the Autodesk student/education license where eligible.
Roboticsβ
| Tool | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ROS 2 | Robot middleware (nodes, topics, control) | Ubuntu recommended |
| Gazebo | Robot simulation | Pairs with ROS 2 |
β More: Robotics & ROS.
AI / Edge AIβ
β See AI / Edge AI for frameworks, model optimization and on-device inference setup.
Bench skills & lab toolsβ
Beyond software, lab work needs hands-on hardware skills. Get trained by a mentor and read Lab Rules & Safety before using any of these.
| Tool | Used for |
|---|---|
| Soldering iron | Through-hole & SMD soldering, rework |
| Hot air station | SMD components, reflow & desoldering |
| Oscilloscope | Observing signals, timing, debugging |
| Multimeter | Voltage/current/continuity, basic diagnostics |
| Bench power supply | Powering and current-limiting prototypes |
| Logic analyzer | Decoding digital buses (UART, IΒ²C, SPI) |
β How to use each instrument: Lab Equipment Guides.
Checklist for new membersβ
- Joined the ACLAB GitHub organization
- Followed the YouTube and Facebook channels
- Added to the relevant project team / channel
- Read Lab Rules & Safety
- Installed the software for your skill domain(s)
- Trained on the bench tools you'll use
- Met your mentor and chose a starter task
Where to go nextβ
- Technical guides: Embedded Firmware Β· PCB Design & DFM Β· Robotics & ROS Β· AI / Edge AI Β· IoT topics in Courses
- Tools & infra: Lab Equipment Guides Β· DevOps & Research Infra
- Do it right: How to document a project Β· Projects
Contributions welcome β use Edit this page to improve onboarding.