Etydhv

I want to start an electronic project, and found that an ARM based MCU, like STM32F103C, fits my needs more than AVR like Arduino Uno (mostly because of CPU and RAM.)

I was wondering if I can use any Arduino sensor with my STM32 board?

Looking a list of the sensors related to STM32, they seem much more expensive.

Yes, of course you can use those sensors. The sensors are not Arduino exclusive, just look up the datasheets to the parts and you should have no problem using them.

To make it easier, you can get an STM32 Nucleo board, which has the same header pin configuration as an Arduino for quick and easy prototyping.

As MCG already mentions, you can use in principle any sensor that also can be used by Arduino. The main issue is if you want to use libraries. For the Arduino, there are for almost any sensor a library available, for the STM32 this is much less the case. Writing a library can take quite some time (depending on the complexity of the sensor communication).

The Nucleo board can help if the sensor is placed on a board that can be pushed on top of an Arduino; otherwise you need to use separate wires anyway.

Another way that could be worthwhile checking, is STM32Arduino, which is a project to make some STM32's compatible with Arduino, and can be programmed like an Arduino, but not all libraries are compatible.
See also MCG's comment below and check the following helpful starting point for STM32Duino: getting-started-with-stm32-development-board-stm32f103c8.

In most cases, Arduino is the most easiest solution, mostly because of the existence of a large library support, however, the Arduino also has some big advantages: very less SRAM, mostly bigger in size than STM32 boards, no (easy) debugging, very less peripherals.

Another problem with Arduino libraries (and probably STM32 libraries too), is to check if multiple (different) libraries work together; you get into problems when e.g. they use both the same timer.

May work for some, but definitely not for all.

Notice that the Arduino operates at 5V supply and I/O voltages, while the STM32 uses 3.3V!

While many of the STM32's I/O pins may be 5V-tolerant for input (see datasheet), they cannot output 5V signals which many Arduino-targeted sensor( board)s are built for.

So,

• best case: The sensor is ok with 3.3V signals at its inputs and sends 5V signals to 5V-tolerant pins on the µC.




• good case: The sensor does not work (as expected) because the 3.3V signals are too low, but neither end takes any damage.




• bad case: The sensor sends a 5V output signal to a non-5V-tolerant µC (input) pin and damages the µC and possibly the sensor by excessive current.

Check and make sure that the sensor's inputs can operate with 3.3V signals, and that the µC's inputs can handle the (likely 5V) signals from the sensor.