Unit Description and General Aims

The objective in presenting this unit is to give students an overview of embedded systems – small, low power, low cost solutions typically based on microcontrollers. The embedded system fundamentals with microcontrollers are the core of this unit. The microcontrollers discussed in the unit can be based on Microchip, Intel, ARM, etc. The subject matter covered in this unit will include designing and programming of embedded systems, and implementing them in low-level hardware using standard C and assembly language. The microcontroller education kit and/or software simulation tool will be used as the practical platform in this unit.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Evaluate the principles of embedded systems.
   Bloom's Level 5
2. Describe embedded system architecture.
   Bloom's Level 2
3. Choose between different programming techniques for embedded system design.
   Bloom's Level 4
4. Build an embedded system and program to satisfy given user specifications.
   Bloom's Level 6
5. Evaluate implementation results (e.g., speed, cost, power) and correlate them with the corresponding programming techniques.
   Bloom's Level 5
6. Report on Integrated Development Environments and their application.
   Bloom's Level 6

Student assessment

Overall requirements: Students must achieve a result of 50% or above in the exam itself to pass the exam and must pass the exam to be able to pass the unit. An overall final unit score of 50% or above must be achieved to pass the unit once all assessment, including the exam, has been completed.

Prescribed and Recommended Readings

Textbook

• Alexander G. Dean, 2017, Embedded Systems Fundamentals with ARM Cortex-M based Microcontrollers: A Practical Approach, ARM Education Media UK, Hard-cover only, ISBN 978-1911531036.

Reference

1. Tammy Noergaard, 2012, Embedded Systems Architecture - A Comprehensive Guide for Engineers and Programmers, 2nd Edition, Newnes, ISBN 978-0123821966. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpESAACG01/embeddedsystems-architecture/embedded-systems-architecture.
2. Seppo Virtanen, 2012, Innovations in Embedded and Real-Time Systems Engineering for Communication, IGI Global, ISBN 978-1466609129. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpIERTSEC4/innovationsin-embedded/innovations-in-embedded.
3. Tim Wescott, 2006, Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems, Newnes, ISBN 978-0750678391. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpACTES001/appliedcontrol-theory/applied-control-theory.

Notes and Reference texts

Knovel library: http://app.knovel.com

Other material advised during the lectures

Unit Content

One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1

Introduction to Embedded Systems

1. Introduction to microprocessors
2. History of microprocessor architectures
3. Embedded systems versus general-purpose computers
4. General-purpose embedded systems and manufacturers Layers, functions, and protocols

Topic 2

Embedded System Design with Microcontroller

1. Introduction to the concepts of microcontroller-based embedded systems
2. Introduction to the microcontroller CPU
3. The low-cost microcontroller education and development kits

Topic 3

Microprocessor Architecture and Assembly Language

1. The processor core
2. Organization, registers, memory, and instruction set
3. Interrupts and exceptions
4. CPU response and hardware configuration
5. Multitasking on the CPU

Topic 4

C Code as Implemented in Assembly Language

1. Overview of tool-chain to translate a program from C source code to executable object code
2. Functions, arguments, return values, activation records, exception handlers
3. Control flow constructs for loops and selection, memory allocation
4. Introduction to the CMSIS hardware abstraction layer and software access to peripherals

Topic 5

Embedded System Programming

1. Programming practical session with examples
2. Debugging

Topic 6

Interrupts

1. Designing software for a system with interrupts
2. Interrupt configuration
3. Program design with partitioning work
4. Sharing data safely given pre-emption

Topic 7

General Purpose Digital Interfacing

1. General purpose I/O peripherals
2. Hands-on experience with reading switches and lighting LEDs using C code

Topic 8

Analog Interfacing

1. Quantization and sampling
2. Digital to analog and analog to digital conversions (DAC/ADC)
3. Analog comparator peripherals

Topic 9

Timers

1. Timer peripherals and periodic interrupt
2. Pulse-width modulated signal for measuring elapsed time or a signal's frequency
3. Watchdog timers, detection and reset of an out-of-control program

Topic 10

Serial Communication

1. Fundamentals of data serialization, framing, error detection, media access control, and addressing
2. Software queues and buffer data between communication IS Rs
3. Three protocols and supporting peripherals: SPI, asynchronous serial (UART), and I2C

Topic 11

Using Direct Memory Access (DMA) to Improve Performance

1. DMA peripheral and autonomous data transfer
2. DMA for bulk data copying
3. DAC-based analogue waveform generation with precise timing

Topic 12

Project and Revision

In the final week, students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered in previous weeks. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialized topic if applicable to that cohort.

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• Software: Keil μVision V4 and V5; STM32CubeMX; STM32CubeIDE; Proteus
• Version: N/A
• Instructions: N/A
• Additional resources or files: N/A

Hardware

• NUCLEO-F401RE Nucleo-64 Development Board
• Robot toy kit with Arduino boards

Unit Changes Based on Student Feedback