EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DESIGN

Course Description

Embedded systems make use of digital circuits, microprocessors and software as the core components that monitor and control various devices and machines. For this reason, embedded systems are built into devices from almost all fields ranging from medical equipment to military hardware.

Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are:

1. To illustrate how digital circuits and microprocessors can be used in devices whose primary function is not computing;

2. To show how software can be applied in the wider context of electronics;

3. To show students how the operation of large systems can be greatly simplified using a combination of digital circuits, microprocessors and software;

4. To explain the importance of security in embedded networks.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Design cost-effective digital or microprocessor systems that are used to monitor or control machines such as generators and air conditioners;

2. Develop efficient computer programs in C or assembly language that interact with the various on-chip and off-chip devices, in order to perform tasks such as closed loop control;

3. Work with embedded systems hardware and software tools, such as cross compilers and evaluation/ development kits;

4. Work with off-the-shelf kernels and operating systems with real time features.