KD6027 - Embedded Systems

The lectures will provide you with essential module content supported by weekly workshops throughout the semester.

Initially the workshops enable you to become familiar and be able to use the ARM IDE (Integrated Development Environment). You will use the IDE to compose programs e.g. using the on board ADC (Analogue to Digital converter). The programs can then be complied and downloaded to the freescale ARM M0+ board where the code can be tested on the board by single stepping the code and by using other available debugging features within the IDE. Once familiar with the IDE and the ARM microcontroller, you will be able to tackle the assignment which will be to develop an embedded system incorporating the ARM M0+ micrcontroller to meet a given specification. The specification will involve controlling a 'real world application', and will require software development and aspects of hardware and enclosure development.

You will be required to produce an embedded systems report, containing all aspects of design, software development. You will also need to give a practical demonstration of your work.

The use of the ARM processor to develop microcontroller systems allows you to be aware of and use the many variations and adaptions that industry employs.

Module content is provided by lectures. The workshops enable you to become familiar with the IDE and the Freescale ARM M0+ cortex microcontroller. You will be provided with Freescale ARM M0+ boards in the laboratory which will provide the target system for the programs compiled on the IDE.
The workshops also provide a forum for discussion allowing you to ask questions and to receive feedback on your work from staff.

A number of example programs are provided on the e-LP as well as links to appropriate websites.

Successful completion of the assignment will require you to engage in directed and independent learning activities.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate the application of knowledge in the design of embedded systems with application to real world problems (AHEP4 C5 )
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. Design an embedded system to meet a given specification in terms of performance, cost and aesthetics as appropriate, with consideration of safety, environmental and commercial matters, and industry standards (AHEP C7, C10, C15, M10, M15)
3. Build and test an embedded system using IDE software tools and practical test equipment, critically analyse the performance of the embedded system (AHEP4 , C12, C13, M12, M13)
4. Document design, development, testing analysis and conclusion in the form of a report (AHEP4 C14,M14,)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Work effectively as individual and teamwork for design, development, testing analysis and practical demonstration with consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) (AHEP4 C16)

The module assessment is based on the embedded software developed by the group and individual contribution by each member of the group.

Formative assessment is made throughout the scheduled lab time where each student complete all the lab tasks together with the specific tasks required in their group work with the tutor’s assistance, while maintaining a weekly progress log on their labs. The feedback received from the tutor will aid the team to complete both the individual and group tasks through a critical review of their work and time management. All LOs will be assessed through this assessment.

The summative assessment is a Coursework (CW) based on the group project work and is divided into two parts:

1. Project report: A single embedded system project report is required from each student group for the module (70%) This report will contain detailed information about the problem to be addressed, project management details about individual responsibility and contributions to the group project through responsibility matrices. The report will also include photos of the lab experiment demonstration to show the results and performance of the developed solutions. The report must include a section from each team member clearly outlining their contribution to the project – this will count towards 40% of this component. (Assessed LOs: 1, 2, 4, 5). Feedback will be provided in electronic form via the eLP.

2. Lab Demonstration: A group lab demonstration (30%). The teams will provide a 10-minute lab demonstration of their solution. The aim is to assess students on their skills to convey technical information for their embedded system solution (Assessed LOs: 3,5).

Feedback provided at organised lab demonstration session.

KD5065 Programming and Digital Systems (or equivalent)

N/A

In this module “Embedded Systems” focus on the embedded software development to an embedded microcontroller with time and memory constraints. You will learn, individually and also as a member of team, how to apply mathematical, natural science and engineering principles and knowledge of electronics to solve embedded system design problems by using the recent technologies of embedded hardware and software. In particular, you will learn the architecture of typical embedded system and high-performance microcontroller (e.g. ARM Cortex series), and how to program an ARM microcontroller in an embedded system. The architecture, capabilities and features of the ARM microcontroller will be studied in depth, including a consideration of the relative merits of a number of commercially available microcontrollers, internal/external clock generation and distribution. General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO), serial communications (UART, I2C), Timers and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), ADC (Analogue To Digital Converter), Interrupts and concurrency. An integrated approach will be applied to the solution of embedded system design problems. And professional industry standard development tools along with videos and materials provided by the ARM corporation, will be used to learn how to program the microcontroller in embedded C programming languages, in order to implement an embedded system to a given specification in terms of performance, cost and aesthetics as appropriate, involving consideration of safety, environmental and commercial matters, and industry standards. You will build and test an embedded system using Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software tools and practical test equipment to address complex embedded system problems. You will critically analyse the performance of the embedded system you designed and present your design, development, testing analysis and conclusions in the form of a report.