48434 Embedded Systems

Requisite(s): ((48441 Introductory Digital Systems AND 48450 Real-time Operating Systems) OR 48430 Embedded C)

These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.

There are also course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

This subject presents the theoertical and practical basis for the structure, operation and design of embedded systems with a balanced treatment of both hardware and software. Hardware is covered down to the component level, and software development involves some assembly language. The hardware thread covers field programmable gate arrays, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, embedded PCs; memory subsystems; I/O subsystems; arithmetic operations; serial I/O subsystems; analog subsystems; computer-aided hardware design (Protel); PCB manufacturing (SMT) and EMC compliance. The software thread covers compiler and debugger tools; arithmetic operations; timing and interrupts; program optimisation; multi-module and multi-language programs; numerical techniques specific for certain tasks (such as the FFT and fuzzy control) and Internet connectivity.

Through learning activities students also gain study skills including academic literacy skills, and an appreciation of the different fields of practice of engineering and the interdisciplinary nature of engineering. The skills developed are the ability to analyse the requirements of an embedded system and to be able to design both the hardware and software to meet those requirements. Skills in debugging both software and hardware are also developed through the practice-based nature of the subject.

Class time is used for lectures, tutorials, laboratories and project work. There are a number of formal laboratory sessions on hardware and software aspect of embedded systems, which also familiarise students with the laboratory equipment. The subject culminates in a project which involves the design, implementation, testing and documentation of a practical embedded system.