This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of embedded systems, which are computing systems designed to perform dedicated functions within larger mechanical or electrical systems. Students will explore the hardware and software aspects of embedded systems through theoretical learning and hands-on lab work. Topics include microcontroller architecture, real-time systems, digital input/output, memory interfacing, interrupts, timers, communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C), and embedded C programming. The course also introduces basic concepts of real-time operating systems (RTOS) and system integration. By the end of the course, students will be able to design, implement, and debug simple embedded systems and understand their role in modern electronics, automotive systems, medical devices, consumer electronics, and IoT applications.

This module focuses on the principles, methods, and tools used in the design and development of reliable, efficient, and maintainable embedded software. Students will learn how to architect and implement software that interacts closely with hardware, operates under real-time constraints, and meets stringent performance and safety requirements. Topics include software development for embedded platforms, real-time operating systems (RTOS), task scheduling, inter-process communication, synchronization, device drivers, memory management, and debugging techniques. The course also emphasizes best practices in software engineering such as modular design, code reuse, testing, and documentation specific to embedded systems. Hands-on projects using industry-standard development environments and microcontroller-based platforms will give students practical experience in designing embedded software for real-world applications, including IoT devices, automotive systems, and industrial control systems.

This module offers an in-depth introduction to the ARM Cortex-M4 processor architecture, widely used in embedded and real-time applications for its balance of performance, efficiency, and ease of use. Designed as Part 1 of a multi-part series, this course focuses on the core architecture, programming model, instruction set, and key hardware features of the Cortex-M4 processor. Topics covered include the ARM architecture overview, Cortex-M4 pipeline and execution model, memory map, exception and interrupt handling, the Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC), and system control registers. The course also introduces ARM Thumb-2 instruction set and basic assembly language programming. Students will gain hands-on experience with Cortex-M4-based development boards (e.g., STM32F4 series), and learn how to write, compile, and debug low-level code using industry-standard tools such as Keil MDK, STM32CubeIDE, or ARM GCC.

This advanced course builds on the foundational concepts introduced in Part 1, diving deeper into the performance, control, and system-level features of the ARM Cortex-M4 processor. Students will explore advanced architectural aspects, including the Memory Protection Unit (MPU), advanced exception handling, low-power modes, fault handling mechanisms, and digital signal processing (DSP) extensions. The course emphasizes the practical use of these features in embedded systems design, with a focus on safety, performance optimization, and power efficiency. Students will also learn how to write robust, secure, and deterministic software by leveraging hardware features and system-level programming techniques. Topics include the Cortex-M4 pipeline and bus interfaces, memory regions and alignment, stack and context management, hard fault analysis, CMSIS libraries, and ARM’s DSP and SIMD instruction set. Practical labs will reinforce concepts through real-world applications using Cortex-M4-based development boards.

This module explores the low-level interaction between C code and assembly language, providing students with the knowledge and skills to understand how high-level constructs are translated into machine-level instructions. Designed for embedded systems developers and systems programmers, the course emphasizes how C programs execute on the hardware and how to interface directly with assembly code for performance, control, and hardware access. Topics include the C memory model, calling conventions, stack frames, register usage, inline assembly, linking C and assembly modules, interrupt service routines in assembly, and performance-critical coding techniques. Students will analyze the output of C compilers, modify assembly instructions, and write mixed C/assembly routines targeting modern embedded processors such as ARM Cortex-M. By the end of the course, students will be able to write efficient low-level code, debug at the instruction level, and understand how compilers optimize high-level code for execution.

This module provides an in-depth exploration of two critical aspects of embedded system design: interrupt handling and low-power operation. Designed for students and engineers working with microcontroller-based systems, the course emphasizes how to develop responsive, energy-efficient applications by effectively using hardware interrupts and the power management features of modern processors, particularly ARM Cortex-M devices. Students will learn the architecture and configuration of the Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC), interrupt prioritization, preemption, context switching, and best practices for writing interrupt service routines (ISRs). On the power side, the course covers energy modes, clock gating, sleep and deep sleep states, wake-up sources, and real-time clock (RTC) integration. Through hands-on labs and real-world examples, students will gain experience designing interrupt-driven and power-aware systems for applications such as battery-powered IoT devices, wearables, and industrial sensors.

This course focuses on the principles and practical techniques for interfacing digital components with microcontrollers and embedded processors. Students will explore how to connect, control, and communicate with a wide variety of digital peripherals and systems, using general-purpose input/output (GPIO) and digital communication protocols. Topics include digital logic levels, GPIO configuration and control, interfacing with LEDs, switches, displays, keypads, and sensors, as well as bus protocols such as SPI, I²C, and UART. The course emphasizes timing considerations, signal integrity, debouncing, and the use of pull-up/pull-down resistors. Students will design and implement real-world digital interfacing solutions, gaining hands-on experience through labs and projects using microcontroller development platforms (e.g., ARM Cortex-M or Arduino-based boards).

This module provides a comprehensive introduction to interfacing analog signals with digital embedded systems. Students will learn how to connect microcontrollers to the analog world through sensors, actuators, and signal conditioning circuits. The course covers analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), digital-to-analog conversion (DAC), signal filtering, amplification, and techniques for noise reduction and accuracy enhancement. Key topics include ADC and DAC architectures, sampling theory, resolution and quantization, analog signal conditioning (op-amps, filters, voltage dividers), sensor interfacing (temperature, light, pressure, etc.), and PWM-based analog output. Emphasis is placed on the practical aspects of integrating analog components into embedded designs and understanding the limitations and trade-offs of mixed-signal systems. Hands-on labs reinforce the theoretical material, with students using microcontroller development boards (e.g., STM32, Arduino, or TI MSP430) to read sensor data and control analog outputs.

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