Engineering Institute of Technology

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 subject matter covered in this unit will include the principles of: embedded systems, including embedded system architecture – internal and on-board; operating systems, particularly real time systems; and, Integrated Development Environments, and their practical implementation.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Evaluate the principles of embedded systems.

2. Describe embedded system architecture (internal, on-board).

3. Examine the principles of operating systems.

4. Classify real time operating systems based on selection criteria.

5. Assess product development life cycle.

6. Report on Integrated Development Environments and their application.

Professional Development

Completing this unit may add to students professional development/competencies by:

1. Fostering personal and professional skills and attributes in order to:

   1. Conduct work in a professionally diligent, accountable and ethical manner.

   2. Effectively use oral and written communication in personal and professional domains.

   3. Foster applicable creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

   4. Develop initiative and engagement in lifelong learning and professional development.

   5. Enhance collaboration outcomes and performance in dynamic team roles.

   6. Effectively plan, organise, self-manage and manage others.

   7. Professionally utilise and manage information.

   8. Enhance technologist literacy and apply contextualised technologist skills.

2. Enhance investigatory and research capabilities in order to:

   1. Develop an understanding of systematic, fundamental scientific, mathematic principles, numerical analysis techniques and statistics applicable to technologists.

   2. Access, evaluate and analyse information on technologist processes, procedures, investigations and the discernment of technologist knowledge development.

   3. Foster an in-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge, computer science, engineering design practice and contextual factors applicable to technologists.

   4. Solve basic and open-ended engineering technologist problems.

   5. Understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds associated with sustainable engineering practice.

3. Develop engineering application abilities in order to:

   1. Apply established engineering methods to broadly-defined technologist problem solving.

   2. Apply engineering technologist techniques, tool and resources.

   3. Apply systematic technologist synthesis and design processes.

   4. Systematically conduct and manage technologist projects, work assignments, testing and experimentation.

Engineers Australia

The Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologists, approved as of 2013. This table is referenced in the mapping of graduate attributes to learning outcomes and via the learning outcomes to student assessment.

Graduate Attributes

Successfully completing this Unit will contribute to the recognition of attainment of the following graduate attributes aligned to the AQF Level 7 criteria, Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologists and the Sydney Accord:

Unit Competency and Learning Outcome Map

This table details the mapping of the unit graduate attributes to the unit learning outcomes and the Australian Engineering Stage 1 Competency Standards for the Engineering Technologist.

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended Readings

Textbook

Noergaard, T 2013, Embedded Systems Architecture - A Comprehensive Guide for Engineers and Programmers, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-12-382197-3. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpESAACG01/embedded-systems- architecture/embedded-systems-architecture

Reference

Virtanen, S 2012, Innovations in Embedded and Real-Time Systems Engineering for Communication, IGI Global, ISBN 978-1-62198-950-9.. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpIERTSEC4/innovations-in-embedded/innovations-in- embedded

Wescott, T 2006, Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-08- 047589-9. Online version available at: http://app.knovel.com/hotlink/toc/id:kpACTES001/applied-control-theory/applied-control- theory

Journal, website

N/a

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.

Topics 1 and 2

Introduction to embedded systems

1. Embedded systems (attributes, embedded system architecture and model)

2. Embedded system design

3. Embedded controls (examples, processor architectures e.g. ARM)

4. System power

5. Programming languages (general purpose and market specific standards)

6. Java (language characteristics, Java Virtual Machine)

7. Universal Modelling Language (UML)

Topics 3 and 4

Embedded processor architecture

1. Instruction Set Architecture (operations, operands, addressing modes, and etc.)

2. Operations (math, data manipulation, input/output, and etc.)

3. Storage (linear, segmented, restricted)

4. Addressing modes and interrupt handling

5. System performance and benchmarking

6. Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) and Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC)

Topics 5 and 6

On-board architecture

1. Read Only Memory (ROM) architecture and operation

2. ROM types (Mask, Electrically Erasable, Programmable, Flash)

3. Random Access Memory (RAM) architecture and operation

4. Input/output (characteristics, operation, timing diagrams)

5. Buses (characteristics, operation, timing diagrams, PCI)

Topics 7 and 8

Embedded Operating Systems

1. Operating Systems (architecture, kernel, functions)

2. Real Time Operating Systems (VxWorks, MicroC/OS-II)

3. Processes (multitasking, tasks, threads, finite state machine, POSIX)

4. Process scheduling (algorithms, preemption, and prioritization)

Topics 9, 10 and 11

System design, implementation, and testing

1. Embedded Product Development Life Cycle (objectives, phases)

2. Controllers selection

3. Operating systems selection (characteristics, tools, portability, processor, and etc.)

4. Integrated Development Environments

5. Debugging tools

Topic 12

Unit Review

In the final week students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. 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.