Engineering Institute of Technology
Unit Name | Embedded System Design |
Unit Code | BIA 303S |
Unit Duration | Term |
Award | Bachelor of Science (Industrial Automation Engineering)
Duration 3 years |
Year Level | Three |
Unit Creator/Reviewer |
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Core/Sub-discipline | Sub-discipline |
Pre/Co-requisites |
BSC102C, BSC201C |
Credit Points | 3
Total Program Credit Points 81 (27 x 3) |
Mode of Delivery | Online or On-campus |
Unit Workload | (Total student workload including “contact hours” = 10 hours per week) Pre-recordings / Lecture – 1.5 hours Tutorial – 1.5 hours Guided labs / Group work / Assessments – 2 hours Personal Study recommended - 5 hours |
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:
Evaluate the principles of embedded systems.
Describe embedded system architecture (internal, on-board).
Examine the principles of operating systems.
Classify real time operating systems based on selection criteria.
Assess product development life cycle.
Report on Integrated Development Environments and their application.
Professional Development
Completing this unit may add to students professional development/competencies by:
Fostering personal and professional skills and attributes in order to:
Conduct work in a professionally diligent, accountable and ethical manner.
Effectively use oral and written communication in personal and professional domains.
Foster applicable creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Develop initiative and engagement in lifelong learning and professional development.
Enhance collaboration outcomes and performance in dynamic team roles.
Effectively plan, organise, self-manage and manage others.
Professionally utilise and manage information.
Enhance technologist literacy and apply contextualised technologist skills.
Enhance investigatory and research capabilities in order to:
Develop an understanding of systematic, fundamental scientific, mathematic principles, numerical analysis techniques and statistics applicable to technologists.
Access, evaluate and analyse information on technologist processes, procedures, investigations and the discernment of technologist knowledge development.
Foster an in-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge, computer science, engineering design practice and contextual factors applicable to technologists.
Solve basic and open-ended engineering technologist problems.
Understand the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds associated with sustainable engineering practice.
Develop engineering application abilities in order to:
Apply established engineering methods to broadly-defined technologist problem solving.
Apply engineering technologist techniques, tool and resources.
Apply systematic technologist synthesis and design processes.
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.
Stage 1 Competencies and Elements of Competency | |
1. | Knowledge and Skill Base |
1.1 | Systematic, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the technology domain. |
1.2 | Conceptual understanding of the, mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the technology domain. |
1.3 | In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the technology domain. |
1.4 | Discernment of knowledge development within the technology domain. |
1.5 | Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the technology domain. |
1.6 | Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the technology domain. |
2. | Engineering Application Ability |
2.1 | Application of established engineering methods to broadly-defined problem solving within the technology domain. |
2.2 | Application of engineering techniques, tools and resources within the technology domain. |
2.3 | Application of systematic synthesis and design processes within the technology domain. |
2.4 | Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of projects within the technology domain. |
3. | Professional and Personal Attributes |
3.1 | Ethical conduct and professional accountability. |
3.2 | Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. |
3.3 | Creative, innovative and pro-active demeanour. |
3.4 | Professional use and management of information. |
3.5 | Orderly management of self and professional conduct. |
3.6 | Effective team membership and team leadership. |
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:
Graduate Attributes (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Professional and Personal Development) | EA Stage 1 Competencies | Learning Outcomes |
A. Knowledge of Science and Engineering Fundamentals | ||
A1. Breadth of knowledge of engineering and systematic, theory-based understanding of underlying principles, and depth of knowledge across one or more engineering sub- disciplines |
1.1, 1.3 |
1, 2, 6 |
A2. Knowledge of mathematical, statistical and computer sciences appropriate for engineering technology |
1.2 |
2, 5 |
A3. Discernment of knowledge development within the technology domain | 1.4 | 4. 6 |
A4. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the technology domain |
1.5 |
4, 5, 6 |
B. Problem Solving, Critical Analysis and Judgement | ||
B1. Ability to research, synthesise, evaluate and innovatively apply theoretical concepts, knowledge and approaches across diverse engineering technology contexts to effectively solve engineering problems |
1.4, 2.1, 2.3 |
5, 6 |
B2. Technical and project management skills to design complex systems and solutions in line with developments in engineering technology professional practice |
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2 |
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C. Effective Communication | ||
C1. Cognitive and technical skills to investigate, analyse and organise information and ideas and to communicate those ideas clearly and fluently, in both written and spoken forms appropriate to the audience |
3.2 |
5 |
C2. Ability to engage effectively and appropriately across a diverse range of cultures | 3.2 |
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D. Design and Project Management | ||
D1. Apply systematic synthesis and design processes within the technology domain | 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 |
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D2. Apply systematic approaches to the conduct and management of projects within the technology domain |
2.4 |
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E. Accountability, Professional and Ethical Conduct | ||
E1. Innovation in applying engineering technology, having regard to ethics and impacts including economic; social; environmental and sustainability |
1.6, 3.1, 3.4 |
2, 6 |
E2. Professional conduct, understanding and accountability in professional practice across diverse circumstances including team work, leadership and independent work |
3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 |
5 |
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.
| Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||||
A1 | A2 | A3 | A4 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 | D1 | D2 | E1 | E2 | ||
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Technologist | 1.1 | |
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Unit Learning Outcomes | LO1 | |
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Student assessment
Assessment Type | When assessed | Weighting (% of total unit marks) | Learning Outcomes Assessed |
Assessment 1 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: Embedded system characteristics. Students may complete a quiz with MCQ type answers and solve some simple equations to demonstrate a good understanding of the fundamental concepts |
Week 3 |
15% |
1 |
Assessment 2 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation Example Topic: Embedded processor systems architecture (internal and on-board). Students may provide solutions to simple problems on the listed topics |
Week 6 |
20% |
2 |
Assessment 3 Type: Multi-choice test / Group work / Short answer questions / Practical / Remote Lab / Simulation / Project / Report Example Topic: Operating systems (principles of operation and real time system characteristics). OR Integrated Development Environment to produce a simple embedded application Students may complete a quiz with MCQ type answers or solve some simple problems or using software to complete a practical. |
Week 9 |
20% |
3, 4 |
Assessment 4 Type: Examination Example Topic: All topics An examination with a mix of detailed report type questions and/or simple numerical problems to be completed in 3 hours |
Final Week |
40% |
1 to 6 |
Attendance / Tutorial Participation Example: Presentation, discussion, group work, exercises, self-assessment/reflection, case study analysis, application. |
Continuous |
5% |
1 to 6 |
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
Embedded systems (attributes, embedded system architecture and model)
Embedded system design
Embedded controls (examples, processor architectures e.g. ARM)
System power
Programming languages (general purpose and market specific standards)
Java (language characteristics, Java Virtual Machine)
Universal Modelling Language (UML)
Topics 3 and 4
Embedded processor architecture
Instruction Set Architecture (operations, operands, addressing modes, and etc.)
Operations (math, data manipulation, input/output, and etc.)
Storage (linear, segmented, restricted)
Addressing modes and interrupt handling
System performance and benchmarking
Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) and Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC)
Topics 5 and 6
On-board architecture
Read Only Memory (ROM) architecture and operation
ROM types (Mask, Electrically Erasable, Programmable, Flash)
Random Access Memory (RAM) architecture and operation
Input/output (characteristics, operation, timing diagrams)
Buses (characteristics, operation, timing diagrams, PCI)
Topics 7 and 8
Embedded Operating Systems
Operating Systems (architecture, kernel, functions)
Real Time Operating Systems (VxWorks, MicroC/OS-II)
Processes (multitasking, tasks, threads, finite state machine, POSIX)
Process scheduling (algorithms, preemption, and prioritization)
Topics 9, 10 and 11
System design, implementation, and testing
Embedded Product Development Life Cycle (objectives, phases)
Controllers selection
Operating systems selection (characteristics, tools, portability, processor, and etc.)
Integrated Development Environments
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.