Embedded Systems Engineering Course

Lesson 1 • What Is an Embedded System

Defines embedded systems by contrasting them with general-purpose computers. Anchors the chapter by establishing the design constraints that drive all subsequent topics.

Lesson 2 • Microcontroller vs. Microprocessor Selection

Compares MCU and MPU trade-offs across cost, power, and integration. Equips learners to justify platform choices in design reviews.

Lesson 3 • Embedded System Architecture Overview

Maps the major hardware blocks found in embedded targets. Provides a structural mental model used throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Development Toolchain Basics

Introduces the compiler, linker, debugger, and programmer tools used daily. Connects tool knowledge to productive lab work in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Memory-Mapped I/O and Register Access

Explains how peripheral registers appear in the address space. Provides the access pattern used in every subsequent driver exercise.

Lesson 2 • Timers and PWM Generation

Teaches timer counter modes, capture-compare units, and PWM output. Timers underpin motor control, signal generation, and timing measurement.

Lesson 3 • GPIO Configuration and Control

Covers pin direction, output drive, pull resistors, and alternate functions. GPIO is the entry point for all physical hardware interaction.

Lesson 4 • Analog Interfaces: ADC and DAC

Configures analog-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters for signal acquisition. Analog interfacing is essential for sensor-driven embedded applications.

Lesson 1 • Interrupt Controller Architecture

Explains the nested vectored interrupt controller and vector table layout. This foundation is required before any ISR can be safely written.

Lesson 2 • Interrupt-Driven Communication Patterns

Implements ring buffers and state machines inside ISRs for serial data. Demonstrates production-quality patterns used in commercial firmware.

Lesson 3 • Debugging Interrupt-Related Issues

Identifies and resolves priority inversion, missed interrupts, and stack overflow. Debugging skills close the gap between theory and reliable hardware behaviour.

Lesson 4 • External and Peripheral Interrupt Sources

Configures edge-triggered external lines and peripheral-generated interrupts. Connects interrupt theory to real sensor and communication events.

Lesson 1 • Firmware Design Patterns

Applies observer, command, and strategy patterns adapted for resource-constrained targets. Patterns reduce coupling and improve long-term maintainability.

Lesson 2 • Scheduler and Super-Loop Patterns

Compares cooperative super-loop, time-sliced, and event-driven schedulers. Choosing the right scheduler determines system responsiveness and complexity.

Lesson 3 • Layered Firmware Architecture

Introduces hardware abstraction, driver, and application layers. Layering isolates hardware dependencies and enables unit testing of business logic.

Lesson 4 • Finite State Machine Design

Models system behaviour as states, events, and transitions using FSM patterns. FSMs are the primary tool for managing complex control flow in firmware.

Lesson 1 • Inter-Task Communication

Uses queues, mailboxes, and stream buffers to pass data between tasks safely. Correct communication patterns eliminate data corruption in concurrent firmware.

Lesson 2 • RTOS Memory and Timing Analysis

Measures task CPU usage, stack high-water marks, and heap fragmentation. Runtime analysis validates that timing and memory budgets are met.

Lesson 3 • RTOS Concepts and Kernel Internals

Explains scheduling algorithms, context switching, and tick interrupts. Understanding kernel internals prevents misuse of RTOS APIs.

Lesson 4 • Synchronisation Primitives

Applies mutexes, semaphores, and event groups to coordinate task execution. Proper synchronisation prevents race conditions and deadlocks.

Lesson 1 • CAN Bus Fundamentals and Implementation

Covers CAN frame structure, arbitration, and error confinement. CAN is the dominant protocol in automotive and industrial embedded systems.

Lesson 2 • Protocol Stack Debugging Techniques

Uses protocol analysers and software decoders to isolate communication faults. Systematic debugging reduces integration time on multi-node systems.

Lesson 3 • Modbus and Industrial Serial Protocols

Implements Modbus RTU and ASCII over UART for sensor and actuator networks. Industrial protocols are required knowledge for factory automation roles.

Lesson 4 • USB Device Fundamentals

Explains USB enumeration, descriptors, and CDC class for virtual serial ports. USB device knowledge enables PC-connected embedded product development.

Lesson 1 • Power Budget Analysis and Validation

Builds a system-level power budget and validates it against measured data. Budget validation confirms that design targets are met before product release.

Lesson 2 • Clock Gating and Peripheral Power Control

Disables unused peripheral clocks and power domains at runtime. Clock gating eliminates idle peripheral power without affecting active functionality.

Lesson 3 • Sensor and Radio Duty Cycling

Schedules sensor sampling and radio transmissions to minimise active time. Duty cycling extends battery life by orders of magnitude in IoT nodes.

Lesson 4 • Power Consumption Fundamentals

Quantifies dynamic, static, and leakage power in MCU and peripheral circuits. Accurate power modelling is the prerequisite for any optimisation effort.

Lesson 1 • Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

Runs firmware on real hardware while stimulating inputs programmatically. HIL testing validates timing and peripheral behaviour that simulators cannot replicate.

Lesson 2 • Fault Injection and Robustness Testing

Deliberately introduces power glitches, corrupted data, and bus errors to test recovery. Robustness testing reveals failure modes before field deployment.

Lesson 3 • Static Analysis and Code Quality

Runs static analysers and enforces coding standards to eliminate undefined behaviour. Code quality tools complement dynamic testing for safety-critical firmware.

Lesson 4 • Reliability and Failure Mode Analysis

Applies FMEA to identify and mitigate firmware failure modes systematically. Reliability analysis is required for products subject to safety certification.