LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student learns the architecture of an Embedded System, with a focus on integration and interfacing strategies of microcontrollers with sensors, fields bus, IoT devices, and dedicated electronic devices in general. Another objective is to get acquainted with the analysis procedures of the critical aspects in both the design of E.S. (power, size, cost, performance, adaptiveness) and related firmware, including bus and standards for higher-level interoperation. Learning targets will also be pursued by practical demonstrations during lessons with inexpensive devices and advanced sensing devices.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons in class by the Teacher

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

A) General aspects on Embedded Systems (E.S.) - what is an E.S. and what it's meant for
- Definition of E.S.
- Features and aims: what are the differences between E.S. and conventional computer systems - why do E.S. exist
- Applications of E.S.

B) Architectures of E.S. (How an E.S. is organized and how it operates)
- Electronis devices (typical constituting devices in E.S.)
- Architecture (how E.S. are organized from a logical/circuit perspective)
- Real-time performance (definition and issues in real-time E.S.)

C) Design of E.S. (How an E.S. is made)
- Computational dimension (speed and computational power)
- Power dimension (power consumption, power sources, regulation)
- Sensor dimension (sensor interfacing, sensor families, analog/digital technologies)
- Actuator dimension  (interfacing to motors and actuators)
- Communication dimension (high/low data exchange - bus)

D) E.S. in Mechatronics (How an E.S. integrates in a mechatronic system)
- Typical interfacing technologies (CAN bus, ProfiBus / ProfiNet)
- Realization  features (energy, EM, power, speed, real-time performance)