AIMS AND CONTENT

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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Capability to design and program electronic systems based on microcontrollers

Technical skills about the HW configuration of IoT systems 

The learning outcomes will be verified through a battery of tests, issued in both closed and open form, which will enable to verify the correct acquisition of the knowledge and technical competences covering the whole class program.

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)

This teaching deals with topics of scientific-technology interest, including the progress of electronics and embedded systems in the support of Society and People, and contributes to the achievement of the following Objectives of the UN SDGs 2030: 

Goal 3. Good health and well-being (embedded systems play a crucial role in the area of health and personal care)

Goal 4. Quality education (the dissemination of technology skills raises the overall cultural level of modern Society)

Goal 5. Gender equality (this Course promotes a general, uniform dissemination of technological competences, in the firm belief that electronic subjects can/should have a pervasive nature irrespectively of age, gender and any other discriminating factor)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIOVANNI ADORNI (President)

ERMANNO FABIO DI ZITTI

PAOLO GASTALDO

DANIELE GROSSO

RODOLFO ZUNINO (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/9269/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Tests and open questions allow to verify the successful acquisition of both technical competence and design capabilities; at the same time, the exam confirms the proper acquisition of a correct awareness about the various scopes that characterize the analysis and HW design of Embedded Electronic Systems. 

The validation of competences is certified in a progressive fashion through a selective evaluation of exam replies:
- a group of baseline questions aims to verify the minimal contents required to pass the exam (18-22)
- a group of reference tests aims to validate the expected average of competence and notions (23-28)
- a group of challenging questions highlights the acquisition of original and high-level skills (29-30Lode) 

Exam schedule