This course is a hands-on lab, building real-world embedded solutions using a bottom-up approach from simple to complex.
There are five components of the course: book, lab kit, videos, interactive learning modules, and lab software.
The course is the first in a series of three courses that teach the fundamentals of embedded systems as applied to the ARM Cortex-M family of microcontrollers.
This first course is an introduction to computers and interfacing focusing on assembly language and C programming and
could be delivered at the college level with little or no prerequisites.
This is a hand-on, learn-by-doing course that shows students how to build solutions to real-world problems using embedded systems.
Each student will purchase a Texas Instruments TM4C123 microcontroller kit and a few electronic components.
This microcontroller has a state of the art ARM Cortex M4 processor.
The course uses a bottom-up approach to problem-solving building gradually from simple interfacing of switches and LEDs
to complex concepts like display drivers, digital to analog conversion, generation of sound, analog to
digital conversion, graphics, interrupts, and communication.
We will present both general principles and practical tips for building circuits and programming the microcontroller in the C programming language.
Students will develop debugging skills using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and software instrumentation.
Laboratory assignments are first performed in simulation, and then students will build and debug your labs on the real microcontroller.
At the conclusion of this course students will be able to build your own arcade-style game.