Embedded Systems Project Report: Design, Interfacing, and Implementation

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes assessed in this assessment

1.Knowledge & Understanding

(1)Critically analyse design specification requirements, for an embedded microcontroller application and choose appropriate microcontrollers and appropriate development tools in order to implement a specification.

(2)Develop suitable hardware for interfacing to microcontroller based systems and the co-requisite application software to satisfy system specifications

2.Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities

(1)Ability to design embedded software, interfacing hardware and select appropriate development tools to achieve a particular specification.

(2)Demonstrate a knowledge and awareness of the need to develop microelectronic systems, not only to satisfying specifications, but also the commercial and legal requirements of potential products.

3.Personal Values Attributes (UKSPEC ET1m, ET3m, ET5m, ET6m, EP7m, ET1fl, ET3fl, ET4fl, ET6fl)

(1)Ability to use CAD to design embedded systems satisfying both engineering and legal obligations.

Nature of the submission required:       

An individual, word processed project report based on the embedded system project specified in this assessment specification needs to be completed.

A printed copy of the report should be submitted to the student central service and an electronic copy should be submitted via the online eLP (the blackboard)

Instructions to students:

This is an individual assignment. You are expected to follow the requirements in the assessment specification and must complete the codes development and project report. You will record your results and show the results in your report. You are also expected to take photos of the system you build up and the results of your tests, draw flowchart diagrams to explain the workflow and execution procedure of your program, draw diagrams to show the data collected in your test and results analysis, insert these photos/diagrams into the report to demonstrate your program and results.

You are required to produce a single report of not more than 40 pages.

IEEE numbered referencing

Academic Conduct:

You must adhere to the university regulations on academic conduct. Formal inquiry proceedings will be instigated if there is any suspicion of misconduct or plagiarism in your work. Refer to the University’s regulations on assessment if you are unclear as to the meaning of these terms. The latest copy is available on the university website.

1. Draw a diagram showing the interface hardware circuits necessary between the microcontroller KL25Z and peripheral devices (the switch board, the LED board, the inertial sensor, and the touch pad). Textual explanation about the diagram is needed with the I/O pin assignment.   

2. Develop the State Diagram and Flow Chart for the design according to the specification.

3. Develop the C program by following the state diagram and flow chart to meet the specification.

Function 3 is similar to function 2, but now the lighted LED is controlled by the tilt angle of the KL25Z board, so that the illuminated LED moves along the LED board like a falling ball dragged by the gravity and always moves towards the earth.

The program of function 3 should read the onboard MMA8451Q 3-Axis digital accelerometer, get the x, y and z-axis acceleration measurements and processing them to determine the tilt angle of the KL25Z board. Then the lighted LED is controlled by the tilt angle.

For a user-friendly interface, every 5 seconds, the x, y and z-axis measurements and the calculated angle should be sent to a PC via the UART and displayed clearly on the PC’s screen.  

Advanced data processing algorithm should be designed, for example, removing orientation dependency and the earth’s gravitational acceleration, identifying and counting the cycles of the signal.

Meanwhile, for user-friendly interface and easy debugging, the x, y and z-axis measurement, the data processing results and number of steps should be sent to a PC via the UART and displayed clearly on the PC’s screen.