Hello everyone! I’m excited to share my journey as I delve into the world of Embedded Systems for the first time. Over the next 7 weeks, I’ll be documenting my learning experiences, reflections, and the projects I create. I look forward to enhancing my understanding of embedded systems and honing my skills throughout this process. Join me as I explore and grow in this fascinating field!
Catalog
MIB _ISD60304_Embedded Systems Feb 2025 (1).pdf，作者 tian dong- Week 1-Introduction to Embedded Systems
- Week 2- Embedded System Design Process
- Week 3- Embedded System Prototype Ideation
- Week 4-Introduction to Sensor Modules and ARVR
- Week 5-Form Defining Space: Horizontal
- Week 6-Final project starts embedded development
- Week 7- Final project starts embedded development
Course content：
In the first class, the teacher asked each of us to introduce ourselves and our assignments for this semester. We have a total of two assignments and one final project in semester 1.5.
The teacher also introduced the requirements of Assignment 1 in detail.
We will study an embedded system concept and an interactive space design concept and combine them to create a functional embedded system for interactive space. Evaluate and analyze research methods through multidisciplinary space design practice.
Submit in Week 2!
Evaluate and analyze different embedded systems and interactive space designs to form interactive space design concepts based on embedded system operation; conduct research on selected concepts and methods, covering embedded system classification, purpose, and the technical principles, latest developments, and interactive methods of interactive space design in specific spaces; integrate research results into infographics or visualization display boards.
The teacher also showed us a lot of examples to help us understand the assignment requirements more quickly. The teacher talked about some basic knowledge of embedded systems in class.
The teacher introduced the embedded system, covering the definition, history, classification, application field, purpose and other aspects.
Definition:
Embedded systems are electronic/electromechanical systems that are a combination of hardware and firmware (software) to perform specific functions, such as electronic toys, mobile phones, etc., and are unique in hardware and software. Compared with general computing systems, embedded systems differ in operating systems, user modifiability, response time, and system selection determinants.
History:
The first modern embedded system was the Apollo Guidance Computer developed by Charles Stark Draper at MIT, which had low power consumption and helped humans land on the moon.
Classification:
Based on generation, it can be divided into systems built on 8-bit, 16-bit, high-performance 16-32-bit, system-on-chip, etc.; based on complexity and performance, it can be divided into small-scale, medium-scale, and large-scale/complex systems; based on deterministic behavior, it can be divided into soft real-time and hard real-time systems; based on the triggering method, it can be divided into event-triggered and time-triggered systems.
Application fields:
Widely used in consumer electronics, home appliances, automobiles, telecommunications, medical and other fields, such as cameras, televisions, automobile anti-lock braking systems, mobile phones, etc.
Purpose:
Embedded systems are designed to achieve one or more tasks such as data collection/storage/representation, data communication, data (signal) processing, monitoring, control, and specific application user interfaces. For example, digital cameras are used for data collection/storage/representation, network equipment is used for data communication, digital hearing aids are used for data processing, electrocardiographs are used for monitoring, air conditioners are used for control, and mobile phones provide specific application user interfaces.
After introducing the embedded system, the teacher discussed Assignment 1 with us again. We formed a group of five people to prepare for the future Assignments.
Personal reflection:
In the class, the knowledge of embedded systems is extensive and complex, and I have difficulty understanding some of the content. After class, I need to re-examine the classification standards and other content and use materials to deepen my understanding.
Regarding Assignment 1, I think it is a bit challenging. I think I need to determine the research direction with the group members as soon as possible, collect materials, plan infographics and visual presentation forms, and ask the teacher for help in time if I encounter any problems.
Week 2-Embedded System Design Process
Course content：
The teacher focused on the embedded system design process, covering design reasons, various aspects of the design process, functional and non-functional requirements, etc.
Q:Why do we need design methodology?
Evaluation and optimization:
Help optimize performance and ensure that all functions run correctly.
Automation tool development:
Break down the design process into small steps to improve the degree of design automation.
Team communication:
Provide a structured method to facilitate team collaboration.
Design Process:
Requirements Analysis
- Functional requirements: input and output functions of the system, such as power button, sensor, high refresh rate display.
- Non-functional requirements: performance, cost, physical size, power consumption, etc., such as 12V power supply, 4GB RAM, $100 budget.
Specification
Requirements are concretized into achievable technical specifications, such as:
- Button input → power button
- GPS module → get map coordinates
- Power consumption → 100mW microcontroller power supply
- Architecture Design
- Describe the overall structure of the system without involving specific implementation.
- Clarify how software and hardware components interact.
Component Design
- Hardware examples: GPS receiver module, antenna, microcontroller, power supply, voltage regulator.
- Software examples: GPS library/driver, communication software, data parsing, display software, power management.
System Integration
Testing after component integration, common steps:
- Hardware and software integration
- Interface verification (make sure cables are connected correctly and sensors are working properly)
- Debugging and troubleshooting
- Optimization (code optimization, hardware tuning)
- Verification (actual test system reliability)
The teacher gave us an activity file from class and asked us to answer questions about some classroom knowledge.
The teacher also taught us how to download the pycharm software and sent us some plugin links to download.Click the "Download" button on the official website homepage to enter the download page. Select the corresponding installation package according to the operating system, such as .exe file for Windows, .dmg file for macOS, and .tar.gz file for Linux, and then select the appropriate version from the community edition and professional edition to start downloading.
Personal reflection:
In the study of embedded system design process, although the overall framework is understood, the understanding of some concepts is not deep enough. For example, it is easy to confuse when distinguishing functional requirements from non-functional requirements, which may lead to deviations in the actual project requirements analysis stage and affect subsequent design. The transition and connection relationship between each stage in the design process is not fully mastered, and it is difficult to flexibly apply theoretical knowledge to specific project scenarios. For example, when designing the architecture, it is not possible to select appropriate components according to requirements and plan their interaction methods.
When participating in assignments and project discussions, I found that my lack of practical hands-on experience caused problems. For some technical implementation details, such as the connection of hardware components and the writing of software codes, I only stayed at the theoretical level and could not accurately estimate the difficulties and problems that might arise during the implementation of the project. For example, when discussing the final project plan, I made an inaccurate judgment on the feasibility of using electrical sensors to detect pressure to achieve the ripple effect. I also lacked innovation ability and found it difficult to independently propose novel and feasible interactive design concepts. I mostly relied on the examples provided by the teacher and performed poorly in terms of the uniqueness and innovation of the project.
Improvement measures:
Develop a detailed study plan, deeply study the theoretical knowledge of embedded system design, strengthen the understanding of concepts such as functional requirements and non-functional requirements by reading professional books and analyzing actual project cases, and strengthen the sorting and learning of the relationship between each stage of the design process. Actively participate in practical activities, use spare time to carry out practical operations of hardware development and software development, such as using Arduino, Raspberry Pi and other development boards to develop small projects, accumulate practical operation experience, and improve the ability to solve practical problems. Cultivate innovative thinking, pay attention to the latest trends and innovative cases in the industry, think more about the application possibilities of different technologies in interactive design, and try to propose unique design ideas. Develop good study habits, actively collect and organize learning materials, pay attention to details in the learning process, take every knowledge point seriously, summarize and review knowledge regularly, and ensure solid basic knowledge.
Week 3- Embedded System Prototype Ideation
LEARN:
The teacher talked about the conception of embedded prototype in class:
Importance of Prototyping in Embedded Systems:
- Prototyping is essential for testing ideas, finding bugs, and optimizing designs.
- It helps engineers develop better products more efficiently and at a lower cost.
- But prototyping can be challenging due to the complexity of hardware and software.
Prototyping Methods and Tools:
- Breadboards and Wire Wrapping:
- Suitable for low-power, low-frequency, and low-complexity circuits.
- Breadboards allow circuits to be built and modified quickly without soldering.
- Wire wrapping creates a strong connection by wrapping wire around component pins.
- Rapid Prototyping and 3D Printing:
- Uses additive manufacturing methods such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC milling.
- 3D printing uses materials such as plastic, metal, or resin to build a design layer by layer.
- Suitable for custom housings and integrating embedded systems into physical objects or environments.
- Digital Prototypes:
- Digital prototypes help visualize and test interactive embedded system designs.
- Integrate sensors, touch screens, and motion detectors by creating a virtual space.
- Key steps in digital prototype development:
- Conceptualization – Design the space layout and place the embedded system.
- Interaction Design – Determine how the user interacts with touch screens, sensors, etc.
- Simulation – Simulate real-time behavior using tools such as Blender, Autodesk Maya, Unity, Unreal Engine 5, etc.
After explaining the embedded prototype conception, the teacher asked us to make an activity about the prototype conception, and talked about the wrong questions and the parts we didn’t understand in the activity in class.
The teacher handed out a MakerPHAT user manual in class and took us through programming the Paspberry PI program and introducing some equipment.
Maker pHAT User's Manual (1).pdf，作者 tian dong
Under the guidance of the teacher, our group connected the accessories to the Raspberry Pi and began editing the code.
After various debugging and code changes we finally succeeded.
设计作者：tian dong
Personal reflection:
By learning circular design, I have a deeper understanding of the development process of embedded systems, especially breadboard construction, 3D printing, rapid prototyping and digital simulation. Although I encountered some difficulties in hardware connection and software simulation during the process, I gradually mastered the use of these tools through checking the information and repeated experiments. In the future, I hope that I will continue to strengthen my practice and integrate more interactive design into the project to improve the overall design efficiency and product quality.
In the process of programming the Raspberry Pi, I have a deeper understanding of embedded hardware design, GPIO control, and remote debugging. Although I have mastered the basic hardware connection and code control, there is still room for improvement in Linux command line, hardware development, and system debugging. In the future, I plan to modify the code, try to design my own PHAT, and learn more complex embedded development to better combine theory and practice.
Week 4-Introduction to Sensor Modules and ARVR
LEARN:
The teacher introduced Introduction to Sensor Modules and ARVR in class. These two parts are:
Introduction to Sensor Modules
Introduces the functions and basic connection methods of various sensor modules:
- SR602 Passive Infrared (PIR) Motion Sensor: detects changes in infrared light and senses motion.
- TTP223 Capacitive Touch Sensor: used for touch detection, such as touch switches.
- MH-RD Rain Sensor: used to detect rain and can be used for applications such as automatic window control.
- MH Photoresistor Sensor: used to detect ambient light intensity and can be used to automatically adjust lighting.
- Microphone Sensor Module: detects sounds in the environment and outputs signals based on set thresholds.
Introduction to ARVR
Augmented Reality (AR):
Overlaying digital content on the real world through devices (such as smartphones and glasses).
AR Types:
- Marker-based: Using QR codes or images to trigger AR content.
- Markerless: Using technologies such as GPS and accelerometers to place virtual objects.
- Projection-based: Projecting light onto physical surfaces to create interactive visual effects.
AR Development Tools:
- Unity + Vuforia: Suitable for 2D/3D AR projects, supporting image recognition and object tracking.
- ARKit (iOS) and ARCore (Android): Used for iOS and Android platforms respectively, providing functions such as motion tracking and environmental understanding.
Virtual Reality (VR):
Using VR headsets to create fully immersive digital environments, widely used in games, education, and simulation training.
VR Development Tools:
- Unreal Engine: High-quality VR game engine that provides visual scripting (Blueprints) functions.
In this week, we conducted an embedded system exercise on a touch-controlled lamp.
The teacher talked about the requirements of our assignment 2 in class.
For Assignment 2, we need to develop a detailed plan for the embedded system design process, make a PPT and submit it. In this Assignment 2, we need to identify and define system requirements, design the embedded system architecture, select appropriate hardware components, and plan the software and control logic.
Personal reflection:
During this week's study, my understanding of sensor modules and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) has been significantly improved. Through the introduction in class, I realized the diversity of sensors and their practical applications in daily life, such as passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors and capacitive touch sensors. This made me realize that the selection and application of sensors are crucial in embedded system development.
By participating in the embedded system exercise of touch-controlled lights, I not only put my knowledge into practice, but also improved my hands-on ability. This practical activity gave me a deep understanding of how to combine sensors with control systems to achieve intelligent lighting control. At the same time, I learned how to use Unity and learned AR development tools such as Vuforia, which makes me look forward to future projects.
In the introduction of AR and VR, I also felt how the rapid development of technology is changing the way we interact. Learning about different types of AR, such as marker-based and markerless AR, has stimulated my interest in exploring this aspect further. By learning Unreal Engine for VR development, I realized the potential of creating immersive environments and also made me think about how to apply these technologies in future projects.
Overall, this week's learning experience has given me a more comprehensive understanding of sensor technology and AR/VR applications, and made me realize the importance of combining theory with practice. In the future, I hope to apply this knowledge in more complex projects and continue to improve my skills.
Week 5- Embedded Systems Development Lifecycle
LEARN:
The teacher talked about the life cycle of embedded system development in class:
The embedded system development life cycle includes six main stages: requirements analysis, feasibility analysis, design and implementation, integration and testing products, development and marketing, and operation and maintenance and upgrade.
In the requirements analysis stage, the system functions and performance requirements are clarified and a feasibility study is conducted.
In the feasibility analysis stage, the project is evaluated to see if it meets technical, economic, operational and legal requirements. The design and implementation stage includes the parallel development and integration of hardware and software. In the integration and testing stage, multiple tests are conducted to ensure the stable operation of the system. In the product development and marketing stage, market research and promotion strategies are used to ensure the successful launch of the product.
Finally, the teacher talked about the continuous monitoring of system performance, maintenance and updates in the operation and maintenance and upgrade stage to ensure the long-term stability and security of the system.
Today is the submission date for assignment 2. We showed the teacher the PPT we made. The teacher said that our assignment 2 was very successful, so we submitted it. In class, we started doing some programming exercises again.
Week 6-Week 7： Final project starts embedded development
For the final project, we need to develop a working embedded system prototype, which requires us to build the embedded system in a small prototype environment of 10 cm to 20 cm, including the integration of sensors, microcontrollers, and actuators or displays; develop corresponding software; realize sensor data processing and actuator or display control; and test and optimize the prototype to ensure effective operation in the expected space.
We need to record a demonstration video showing the system functions and explaining the project in MP4 format.
We started our embedded development in class.
When we edited the code, we found that the induction was not very strong. Later, we continued to change the code and found some problems. We didn't know why there was no induction, and it was weaker than before. We conducted many tests, found some related videos, and consulted some materials. We successfully tested the OLED, and then we tried to start programming further. We tried again and successfully put the Hello font on the OLED and pressed it again to have the I love you font.
We found that the induction of this ceramic sensor was a little weak. We asked the teacher to help us see if there was a way to make it stronger, but it still didn't work. The teacher suggested that we could change it to VIBRATIN SENSOR MODULE.
Then we repeated the above steps and edited the code.
Finally, we showed our work to the teacher, and the teacher said it was okay, so we started to paste the model onto the 3D printing board.
Personal reflection
In the final project of "Touch-activated Smart Floor System," I have gained a lot and also realized many shortcomings.
In technical practice, there were frequent induction problems when editing the code at first. Although I actively consulted materials and referenced videos, I still spent a lot of time to troubleshoot. This reflects that I have a weak grasp of the underlying principles of embedded systems and lack the ability to quickly locate and solve problems. When discussing the problem of weak induction of ceramic sensors with the team, I failed to propose effective improvement ideas, overrelying on teachers, and my independent thinking and innovation abilities need to be improved.
In terms of team collaboration, communication efficiency needs to be improved. When encountering problems, information sharing between members is not timely enough, resulting in some duplication of work. As a member of the team, I am not proactive in coordinating and promoting problem solving.
In the future, I will strengthen theoretical knowledge and learning and deeply understand the operating mechanism of embedded systems. At the same time, I will participate in more practical projects, accumulate experience in problem solving, and improve my independent thinking and innovation abilities. In team collaboration, I actively communicate to enhance team cohesion and collaboration efficiency.
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