ECE 3430 - Fall 2026
Introduction to Embedded Computer Systems

Embedded systems are special-purpose computers at the core of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) that monitor and control physical processes through real-time interactions with sensors and actuators. More than 90% of all manufactured microprocessors are embedded in everyday devices — from airplanes, automobiles, and medical devices to digital cameras, home appliances, smart buildings, IoT devices, and robots. This lab-based course provides the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience needed to design, evaluate, and implement embedded systems, with an emphasis on the architecture and interface issues at the boundary between hardware and software.

Topics:

• Embedded System Architectures
• ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontrollers
• ARM assembly programming
• Embedded Input and Output (I/O)
• Memory-mapped I/O
• I/O programming
• I/O Synchronizaion and Interrupts
• Hardware timers
• Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM)
• Serial communication interfaces (e.g., UART, SPI, I²C)
• Analog communication (ADC, DAC)
• Embedded Software Development
• Embedded C programming and toolchains
• Modular design, debugging and profiling
• Finite State Machines (FSM)