1.
Introduction to Embedded Systems (Beginner Level)
• What are Embedded Systems?
o Definition and characteristics of embedded systems
o Difference between general-purpose computing and embedded systems
o Examples of embedded systems in daily life (e.g., microcontrollers in home
appliances, cars, etc.)
• Overview of Embedded C
o Why Embedded C is used for embedded systems
o Basic programming concepts in C (variables, data types, operators)
• Embedded System Architecture
o Microcontrollers vs. Microprocessors
o Types of microcontrollers (AVR, ARM, PIC, etc.)
o Overview of peripherals in embedded systems (GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C, ADC, etc.)
• Development Tools
o Installing Embedded C development environment (e.g., Keil, MPLAB X,
STM32CubeIDE, etc.)
o Basics of compiler/linker/debugger in Embedded C
o Writing, compiling, and uploading simple Embedded C programs
2. Basic Programming Concepts in C (Beginner Level)
• C Syntax
o Functions, loops (for, while, do-while)
o Conditional statements (if, else, switch-case)
o Data types: integer, char, float, double
o Operators: arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise
• Memory Management in C
o Variables and constants
o Pointers and references
o Dynamic memory allocation (malloc, free)
• Embedded-specific C features
o volatile keyword and its use in embedded systems
o Memory-mapped I/O
o Interrupts: basics and how they work
• Simple I/O Programming
o Reading input from sensors (e.g., analog or digital inputs)
o Sending output to LEDs or motors
o Using delays and timers
3. Intermediate Concepts in Embedded C
• Interfacing with Peripherals
o Digital I/O: Reading from switches and controlling LEDs
o Analog I/O: Interfacing with potentiometers, analog sensors (e.g., temperature
sensor, light sensor)
o Timers and counters: Using hardware timers for precise delays and event
counting
o UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter): Serial communication
basics
• Communication Protocols
o SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface)
o I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit)
o CAN (Controller Area Network)
o Introduction to protocols for wireless communication: UART, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
• Interrupts and Timer Interrupts
o Types of interrupts: External, internal, software interrupts
o Interrupt service routines (ISRs)
o Using timers for periodic interrupts
• Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) Introduction
o What is RTOS?
o Tasks, scheduling, and context switching
o Introduction to FreeRTOS
4. Advanced Embedded C Programming Concepts
• Advanced Memory Management
o Memory sections in Embedded systems: Flash, SRAM, and EEPROM
o Static and dynamic memory allocation
o Memory optimization in embedded systems
• Advanced Interrupt Handling
o Nested interrupts and priority handling
o Context saving and restoring in ISRs
o Interrupt debouncing techniques
• Advanced Communication Protocols
o Implementing custom communication protocols
o Interfacing with external devices (e.g., sensors, actuators, displays)
o Using DMA (Direct Memory Access) for efficient data transfer
• Power Management
o Low power modes of microcontrollers
o Power optimization techniques in Embedded C programming
• Embedded Software Development Techniques
o Modular programming and code reuse
o Debugging techniques in embedded systems
o Version control using Git
o Test-driven development (TDD) for embedded systems
5. Specialized Topics in Embedded C (Advanced)
• Advanced RTOS Concepts
o Task synchronization and communication (semaphores, queues, mutexes)
o Managing multiple tasks with priorities
o Inter-task communication using queues, mailboxes
• Embedded System Design and Architecture
o Design patterns for embedded systems
o Firmware architecture (bootloaders, application code, libraries)
o Design and testing of embedded system applications
• Embedded C for ARM Microcontrollers (e.g., STM32, NXP)
o Introduction to ARM Cortex architecture
o Writing efficient code for ARM processors
o Utilizing ARM-specific features (e.g., ARM assembly, CMSIS, peripheral libraries)
• Security in Embedded Systems
o Cryptography basics for embedded systems
o Secure boot, encryption/decryption in embedded systems
• IoT (Internet of Things) with Embedded C
o Basics of IoT
o Using Embedded C with Wi-Fi (e.g., ESP8266, ESP32) or Bluetooth (e.g., BLE)
o Cloud communication and remote monitoring with Embedded C
6. Project Work and Case Studies (Capstone Project)
• Hands-on Projects
o Project 1: Building a simple digital thermometer (using temperature sensors)
o Project 2: Building a small embedded system for home automation (e.g.,
controlling devices over the network)
o Project 3: Communication between two microcontrollers via UART/SPI/I2C
• Case Studies
o Analyzing embedded system designs used in automotive, medical, and
consumer electronics
o Debugging and optimizing embedded systems for performance
• Final Project
o Designing a complete embedded system with a user interface
o Writing production-quality code, testing, and optimization
