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Embedded System Design

Mini-Project

Introduction:

Design is an extremely important part of the curriculum virtually every employer of

engineering graduates is interested in the nature and extent of design projects completed by

their potential employees. In courses such as Microprocessor System (ECE 521), it is therefore

essential that students have the opportunity to complete open-ended, design-oriented

exercises. This Mini-Project represents our effort to provide such an opportunity.

From a pedagogical point of view, this project is based on the premise:

The best way to learn about a topic is to write your own question and then proceed to answer it.

In other words, the process of formulating questions and exploring alternate solutions can

help elucidate difficult concepts. To provide as much flexibility as possible concerning

potential topics you may wish to explore, a wide range of Mini-Projects may be completed.

Mini-Project Functional Requirements:

The basic requirement is to design your own embedded system that makes meaningful (and

hopefully creative) use of the MCU 8051 resources in particular, the I/O peripherals (latches

and buffers) should be effectively utilized. Also, your project must operate in a turn-key

fashion, i.e., your code should be stored in the ROM and start up directly out of reset (or

automatically when powered up). Finally, the project should be stand-alone (self-contained)

any interface hardware required should be packaged appropriately. All components used

must be supplied by your team.

Mini-Project Report Requirements:

The core of your written report should be approximately 10 pages in length and printed in

point size 12 with one-and-a-half spacing. Your report should be organized as listed below:

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction and Project Objectives

a functional description of your project and its objectives together with the role

played by each team member.Section 2: System Description and Operation

a description of the system and its operation and reasons for the external interfaces

being implemented.

Section 3: Project Scope

a description of what are the tasks/work involved in implementing the mini-project.

Section 4: Hardware Design

a description of the hardware modules developed along with a narrative of how

your hardware works in detail.

Section 5: Software Designa description of the software developed for the mini-project, complete with correct

flowchart and detailed explanation of the program

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Section 6: Testing and Debugging

a description of the testing methods used to determine the functionality of the mini-

project and the problems faced during the designing process. Describe the solutions

taken to resolve the problems encountered during project implementation.

Section 7: Results

a description showing and demonstrating the full system operation of the mini-

project.

Section 8: Conclusions and Recommendations

Section 9: List of References (URLs, data sheets, application notes, etc.)

Appendix A: Activity Logs/Log Book

Appendix B: Interface Schematics/Pictures of the Mini-Project

Appendix C: Software Listings

Mini-Project Presentation and Report Submission:

Respective lecturers will send their student names (in their respective groups) to the course

coordinator. The coordinator will produce a schedule regarding the presentation and paste it

at the presentation venues (around the labs at level 7). The evaluation panels for the

presentation may or may not be revealed.

Report is due at the time of project demonstration.

Each group will only take up about 20 minutes to present their Mini-Project. Make use of

the Power-point package to do this presentation.

Please be ready to demonstrate the Mini-Project to the panels after the presentation.

Team Responsibilities:While the team of three or four members work together in order to complete the project, each

member of the team is to play a specific role. Specific responsibilities are outlined below:

Role Responsibility Tasks Document Section:

ROLE RESPONSIBILITY TASKS DOCUMENT SECTION

Team

Leader

Overall team

coordination,final editing of

documentation

submitted,

product packaging

Delegation of tasks, planning

of team time, acquisition ofresources, editing report

sections together, citing

references, assisting with

debugging of hardware and

software, packaging project

Introduction, Packaging,

Summary/Conclusions,Activity Logs (Log Book),

Packaging

Software

Leader

Overall software

planning

and development

Coding (with comments) and

debugging

Software, Solution Source

File

Hardware

Leader

Interface hardware,

including ExpressPCB

schematic

Schematic entry (ExpressPCB),

interface hardware construction

Interfacing, Schematic

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Testing

Leader

Peripheral module

utilization,

initialization,

and device drivers

Coding (with comments) and

debugging

Peripherals, Solution

Source File

The above itemized tasks are to help balance and distribute responsibility for the project.

Being the software leader, for example, means that you are to take the lead in planning,

writing, and integrating the software. It does not necessarily mean that you are the only one

developing and debugging the software, however. You may be working closely with

Hardware and Testing leaders.

Mini-Project Titles:

As a way to promote creativity and self-learning, students are allowed to come forward with

their own ideas on the Mini-Project titles. Based on past experiences, many students have

difficulties or failed to make their Mini-Project work fully.

There are various aspects that need to be considered when choosing a title, but the following

issues will help:-

1. Level of difficulty. Try to do a project that is of moderate difficulty. The aim here is to

build something will work in the end.

2. Cost consideration. The items need to be bought are costly, further more if they are

destroyed during the process of implementation.

3. Time limit. Projects need to be completed on time. So careful planning is required.

4. Other courses work load. At the end of the semester, there are huge amount of work to be

completed, so avoid starting work late.5.

Any dispute between members in a group must be settled quickly.

6. Make sure to discuss with the lecturer if encounter with something that is unclear.

7. Make sure to record everything in a log book. The log book will become as evidence that

work is done.

8.

Always talk to the lecturer. This will help a lot.

The mini project must consist of input and output devices. The following table shows some of

the commonly used devices. Use these devices to build something out of your own idea. Then

write a proposal and hand it to your lecturer.Input devices Output devices

1. Switches (Toggle or Push-button) 1. Liquid Crystal Display Unit (16 characters, 2 lines)

2. Sensors (replaced by switches to simulate)

- Temperature Sensor

- Heat Sensor

- Infrared Sensor - etc.

2. Seven segment display unit

3. Analog to Digital (ADC) Converter (8 bit) 3. Light Emitting Diodes

4. Keypad (3x4) or (4x4) 4. Dot Matrix LEDs (7x5)

5. Motor (DC)6. Buzzer

7. Digital to Analog (ADC) converter (8 bit)

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Suggestions for Possible Ideas:

Meaningful, significant extensions to the last set of mini-projects are potential ideas:

Queuing System - the system provides several switches for the service counters and

customers. The display will direct the customers to the respective counters.

Digital Volt Meter have the capability to measure the voltage and display it on the LCD.

May include a beep sound when displayis ready.

Reaction Timer able to measure the reaction time of a person. May have some memory

storage to store the times for the person under test.

Motor Speed Control able to control the speed of a motor via a potentiometer. The display

shows the speed of the motor.

Coin Dispenser Machine able to dispense coins as required by the customer. The display

shows the coins domination dispensed.

Keyless Entry able to control the opening and closing of a door.

Additional Hardware Suggestions:

There is a target board available in the lab for your use to test the software before you built

your own hardware. Most of the input and output devices commonly used in Mini-Project are

available on the target board.

If the design of your project requires hardware, here is a suggestion of resources:

1.

RS Components, Lot 12, Jalan Pensyarah U1/28, Seksyen U1,

Hicom Glenmarie Industrial Park, Shah Alam, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor

2. Electronics shops around Jalan Pasar and Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.

Careful planning and providing plenty of lead time is the key to a successful project.

17 February 2015

Mohd Uzir Kamaluddin