Senior Capstone Design
EMB 399 is the culminating capstone design experience for students in the B.S. Embedded Systems Engineering program. This intensive 6-credit course challenges students to apply all previously acquired knowledge in embedded hardware design, software development, real-time operating systems, digital signal processing, and communication protocols to a comprehensive, real-world project. Working in small teams, students will navigate the full engineering lifecycle, from project conceptualization and requirements definition through design, implementation, testing, and documentation. The course emphasizes practical problem-solving, innovation, and adherence to industry best practices. Throughout the term, students will engage in regular design reviews, technical presentations, and prototype demonstrations, honing their communication and critical thinking skills. Project management methodologies, risk assessment, and ethical considerations in embedded systems development are integral components of the curriculum. The goal is for each team to deliver a functional embedded system prototype that addresses a specific need or problem, accompanied by comprehensive design documentation, a final report, and a professional presentation showcasing their work.
Prerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
### Course Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: * CO1: Formulate and refine engineering requirements for complex embedded systems projects. * CO2: Apply advanced embedded hardware and software design principles to develop innovative solutions. * CO3: Implement effective project management techniques, including planning, scheduling, and risk mitigation. * CO4: Design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret results to evaluate system performance. * CO5: Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, contributing to all phases of a design project. * CO6: Communicate technical information clearly and professionally through written reports, presentations, and demonstrations. * CO7: Address ethical, social, and economic implications in the design and deployment of embedded systems. ### Weekly Topic List * Week 1: Introduction to Capstone Projects; Team Formation & Project Selection * Week 2: Requirements Analysis & Specification; Project Planning & Management Tools * Week 3: Embedded Hardware Architecture Design & Component Selection * Week 4: Software Design Methodologies for Embedded Systems; RTOS Integration * Week 5: Prototyping & PCB Design Considerations; Initial Hardware Build * Week 6: Firmware Development & Debugging Techniques * Week 7: Sensor Integration & Data Acquisition; Communication Protocols * Week 8: Control Systems Design for Embedded Applications * Week 9: Testing & Validation Strategies; Unit & Integration Testing * Week 10: User Interface Design & HMI for Embedded Systems * Week 11: Power Management & Optimization; Reliability & Maintainability * Week 12: Ethical Hacking & Cybersecurity in Embedded Systems * Week 13: Comprehensive Midterm Review; Project Progress Presentations * Week 14: Final Review; Project Demonstrations & Final Report Submission ### Grading Policy * Knowledge Checks: 15% * Assignments/Labs: 30% * Quizzes: 25% * Final Exam: 30% ### Required Materials * Textbook: *Embedded Systems Design: A Unified Hardware/Software Introduction* by Frank Vahid and Tony Givargis (current edition) * Online access to course learning management system (LMS) * Integrated Development Environment (IDE) compatible with chosen microcontrollers (e.g., Keil uVision, VS Code with PlatformIO, MPLAB X) * Hardware prototyping kits (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi, custom PCB components) as specified by project needs * Simulation software (e.g., Proteus, LTSpice) * Project Management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)