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Unit outline_

ELEC9607: Embedded Systems

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The aim of this unit of study is to teach students about microprocessors and their use. This includes architecture, programming and interfacing of microcomputers, peripheral devices and chips, data acquisition, device monitoring and control and communications.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ELEC5741
Assumed knowledge
? 

Logic operations, theorems and Boolean algebra, data representation, number operations (binary, hex, integers and floating point), combinational logic analysis and synthesis, sequential logic, registers, counters, bus systems, state machines, simple CAD tools for logic design, basic computer organisation, the CPU, peripheral devices, software organisation, machine language, assembly language, operating systems, data communications and computer networks

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator David Boland, david.boland@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Philip Heng Wai Leong, philip.leong@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Wenjie Zhou, wenjie.zhou@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Exam
Final Exam
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Small continuous assessment Prelab work and in-lab demonstrations
Weekly progress in lab experiments
20% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO4 LO2
Assignment Milestone 1
Report and artifacts
5% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2023 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Milestone 2
Report and artifacts
15% Week 09
Due date: 28 Apr 2023 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO6
Assignment Milestone 3
Report and artifacts
20% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2023 at 23:59
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Assessment summary

20% Prelab work and in-lab demonstrations

20% Assignment (design and demonstration)

40% Assignment Report

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% penalty for each day up to a maximum of 10 days

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 02 Memory Mapped Peripherals Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Serial Interfaces Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 04 Emulation and Cross Compilation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 05 Operating Systems Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Interrupts and DMA Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Digital Interfacing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Analog Interfacing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 High Speed Effects Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Printed Circuit Boards Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Device Drivers Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Assembly Language Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Case Studies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. maintain professional records and documentation of the work performed by keeping a laboratory log book with specific information on problem solving activities
  • LO2. work in a team by participating and engaging constructively with other team members, drawing on their specific knowledge and abilities, and encouraging group dynamics and harmony in solving specific engineering problems
  • LO3. solve problems by undertaking investigation and solution formulation and then using a clearly defined approach for specific microcomputer problems
  • LO4. demonstrate understanding of the tenets and concepts of the microcomputer
  • LO5. apply microcomputer concepts, principles and techniques to various engineering specific applications, to the extent of the material presented throughout the course
  • LO6. demonstrate an understanding of microprocessor data sheets by identifying their structure and format and gauging the context of their data
  • LO7. demonstrate an understanding of the concepts in digital systems fundamentals.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No significant changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.