Course detail

Design of Embedded Systems

FIT-NAVAcad. year: 2025/2026

The themes of lectures deal with problems that must be solved by a designer during the design of components of an embedded system. Students will become acquainted with the principles of I/O bus system operation and the communication with adapters (communication with memory components, registers, interrupt request generation and its service, DMA request generation and its service). The principles of component design (synthesis) for peripheral operation control will be discussed. The laboratory tutorials will be directed towards the presentation of these principles on a computer structure in a design system environment.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Richard Růžička, Ph.D., MBA

Department

Department of Computer Systems (UPSY)

Entry knowledge

  • Knowledge of programming in an assembly language and C language, basics of VHDL.
  • Knowledge of electronic circuit principles and computer architectures.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

  • Lab experiments - 8 points.
  • Evaluated project with the defense - 17 points.
  • Written mid-term exam - 15 points.
  • Final written examination - 60 points.

Aims

To develop knowledge gained in courses from the area of computer systems construction and demonstrate these principles in the field of  embedded systems design and integration. To utilize this knowledge in the design and implementation of complex digital systems with comprehensive sequential behavior. Students will be taught how to analyze the conditions in which the equipment under design will operate and on the basis of the analysis how to identify the trade-off between price, reliability and dynamic parameters. In laboratory tutorials students will study the structure and operation principles of  embedded systems components and their design in design system environment.
  • Students will become acquainted with the principles of digital systems design with complex sequential behavior reflecting the conditions in which the application will operate.
  • They will become acquainted with tools to support designer.
  • They will learn how an implementation will be subdivided between software and hardware components.
  • They will learn how to design controllers of independently operating computer systems operating in real environment and communicating with a user or systems on higher level.

  • Student learns to design a master's work solo and as a member of a team.
  • Student learns terminology in Czech and English language.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Daniele Lacamera: Embedded Systems Architecture - Explore architectural concepts, pragmatic design patterns, and best practices to produce robust system. Packt Publishing, 2018, ISBN 978-1788832502.
Jonathan W. Valvano: Embedded Microcomputer Systems, Real Time Interfacing. Brooks/Cole, 2000, ISBN 0-534-36642-2.
Ken Arnold: Embedded Controller Hardware Design. LLH Technology Publishing, 2001, ISBN 1-878707-52-3.
Stuart R. Ball: Embedded Microprocessor Systems: Real World Design. Newnes, 2002, ISBN 0-7506-7534-9.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MITAI Master's

    specialization NSEC , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NISY up to 2020/21 , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NNET , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NMAL , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NCPS , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NHPC , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NVER , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NIDE , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NISY , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NSPE , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NEMB , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NBIO , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NSEN , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NVIZ , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NGRI , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NADE , 0 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
    specialization NISD , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization NMAT , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Richard Růžička, Ph.D., MBA
Ing. Václav Šimek

Syllabus

  1. Embedded system, design techniques, specification, embedded system requirement.
  2. Selection of an appropriate platform, microcontroller. Pros and cons of using micro-controller in various situations.Other options how to implement an embedded system.
  3. Hardware and software approach to embedded system functions.
  4. Digital inputs, binary information processing, digital outputs, two-state actuators control, extending digital inputs and outputs.
  5. Analog input and output, converters, comparators, control of analog actuators.
  6. Sensors and their interfacing to an embedded system. Modern types of sensors.
  7. Human interaction of embedded system, keyboard, status and general information visualization, LED displays, LCD character-based and graphics displays.
  8. Communication inside embedded system with multiple processors, communication with external systems, serial synchronous and asynchronous, parallel, widespread protocols, networks.
  9. System level design, design of a System on Chip (SoC).
  10. How to design and realise an embedded system on a PCB, techniqes and constraints of PCB design.
  11. Power supply and power consumption of an embedded systems. Principles and techniques of power savin.
  12. Typical software architecture of embedded system. Styles and techniques used in embedded software.
  13. Debugging and diagnostics of embedded systems.

Laboratory exercise

16 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Václav Šimek

Syllabus

  • A minimal embedded computer system with a MCU.
  • Expanding MCU outputs practically.
  • Communication between MCU and a peripheral or a sensor.
  • Push-pull driver and H-bridge control.

Project

10 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Václav Šimek

Syllabus

  • Basic design of a small embedded system.