Incorporating Large-Scale Projects into a Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Embedded Systems*

Embedded computer systems play an increasingly important role in today’s society. In order to adequately prepare today’s computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering students for their future careers, the special problems with embedded systems development must be adequately addressed in their education. VESL (Visions for Embedded Systems Laboratories) is a project that is designed to address the needs in undergraduate computer science and engineering education. The project develops a multi-pronged approach to bringing embedded systems into undergraduate education. The approach comprised modular course pack development, suitable for alternative teaching models, such as team teaching and development of multi-disciplinary course; team projects to give students hand-on experience with embedded systems; and incorporation of innovative teaching techniques designed to facilitate and enhance the student’s learning experience. The multi-pronged approach has been applied and specifically incorporated embedded systems into a suite of relevant courses: software engineering, operating systems, digital system design, and computer system design. This paper reports the concept and practice of introducing objective-oriented modeling to embedded systems development and the application of digital systems design to embedded systems. Students have enthusiastically embraced the courses, citing both the teaming and design projects as being representative of realword industry experience.