University of Essex

CE243-5-AU-CO:
C Programming and Embedded Systems

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 5

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 13 December 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 21 July 2023

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: CE150

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): CE323

Key module for

BENGH650 Computer Systems Engineering,
BENGH651 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH750 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHP50 Computer Systems Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGGH46 Computers with Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BENGGH4P Computers with Electronics,
BENGGH4Q Computers with Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BENGI1H6 Computers with Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BENGH610 Electronic Engineering,
BENGH611 Electronic Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH61P Electronic Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHP10 Electronic Engineering (Including Placement Year),
MENGH613 Electronic Engineering,
MENGH614 Electronic Engineering (Integrated Masters, Including Placement Year),
BENGH641 Communications Engineering,
BENGHP41 Communications Engineering (Including Foundation Year),
BENGHPK1 Communications Engineering (Including Placement Year),
BENGHQ41 Communications Engineering (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH01 Computing and Electronics,
BSC GH02 Computing and Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC GH03 Computing and Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BSC GH3P Computing and Electronics (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H631 Electronics,
BSC H632 Electronics (Including Year Abroad),
BSC H633 Electronics (Including Placement Year),
BENGH730 Mechatronic Systems,
BENGH731 Mechatronic Systems (Including Year Abroad),
BENGH732 Mechatronic Systems (Including Placement Year),
BENGH733 Mechatronic Systems (Including Foundation Year),
BSC H737 Mechatronics,
BSC H738 Mechatronics (including Placement Year),
BSC H739 Mechatronics (including Year Abroad)

Module description

The aims of this module are to solve engineering problems in C, programme embedded systems, control I/O and design embedded systems for real-world problems.

Module aims

This module aims to provide the practical and theoretical skills needed to use C language to program embedded microprocessors and systems.

Module learning outcomes

After completing this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Write programs in C to solve engineering problems
2. Program embedded microprocessors or microcontrollers in C
3. Define input and output modules for an embedded system
4. Design embedded systems as solutions to real-world problems

Module information

Outline Syllabus

*Introduction to the course: review of basic features of C programming language and embedded computer architectures.

*Embedded system characteristics: slow processing speed; small memory; A/D and D/A converters; digital input-output devices and communication links.

*Application domain characteristics: the complex, unpredictable and dynamic natures of engineering problems; sensor noise, timeliness, and error recovery.

*Implementation issues: modular development of embedded software and hardware; flexible configuration; multi/distributed processing; a variety of I/O devices.

Learning and teaching methods

A combination of lectures and practical labs

Bibliography

Toulson, R. and Wilmshurst, T. (2017) Fast and Effective Embedded Systems Design: Applying the ARM mbed. 2nd edn. Oxford, UK: Newnes. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/C2015-0-00101-0.
Hanly, J.R., Koffman, E.B. and Tahiliani, M.B. (2016) Problem Solving and Program Design in C. 8th Global Edition. Harlow, UK: Pearson Education. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5174400.
Kernighan, B.W. and Ritchie, D.M. (1988) The C Programming Language. 2nd edn. Englewood Cliffs, USA: Prentice Hall. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/211293.
Gookin, D. (2018) 'C Essential Training.' LinkedIn Learning. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/c-essential-training-1-the-basics/start-your-c-essential-training.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Progress Test	30%
Coursework	Assignment 1: C Programming	30%
Coursework	Assignment 2: Embedded System Programming	40%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Dr Xiaojun Zhai, email: xzhai@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Dr Xiaojun Zhai

Contact details: School Office, email: csee-schooloffice (non-Essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create full e-mail address), Telephone 01206 872770

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: No

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Shadan Khan Khattak

Institution: Cardiff Metropolitan University

Academic role: Senior Lecturer

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 62 hours, 22 (35.5%) hours available to students:
40 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

Further information

Department website: Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (School of)

Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

CE243-5-AU-CO:C Programming and Embedded Systems