Increase Student Project Outcome In Embedded System Course Through Design Competition

In 2007, an upper division elective course in embedded systems at the University of Tennessee at Martin was switched from the Intel 8085 to the ATMEL AVR microcontroller. The objective is to teach students how to design a hardware interface and to write firmware for the new processor using C and assembly languages. Conventionally, the majority of engineering courses revolve around the analytical analysis of real world problems and challenges; however, there is a need to address certain aspects of real world problem-solving that extends beyond what is covered within traditional written analysis based courses. The ENGR460 class has created an alternate approach to develop such skills, by creating a challenging and motivating learning environment. The first half of the course consists of lectures covering basic microcontroller functions and sensors, with corresponding labs each week. Examples of sensors that students explored in the lab include ultrasonic rangefinder, RFID reader, and accelerometer. This is all preparatory for the second half of the semester in which students pursue a final project based on their interests. This final project encompasses various aspects of engineering including design, fabrication, implementation, debugging, project management, and public presentation. At the end of the semester, students are required to present their products in an annual competition presented to their peers on the campus. This helps to complement the traditional written exam by providing the students with invaluable hands-on experience which prepares students to be competitive after graduation.