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A Hands-on Introduction to Embedded Systems & IoT

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Conference

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Location

Virtual On line

Publication Date

June 22, 2020

Start Date

June 22, 2020

End Date

June 26, 2021

Conference Session

Embedded Systems and Cybersecurity in ECE

Tagged Division

Electrical and Computer

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--34006

Permanent URL

https://sftp.asee.org/34006

Download Count

1887

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Paper Authors

biography

James Peyton Jones Villanova University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0001-7820-3893

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James Peyton Jones is a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and a member of the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics and Control at Villanova University.

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Abstract

Traditional curricula often teach low-level fundamentals of digital logic before introducing students to the ‘higher-level’ topics of microprocessors and the Internet Of Things (IOT). An alternative and potentially more motivating approach is to reverse this sequence. This paper describes the design of a new hardware kit and sequence of laboratory exercises which aim to give students hands-on experience with Embedded systems and IOT at an early stage in their academic careers. The kit is based on a low-cost, wireless-networked, 32-bit ARM microcontroller with integrated Cloud support. The sequence of lab exercises which build incrementally on one another is described in detail, and the experience gained running them for the first time is reported. Outcomes relate to the ability to extend knowledge from an associated lecture course in order to apply, analyze and create embedded / IOT solutions to practical engineering problems. Rubric-based assessment demonstrates that the large majority (>90%) of the class met these outcomes. A further outcome relates to improved motivation and learning through reversing the traditional course sequence. Assessment of this outcome is still a work in progress but initial survey results are encouraging and show that the course was well received.

Peyton Jones, J. (2020, June), A Hands-on Introduction to Embedded Systems & IoT Paper presented at 2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual On line . 10.18260/1-2--34006

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