ELC 310

Embedded Systems Design & Programming (Microcontroller-Based Industrial Applications)

This intensive hands-on course is designed to equip engineers and technicians with practical skills in embedded systems design, programming, interfacing, and troubleshooting for industrial applications.The program focuses on microcontroller-based system architecture, firmware development, hardware interfacing, debugging, and real-world industrial use cases, bridging electronics, control, and automation.Participants will design, program, test, and troubleshoot embedded systems used in industrial control, instrumentation, monitoring, and automation environments.

Duration: 5 days

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of electronics and digital systemsFamiliarity with programming fundamentals (C/C++ preferred)Ability to read basic electronic schematics

Course objectives

Understand embedded system architecture and operation
Program microcontrollers for industrial applications
Interface sensors, actuators, and industrial signals
Design and implement real-time control logic
Debug hardware and firmware issues effectively
Apply industrial communication techniques
Optimize embedded systems for reliability and performance
Deploy embedded solutions in industrial environments
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Course content

Day 1 Embedded Systems Fundamentals & Microcontroller Architecture

Overview of embedded systems in industry
Microcontroller vs microprocessor systems
Common industrial microcontrollers (AVR, PIC, ARM Cortex)
Internal architecture:
CPU core
Memory (Flash, RAM, EEPROM)
I/O ports and peripherals
Clock sources and reset circuits
Development tools and programming environments
Embedded system safety considerations

Hands-On Practical:

Identify components on a microcontroller board
Configure development environment
Write and run a basic microcontroller program
Test digital input and output pins

Day 2 Embedded Programming & Digital Interfacing

Embedded C programming concepts
GPIO configuration and control
Timing and delay generation
Interrupts and priority handling
Debouncing switches and inputs
Driving digital outputs:
LEDs
Relays
Solenoids

Hands-On Practical:

Develop firmware for digital input/output control
Implement interrupt-driven input handling
Interface relays and basic actuators
Test and debug timing-related issues

Day 3 Analog Interfacing, Sensors & Signal Conditioning

Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC)
Interfacing analog sensors:
Temperature
Pressure
Proximity
Signal conditioning techniques
PWM for actuator and motor control
DAC concepts (where applicable)
Noise reduction and filtering

Hands-On Practical:

Interface analog sensors with microcontrollers
Read and process sensor data
Generate PWM signals
Control speed or position of actuators

Day 4 Communication, Debugging & Industrial Integration

Embedded communication protocols:
UART
SPI
I²C
Introduction to industrial communication concepts
Watchdog timers and fault recovery
Debugging techniques:
Software debugging
Hardware debugging
In-circuit testing
Interfacing embedded systems with PLCs or HMIs (overview)

Hands-On Practical:

Implement serial communication
Debug communication and logic errors
Use watchdog timers for fault handling
Exchange data between embedded nodes

Day 5 Industrial Applications, Reliability & Final Project

Embedded systems in industrial automation
Power supply design and protection
EMI/ESD considerations
Reliability and fail-safe design
Documentation and version control
Maintenance and firmware updates
Real-world industrial embedded case studies

Hands-On Practical:

Design and implement a complete embedded system
Interface sensors and actuators
Test system reliability and fault response
Final embedded system project and review