Course Focus

Realizing the growth of embedded systems in day-to-day life and the need for trained manpower in this promising area, C-DAC has launched a Diploma in Embedded Systems Design (DESD) for Engineers in computers, electronics and IT. Embedded Systems is a unique field, where engineers need to have sound knowledge in hardware and software design. Keeping this aspect in view, C-DAC has designed the diploma giving equal emphasis to hardware and software, enabling engineers to face challenges in the design and development of state of the art embedded systems. The latest curriculum includes a module on wireless embedded systems design, specifically focusing on wireless technologies and Wireless Sensor Networks  (WSN).

Course Structure

Diploma in Embedded Systems Design (DESD) is a 22 weeks full-time course consisting of 7 modules, an industry relevant project and a seminar. Daily sessions comprise two hours of lecture followed by four hours of lab work.

DESD Course Syllabus

Programming Concepts and Data Communication

• Review of C Programming
• Data Structures
• Introduction to UML
• Software Life Cycle Models
• Embedded Systems Design, Implementation and Testing
• Project Management
• Overview of Networking and Packet Switching Concepts
• OSI Reference Model and TCP/IP Protocol Suite
• LAN Protocol Suite
• Application Layer Protocols
• Embedded Network Protocols: Issues and Applications
• Security Issues in Embedded Systems
• Video and Audio Standards

Real-time Operating Systems

• Introduction to OS
• Process Management and Inter Process Communication
• Memory management
• I/O subsystem
• File System Organization
• POSIX Thread Programming
• Introduction to Real-Time / Embedded Operating Systems
• Real Time Scheduling
• Performance Metrics of RTOS
• Linux and RTLinux Internals
• Programming in Linux and RTLinux
• Configuring and Compiling RTLinux
• Overview of other RTOS / EOSs

Embedded Systems Programming

• Embedded Systems Design Issues
• Challenges and Trends in Embedded Systems
• Assemblers, Compilers, Linkers, Loaders, Debuggers
• Profilers and Test Coverage Tools
• Utilities like make, ranlib, objcopy and objdump
• Configuring and Building GNU Cross-Toolchain
• Building RTOS / EOS Image for Target Hardware
• Porting RTOS and Embedded Operating Systems
• Writing Time and Space Sensitive Programs
• Writing Device Drivers

8/16/32 bit Microcontrollers and Interfacing

• RISC / CISC and Harvard / Princeton Architectures
• Types of Memories
• Introduction to 8-bit Microcontrollers
• Timers / Counters, UART, SPI, PWM, WDT, Input Capture
• Output Compare Modes, I2C, CAN
• LED, Switches, ADC, DAC, LCD, RTC
• Emerging Bus Standards (USB, Compact PCI)
• Programming in Assembly and C (GNU Tools)
• Introduction to 16 / 32-bit Processors
• ARM Architecture and Organization
• ARM/THUMB Programming Model
• ARM/THUMB Instruction Set
• ARM Exception Handling
• ARM/THUMB Assembly and C Programming (GNU Tools)
• ARM/THUMB Interworking

Digital Signal Processing

• Fundamentals of Digital Signal Processing
• Algorithm implementation using DSP
• Digital Signal Processor Architecture
• DSP based software development tools
• Code optimization and Debugging
• DSP based embedded system design process
• Real time DSP applications

Wireless Technologies and Mobile Programming

• Wireless LAN : 802.11 & WiMAX
• RFID & Bluetooth
• GSM & GPRS
• Mobile Development Platforms (Android, Symbian, OpenMoko, J2ME)
• Mobile Programming Languages
• Design & Development of Mobile User Interfaces
• Mobile Application Development & Debugging
• Mobile WiFi and Bluetooth Applications
• Mobile Location Based Services

Project and Seminar

• The students are assigned a project work for the duration of one month. Also, as a part of the curriculum, they are required to give a seminar on a topic relevant to the Embedded Systems Design. Special credit is given for the project work and seminar.