4.5
stars
419 ratings

Alex Fosdick

35,456 already enrolled

Offered By

Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture

University of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture is a first dive into understanding embedded architectures and writing software to manipulate this hardware. You will gain experience writing low-level firmware to directly interface hardware with highly efficient, readable and portable design practices. We will now transition from the Host Linux Machine where we built and ran code in a simulated environment to an Integrated Development Environment where you will build and install code directly on your ARM Cortex-M4 Microcontroller. Course assignments include writing firmware to interact and configure both the underlying ARM architecture and the MSP432 microcontroller platform. The course concludes with a project where you will develop a circular buffer data structure. 
In this course you will need the Texas Instruments LaunchPad with the MSP432 microcontroller in order to complete the assignments. Later courses of the Specialization will continue to use this hardware tool to develop even more exciting firmware.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 4 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 4 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.64/5 (128 Ratings)

Alex Fosdick

Instructor

Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering

112,040 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Interfacing C-Programs with ARM Core Microcontrollers

Module 1 will introduce the learner to how software/firmware can interface with an embedded platform and the underlying processor architecture. Embedded Software engineers must be very knowledgeable about the architecture in order to write efficient and bug free code. This requires knowledge of processor architecture. memory systems, microcontroller peripherals and more advanced use of the compiler. This module will continue to enforce good software design techniques with a focus on portability and maintainability without reducing your hardware’s performance.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 69 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Manipulating Memory

Module 2 will introduce the learner to more advanced firmware techniques as well move us into some hands on firmware for the microcontroller. We start by building our own memory access methods that will allow a programmer to manipulate peripheral memory bit fields to configure microcontroller peripherals and core architecture concepts. This will include more complex use of pointers for register definition files and function pointers for interrupt vector tables The module concludes with an in-depth look into the features of on-target debugging on a microcontroller and a hands-on example.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 64 min)

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Designing Embedded Data Structures

Module 3 will introduce the learner to efficient and maintainable ways of organizing data. Most microcontroller programs require some use of structured data in order to track and manipulate the control flow or data in a program. These can be as simple as unions, enumerations or structures, but can be more complex with the use of abstract data structures. While abstract data structures are often discussed in higher level software, there are many simple examples that are used frequently in embedded system software.

1 hour to complete

8 videos (Total 57 min)

Reviews

4.5

96 reviews

5 stars
68.88%
4 stars
19.95%
3 stars
7.12%
2 stars
2.13%
1 star
1.90%

TOP REVIEWS FROM EMBEDDED SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE

by MBOct 11, 2020

I like, very interesting to aboard a good firmware development in microcontrollers

by SAApr 19, 2020

Excellent course for the introduction of ARM Cortex Architecture. It gave me insight on Micro-controller inter routines.

by HKJul 27, 2019

The perfect building of concepts by Mr. Alex. If you want to get your basics strong, this is the course you need to attend.

by PUSep 7, 2020

This is a very wonderful course. The instruction was perfectly delivered, and I can see myself going places with what I have learned here so far.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture

Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture

About this Course