Embedded Systems Engineer Intern

Objective: In this task, you will focus on the planning and strategy aspect of embedded system design. Your goal is to define the requirements for a hypothetical embedded device (e.g., a smart home sensor) and create a detailed block diagram that outlines the major components and their interactions. This task emphasizes understanding system requirements, effective planning, and clear communication of system architecture.

Expected Deliverables: You must submit one file (in PDF format) that includes:

• A written description of the system requirements for the selected embedded device.
• A comprehensive block diagram detailing the hardware and software components and their interactions.
• Supporting explanations for the design choices and how they meet the overall system objectives.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

1. Identify a practical embedded system application (e.g., environment monitor, smart sensor, or wearable device). Clearly state the intended functionality and performance expectations.
2. Conduct a thorough analysis to define system requirements including input/output specifications, communication interfaces, power management, and any real-time constraints.
3. Design a block diagram that represents each component of the system (such as microcontroller, sensors, communication modules, power supply, etc.).
4. Provide detailed explanations for each component choice and illustrate how they integrate into the overall system.
5. Ensure that your final document is well-organized with sections for introduction, methodology, design, and conclusions.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Completeness and clarity of the system requirements analysis.
• Accuracy and detail in the block diagram presentation.
• Quality of explanations and justification of design choices.
• Overall organization, professionalism, and readability of the submitted PDF file.
• The task should reflect that you have spent around 30-35 hours on the work.

Objective: This task emphasizes code development and hands-on implementation for an embedded system. You are required to design and implement firmware on a simulated embedded system (for instance, programming a digital LED controller that uses timer interrupts or UART communication). The task is geared to enhance your firmware coding, debugging, and documentation skills.

Expected Deliverables: Submit one file containing all your code (preferably in a structured format such as a single .c file) along with inline comments and a brief README (either embedded at the top of the code or in a separate text file) that explains the functionality of your code and how to compile or simulate it.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

1. Select a simple yet relevant firmware application (e.g., LED blinking using timer interrupts, UART communication, or sensor data reading).
2. Plan the firmware architecture: define the key functions, interrupts, and communication routines.
3. Code the firmware, ensuring to include hardware-specific functionalities (simulate them if necessary) and provide thorough inline documentation.
4. Test your code using either a simulation tool or on your own hardware setup if available. Capture and document the testing process.
5. Include a README section that outlines steps to compile/run the code and explains the key functions implemented.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Correctness and functionality of the firmware implementation.
• Quality and clarity of inline code comments and documentation.
• Demonstration of a methodical development process including testing feedback.
• Overall presentation and organization of the code file.
• The submitted work should reflect approximately 30-35 hours of dedicated effort.

Objective: In this task, you will delve into debugging techniques and optimization strategies within an embedded systems context. The purpose is to enhance your ability to troubleshoot firmware issues and optimize system performance. You will simulate real-world debugging by identifying errors, implementing fixes, and optimizing the code for better performance.

Expected Deliverables: Submit one detailed report file (in PDF format) that includes:

• An explanation of the debugging process you followed.
• The identified issues within your firmware or a sample embedded application.
• A revised version of the code addressing the identified issues, including performance optimization improvements.
• Validation results (such as performance metrics, timing charts, or any relevant debug logs).

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

1. Choose a code sample from your previous or a similar embedded system project that contains intentional or common bugs (or simulate bugs if required).
2. Systematically apply debugging techniques (use debugging tools, logging methods, or simulations) to identify fault points in your code.
3. Optimize the code to improve performance, reducing execution time or memory footprint as applicable.
4. Document each step of your debugging and optimization process with detailed explanations and screenshots or logs if available.
5. Synthesize your findings, revisions, and performance improvements into a comprehensive PDF report.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Depth and clarity of the debugging process description.
• Effectiveness of the code optimizations and fixes implemented.
• Quality of performance measurements and validation results.
• Overall professionalism and organization of the final report.
• Evidence of approximately 30-35 hours of analytic and practical work.

Objective: The final task focuses on integrating multiple components in an embedded system and conducting thorough system-level testing. You will combine hardware interfacing code, firmware routines, and debugging techniques to assemble a complete embedded system model. The aim is to simulate the final stage of development where integration issues are resolved and system performance is validated against the initial requirements.

Expected Deliverables: Submit one comprehensive deliverable (in PDF format) that includes:

• An integration report detailing the process of combining various modules (from your previous tasks or newly developed modules).
• Test cases and results verifying that the integrated system meets the defined requirements.
• A section describing any integration challenges and how they were overcome.
• Supporting code excerpts or configuration files as evidence of integration, referenced in your report.

Key Steps to Complete the Task:

1. Review the individual modules (hardware interface, firmware code, debugging logs) you have developed in previous weeks.
2. Plan the integration strategy by mapping out how these modules will interact within a full system context.
3. Implement the integration in a simulated environment or using available development tools, ensuring smooth module communication.
4. Create a suite of tests (manual or automated) to validate that all requirements are met and document the testing process.
5. Compile your process, challenges, test strategies, and results into a detailed final testing report in PDF format.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Coherence and clarity of the integration strategy outlined in the report.
• Effectiveness and thoroughness of the testing process and test cases presented.
• Quality of the documented integration challenges and corresponding solutions.
• Inclusion of relevant code excerpts or configurations as supporting material.
• The overall submission should clearly reflect around 30-35 hours of comprehensive work.