These are the expected learning outcomes for each of the assignments. They are subject to change for future assignments.

As1: Reaction Game (Hello-World)

• Setup host development environment
  • Linux skills to configure host for cross-compile
  • Linux skills to access target from host (SSH & serial)
  • Linux skills to access host's files from target (NFS)
  • Efficiently write, compile, deploy and test a C program
• Target customization
  • Create script to easily mount NFS
  • Change Linux welcome message for SSH
  • Change device hostname
  • Run program on log-in
• Programming skills and tools
  • Write a C program to coordinate hardware inputs, and hardware outputs
  • Write a C program to manage time: track time passing, pause for a duration of time
  • Write multi-file C program with separation between application and hardware-specific code
  • Use CMake to organize and cross-compile a C application
• Embedded system: Access hardware
  • Use LEDs via the Linux interface.
  • Use I2C to communicate with ADC chip.
  • Interact with ADC chip to read joystick and process readings.

As2: Light Dip (Linux)

• Programming skills and tools
  • Create application with modular architecture; provide clear high-level module interfaces which encapsulate implementation details inside cohesive modules
  • Write multithreaded application with thread safe memory access
  • Dynamically allocate, use, and free memory with pointers
  • Use Valgrind to check for memory leaks, invalid memory access, and unfreed memory on exit
  • Use network to support receiving commands and replying to commands
  • Correct use of static functions for internally linked functions
  • Write clean C (or C++/Rust) code: consistent naming, clear formatting, easy to read logic
  • Cross-debugging a simple program using GNU Debugger's command-line
• Embedded system: Analysis and design skills
  • Design a state machine to handle a rotary encoder
  • Analyze real-time data (detect light-dips)
  • Analyze timing jitter in different real-time parts of the application
  • Understand use of a light detector
• Embedded system: Linux
  • Configure I2C devices
  • Configure A2D devices
  • Configure SPI devices
• Embedded system: Access hardware
  • Implement code to write text to the LCD
  • Implement and debug a state machine to handle a rotary encoder
  • Read A2D sensors (light intensity)
  • Control I2C device (14-seg display)

As3: Beat-box

• Programming skills and tools
  • Create modular multithreadded application
  • Read and access PCM audio data from file
  • Generate low-level audio output to ALSA in real-time by manually mixing PCM data
  • Respond to real-time events (time, network, and user input) to trigger events (play sound)
  • Modify and serve an embedded Node.js web page to report device status and control device functionality via network interface
  • Use Valgrind to check for correct memory access
  • Cross-compiling an application to use ALSA
• Embedded system: Analysis and design skills
  • Mix PCM sound data to build real-time audio output frames
  • Respond to real-time inputs
  • Debounce noisy inputs
  • Read an I2C part's datasheet to understand how to control it
• Embedded system: Linux
  • Configure BBG to load audio drivers
  • Use ALSA configurations and programs setup and test audio output
• Embedded system: Access hardware
  • Audio output
  • Read real-time data from I2C device (accelerometer)

As4: R5 + Linux = Find the Dot

• Programming skills and tools
  • Create a good abstraction for the app to work with decoupled from accessing the LED strip.
  • Design good architecture to track physical state of board along with game state.
• Embedded system: Analysis and design skills.
  • Translating accelerometer data into information about which way the board is pointing in multiple dimensions.
• Embedded system: Linux
  • Use shared memory between the Linux and R5 applications.
  • Correct use of synchronization for sharing access to data structures between Linux and R5 processors.
• Embedded system: Access hardware
  • Correct approach to bit-bang the LED strip protocol, based on sample code.
  • Understand LED strip colours, brightness, and how to control each LED.
  • Accurate and timely reading of the accelerometer.
  • Correct integration of LCD output.