Programming for the Internet of Things Project from Coursera

In this Capstone course, you will design a microcontroller-based embedded system. As an option, you can also build and test a system. The focus of your project will be to design the system so that it can be built on a low-cost budget for a real-world application. To complete this project you'll need to use all the skills you've learned in the course (programming microcontrollers, system design, interfacing, etc.). The project will include some core requirements, but leave room for your creativity in how you approach the project. In the end, you will produce a unique final project, suitable for showcasing to future potential employers.

Note that for the three required assignments you do NOT need to purchase software and hardware to complete this course. There is an optional fourth assignment for students who wish to build and demonstrate their system using an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. Please also note that this course does not include discussion forums.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Write a requirements specification document

2. Create a system-level design

3. Explore design options

4. Create a test plan

What's inside

Syllabus

Get Started

This section will answer questions you might have about the project assignment, the grading rubric, and what you can expect in the upcoming weeks together.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches skills that are commercially viable in the electronics industry's current employment market

Helps learners build a microcontroller-based embedded system from start to finish, including design, programming, and testing

Develops skills in microcontroller programming, system design, and interfacing

Taught by Ian Harris, who is recognized for their work in embedded systems

Requires having access to specialized equipment to fully complete the course's assignments and hands-on demonstrations

Reviews summary

Iot project design capstone

According to learners, this course serves as a practical capstone project where they apply skills learned in the specialization. Students find the emphasis on the design process, including creating requirements specifications and test plans, to be valuable and reflective of real-world engineering practices. Many appreciate the opportunity to create a portfolio-ready project suitable for showcasing to potential employers. A notable point is that the hands-on building component is optional, requiring external hardware purchases if pursued. Some students highlight the lack of discussion forums as a challenge for getting support.

Hands-on building is not required.

"It was great that building was optional; I focused on the design."

"I chose the optional build and loved seeing my design come to life."

"Be aware the hands-on part requires buying hardware."

"The flexibility to focus on design or build was a plus."

Assumes knowledge from prior courses.

"Make sure you've completed the prerequisite courses first."

"The course assumes you know programming and interfacing."

"Not suitable if you haven't taken the earlier modules in the specialization."

"You really need the foundation from the previous courses to succeed."

Emphasizes requirements, system design, testing.

"I appreciated learning the structured process for requirements and design."

"The focus on documentation felt practical for real engineering work."

"It's more about planning the project than the nitty-gritty coding."

"Understanding how to develop a solid test plan was very helpful."

Creates a project suitable for employers.

"My final project is something I can confidently show recruiters."

"Building this project helped me consolidate my skills for job interviews."

"The capstone provided a concrete example of my ability to design a system."

"This course is great for creating a tangible deliverable for your resume."

Support options are limited.

"It was challenging without a forum to ask peers questions."

"Missed having a community space to troubleshoot issues."

"Had to rely on external resources for help with specific problems."

"Lack of interaction with other students was a drawback."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Programming for the Internet of Things Project with these activities:

Review system-level design concepts

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Make sure that you fully grasp system-level design concepts.

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Review your notes from a prior course
Check if you still have access to your textbook or find suitable online documentation
Identify the key concepts of system-level design
Make sure you understand how these concepts are applied in practice

Review microcontroller programming

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Begin by looking at microcontroller programming concepts and best practices.

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Review your notes from a prior course
If missing, go back over your textbook or review suitable online documentation

Complete practice problems on system-level design

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Solidify your understanding of system-level design concepts by working through practice problems.

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Find a website or book with practice problems on system-level design
Spend time each day working through some problems
Review the solutions to the problems

Six other activities

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Follow tutorials on how to build a specific embedded system

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Following tutorials will expose you to different ideas and approaches.

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Search for tutorials on how to build a specific embedded system that you are interested in
Follow the steps in the tutorial carefully
If you get stuck, ask for help in the discussion forum

Join a study group to discuss the course material

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Study groups are a great way to learn from others and solidify your understanding.

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Find other students who are taking the course
Form a study group and meet regularly to discuss the material
Take turns leading the discussions and presenting your understanding of the material

Work through Arduino programming exercises

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Working through exercises will help you to develop your proficiency with Arduino programming.

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Find a website or book with Arduino practice exercises
Spend time each day working through some exercises
Don't forget to push your code to your online repository

Prepare for the final project by experimenting with different sensors

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Experimentation will deepen your understanding of sensors.

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Identify the types of sensors you are interested in working with
Do some research on how to use these sensors with microcontrollers
Set up a breadboard and start experimenting
Record your results and observations

Design a simple embedded system using a microcontroller

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Challenge yourself by designing a simple embedded system.

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Brainstorm a few ideas for your design
Select the microcontroller and other components you will need
Create a schematic of your design
Write the code for your system
Test your system and make any necessary changes

Write a blog article on embedded system design

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Writing an article will provide you with a deeper understanding of embedded system design.

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Choose a topic that you are interested in
Do some research on the topic
Write a clear and concise article
Share your article with others

Career center

Learners who complete Programming for the Internet of Things Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs, develops, and tests complex systems, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of embedded systems, including system design, interfacing, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

University Professor

A University Professor teaches and conducts research on embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for University Professor

Firmware Engineer

A Firmware Engineer designs, develops, and tests firmware for embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of embedded systems, including microcontroller programming, system design, and interfacing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Firmware Engineer

Embedded Software Engineer

An Embedded Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software for embedded systems, which are computer systems designed to perform specific functions in electronic devices. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of embedded systems, including microcontroller programming, system design, and interfacing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Software Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineer

A Quality Assurance Engineer develops and executes test plans to verify the functionality of embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of test plans for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Engineer

Hardware Engineer

A Hardware Engineer designs, develops, and tests hardware for electronic devices. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of embedded systems, including hardware interfacing and system design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Engineer

Test Engineer

A Test Engineer develops and executes test plans to verify the functionality of embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it covers the design and implementation of test plans for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Engineer

Research Scientist

A Research Scientist conducts research and development on new technologies, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. While this course focuses on embedded systems, the skills learned in this course, such as programming, system design, and testing, can be applied to software development in general.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Product Manager

A Product Manager plans and manages the development of new products, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates and maintains documentation for embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and manages the development of new products, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst gathers and analyzes requirements for new products, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

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Sales Engineer

A Sales Engineer sells and supports embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Engineer

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager plans and manages the marketing of new products, including embedded systems. This course may be useful for individuals in this role as it provides an overview of the design and implementation of embedded systems, including requirements gathering, system design, and testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager