Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Get Practical with Hardware from edX

Embedded systems are the fundamental building blocks of our connected world, and Arm-based devices are the industry standard. This course will provide you with the practical skills and confidence to build your own embedded system using the popular and affordable ST Nucleo F401RE development board.

You can purchase all the bill of materials required for the course directly from our technology partner STMicroelectronics: https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/campaigns/educationalplatforms/embedded-arm-edx-edu.html

Connected home appliances, biomedical devices, autonomous vehicles and IoT applications all rely on real-time operating systems (RTOS) to manage multiple digital and analog inputs, and efficient communication protocols to handle the transfer of data between peripherals and a microcontroller. By enrolling in Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Get Practical with Hardware , you will discover why these are powerful tools for any aspiring Embedded Systems designer.

You’ll begin by obtaining an understanding of the basic principles of serial data communication and learn how to implement synchronous and asynchronous serial links on the ST Nucleo F401RE board. You’ll then be introduced to the powerful multitasking capabilities of RTOS. Using this new-found knowledge, you'll discover how to manage microcontroller peripherals in a concurrent manner, utilizing threads and other RTOS capabilities.

Along the way, you'll get access to practical lab exercises using the ST Nucleo F401RE board , so you can obtain real-world experience in implementing these key concepts on an Arm-based microcontroller.

This is the 2nd course in our Embedded Systems Essentials Program. The 1st course – Embedded Systems Essentials: Getting Started – focuses on using a simulated microcontroller using the Mbed API. In this second course, you’ll get hands-on experience working with a development board building embedded systems applications, and it can be taken independently of the first.

As we continue to create increasingly complex IoT applications, driven by the advances of Artificial Intelligence and 5G, the next generation of developers will need to have a practical understanding of these processes on Arm-based microcontrollers. Upon completion of this course, you will have taken your next step into the exciting future of computing.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn key serial communication protocols used in the embedded environment including spi, uarts and i2c; evaluating their benefits and limitations.
Learn the features of a real-time operating system (rtos) and how it facilitates multitasking in an embedded system.
Develop working embedded prototypes using the arm mbed api, the st nucleo f401re board and low cost parts.
Learn hardware and software theory, immediately applied in practice.
Apply your knowledge to create a user interface, temperature sensing system, and music player - with ideas to develop each further.

Apply threads, mutex, semaphores and interrupts to write a fully-functioning multitasking program.
Learn deeper programming skills with c/c++, applying these to use of the powerful mbed api.
Learn staged circuit development and troubleshooting skills.
Experience working with component data sheets to seek out and apply essential technical detail.
Gain a firm foundation to move towards more complex programming, distributed sensing and the iot, through critical evaluation of systems developed

Learn key serial communication protocols used in the embedded environment including spi, uarts and i2c; evaluating their benefits and limitations.
Learn the features of a real-time operating system (rtos) and how it facilitates multitasking in an embedded system.
Develop working embedded prototypes using the arm mbed api, the st nucleo f401re board and low cost parts.
Learn hardware and software theory, immediately applied in practice.
Apply your knowledge to create a user interface, temperature sensing system, and music player - with ideas to develop each further.
Apply threads, mutex, semaphores and interrupts to write a fully-functioning multitasking program.
Learn deeper programming skills with c/c++, applying these to use of the powerful mbed api.
Learn staged circuit development and troubleshooting skills.
Experience working with component data sheets to seek out and apply essential technical detail.
Gain a firm foundation to move towards more complex programming, distributed sensing and the iot, through critical evaluation of systems developed

Syllabus

Introduction to Serial Communications

Understand the principles of simple serial data communication serial links using the Mbed API.

Further Serial Communications

Recognise the benefits of enhanced example serial data links and learn how to select their preferred application.

Introductory Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)

Understand the features of an RTOS and implement simple examples using Mbed.

Further RTOS

Understand and implement features of an RTOS which facilitate multitasking.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores embedded systems, essential building blocks in our connected world, and industry-standard Arm-based devices

Taught by industry experts Mark Allen and Tim Wilmshurst

Provides hands-on experience using the popular and affordable ST Nucleo F401RE development board

Develops practical skills in serial data communication, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and microcontroller peripherals

Builds a foundation for complex programming, distributed sensing, and IoT applications

Requires students to purchase a bill of materials, which may be an additional expense

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 Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Get Practical with Hardware with these activities:

Connect with professionals in the embedded systems field

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Build your network and learn from experienced professionals.

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Attend industry events and conferences
Join online communities and forums
Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn

Review syllabus and course description

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Familiarize yourself with the course content and learning objectives.

Browse courses on Embedded Systems

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Read course syllabus carefully
Identify key learning objectives
Review the course description

Practice C/C++ programming

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Strengthen your programming skills for embedded systems development.

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Solve coding challenges on online platforms
Complete coding exercises in the course material
Create small C/C++ programs to practice

One other activity

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Explore advanced RTOS concepts

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Deepen your understanding of RTOS and its applications in embedded systems.

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Find online tutorials on advanced RTOS concepts
Follow the tutorials and complete the exercises
Apply the concepts to your own projects

Career center

Learners who complete Embedded Systems Essentials with Arm: Get Practical with Hardware will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Firmware Engineer

Firmware Engineers design, develop, and maintain firmware for embedded systems. Firmware is the software that is embedded into the hardware of an embedded system. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Firmware Engineers who need to develop reliable and efficient firmware for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Firmware Engineer

Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software for embedded systems, which are computer systems designed to perform a specific function within a larger system. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Embedded Software Engineers who need to develop reliable and efficient software for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Software Engineer

Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, develop, and maintain complex systems that include embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Systems Engineers who need to develop reliable and efficient systems that include embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Hardware Engineer

Hardware Engineers design, develop, and maintain the hardware for embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Hardware Engineers who need to develop reliable and efficient hardware for embedded systems.

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Test Engineer

Test Engineers test and evaluate embedded systems to ensure that they meet requirements. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Test Engineers who need to develop reliable and efficient tests for embedded systems.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Product Managers who need to develop and launch successful products that include embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software for embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Software Developers who need to develop reliable and efficient software for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is helpful for Marketing Managers who need to develop and execute successful marketing campaigns for embedded systems.

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Computer Programmer

Computer Programmers design, develop, and maintain computer programs. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Computer Programmers who need to develop reliable and efficient computer programs for embedded systems.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate embedded systems to ensure that they meet requirements. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Quality Assurance Analysts who need to develop reliable and efficient tests for embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is helpful for Project Managers who need to manage projects that include embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts gather and analyze requirements for embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Business Analysts who need to gather and analyze requirements for embedded systems.

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Sales Engineer

Sales Engineers sell embedded systems to customers. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Sales Engineers who need to understand the features and benefits of embedded systems in order to sell them to customers.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create documentation for embedded systems. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge is essential for Technical Writers who need to create accurate and informative documentation for embedded systems.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design, develop, and maintain websites. This course provides a strong foundation in the principles of embedded systems, including serial communication protocols and real-time operating systems (RTOS). This knowledge may be helpful for Web Developers who need to develop and maintain websites that include embedded systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer