525.743.8vL - Embedded Systems Development Lab

Electrical and Computer Engineering
Fall 2024

Description

This project-based laboratory course involves the development of embedded system prototypes. Typical projects contain combinations of the following component types: transducers, analog front ends, micro-controllers and processors, FPGAs, digital signal processors, electrical interfaces, wired or wireless connectivity, printed circuit boards required for integration and test, and software/firmware modules needed to operate a designed system. The laboratory activity is a backdrop used to teach key aspects of the development process such as documentation, realistic use of requirements, design partition, integration strategy, interface design, risk mitigation, and design strategies to accommodate available resources. Students will select a project concept and then create an implementation plan that will define the semester’s activity. Students may work independently or in teams to define, develop, test, and document their projects. Students are encouraged to select topics based on their interests and learning objectives. All projects are subject to instructor approval.

Instructor

Default placeholder image. No profile image found for Jeff Houser.

Jeff Houser

jghouser@gmail.com

Course Structure

Week      Activity

  1. Project Concept Development. 
  2. Project Concept Development 
  3. Preliminary Design Presentation to the class
  4. Project Concept Refinement.
  5. Critical Design Document due
  6. Project Development.
  7. Project Development.
  8. Project Development.
  9. Project Development.
  10. Project Development.
  11. Project Development.
  12. Project Development.
  13. Project Development.
  14. Demonstrate your project to the class, and submit final design report.
           

Course Topics

This is a project development course which does not have formal lectures.  Instead, course meetings will involve the review and discussion of each project to ensure successful execution.

Course Goals

This course is a capstone-like project that enables you to leverage previous coursework.  The major activities in this course are:

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Textbooks

No text required.  

However, if you have the budget for one, I highly recommend a recent version of, The Art of Electronics, by Horowitz & Hill.  This is an excellent all-around desk reference on electronics.

Student Coursework Requirements

Grades and major deliverables are


Grading Policy

PDR presentation is due at the beginning of the 3rd class meeting.
CDR document is due at the beginning of the 5th class meeting.
If late, these documents will be marked down at the discression of the instructor.
Weekly status postings are due before start of class each Monday.
The final report is due by the beginning of the final class meeting.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.