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ENEX20001 - Embedded System Design

General Information

Unit Synopsis

In this unit, you will develop the knowledge and skills required to program, interface, and control microcontroller-based embedded systems using structured programming techniques. The unit introduces the architecture and core principles of embedded systems, covering key programming elements such as data types, loops, branching statements, and functions. You will also explore advanced topics, including interrupt handling, timers, and interfacing with peripherals, analogue and digital sensors, and external devices through various communication protocols. Through hands-on laboratory exercises, you will design, prototype, and test embedded systems using commercially available microcontrollers. The unit culminates in a final project where you will design and implement a real-world embedded application. To complete the compulsory practical activities and project, you will need to purchase specific hardware components. Details of the required components and associated costs are available on the unit Moodle site. This unit supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by highlighting how microcontroller-based systems enable low-cost automation and innovation in small-scale industrial applications.

Details

Level Postgraduate
Unit Level 8
Credit Points 12
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.25
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
ENEE14006 Embedded Microcontrollers is an Anti-Requisite for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

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Residential School Compulsory Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2026

Term 3 - 2026 Profile
Melbourne
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

This information will not be available until 8 weeks before term.
To see assessment details from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2024 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 100.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 45.45% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: In-class student feedback
Feedback
The use of Microsoft Teams is a more efficient way to resolve hardware and software problems encountered by students in their assessments.
Recommendation
Microsoft Teams should be employed alongside emails and forums when addressing student queries related to software and hardware issues.
Action Taken
The use of Microsoft Teams to support students continued consistently throughout the year.
Source: Student unit evaluation responses
Feedback
More sample codes and reading materials are needed to improve learning resources.
Recommendation
Additional sample codes and reading materials should be provided to enhance learning resources.
Action Taken
Extra sample codes were introduced, and additional reading materials were provided.
Source: Unit Coordinator's refelction
Feedback
The use of authentic assessment practices with individualised assessment items has resulted in a decrease in academic misconduct cases.
Recommendation
Authentic assessment practices with individualised assessment items should be employed to mitigate academic misconduct cases.
Action Taken
This practice was continued.
Source: Unit Coordinator's Reflection
Feedback
Many disengaged students failed to complete the formative assessment, leading to lower grades.
Recommendation
The disengaged students should be identified through the completion of formative assessments, and additional support should be provided to those students.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: SUTE Survey
Feedback
Some students failed to identify the relevance of the unit content to their degree.
Recommendation
During the workshops, students should be informed about how the skills and knowledge they gain from this unit can be applied to their future careers.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes
This information will not be available until 8 weeks before term.
To see Learning Outcomes from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.