ECE 3849 Real-Time Embedded Systems

Quick Access Labs

Lab 0 – Tutorial & Setup Get started with Code Composer Studio, TivaWare, and your first embedded application.

Lab 1 – FreeRTOS Stopwatch Build your first FreeRTOS application by converting the Lab 0 stopwatch into multiple tasks with queue-based communication.

Lab 2 – Multi-Screen Dashboard Refactor the stopwatch into a modular multi-screen system with binary semaphores, joystick navigation, microphone sampling, and software timers.

What is an RTOS?

Real-time operating systems let embedded programs run multiple tasks with predictable timing and low latency. In these labs you’ll use FreeRTOS on the TI EK-TM4C1294XL to manage tasks, timers, and inter-task communication while building real hardware projects with sensors, ADC, and PWM.

Current Lab Sequence

Lab 0 – Stopwatch & Setup

Set up Code Composer Studio, verify the board and LCD, and build a bare-metal stopwatch with buttons and a graphical interface.

Lab 1 – FreeRTOS Stopwatch

Take the Lab 0 stopwatch and rebuild it as a multitasking FreeRTOS application with manually integrated kernel files, scheduled tasks, and queue-based communication.

Lab 2 – Multi-Screen Dashboard

Refactor the stopwatch into multiple source files, replace button polling with a binary semaphore, add joystick-driven screen navigation, and build a microphone screen using ADC sampling and a software timer.

Course Overview

Real-Time Systems

Learn the basics of designing systems that respond to events within specific timing requirements using the ARM Cortex-M4F microcontroller. Understand how timing and reliability affect embedded applications.

FreeRTOS

Use FreeRTOS to create simple multitasking programs. Learn how tasks, timing, and synchronization work together in a real-time environment.

Hands-On Labs

Complete six labs that gradually introduce new concepts. Each lab builds on the previous one, giving you practical experience with real hardware and code.

C/C++ Programming

Write and test embedded programs in C and C++. Practice using these languages to control hardware and implement real-time features.

Hardware & Software Platform

Development Hardware

TI EK-TM4C1294XL LaunchPad

ARM Cortex-M4F Microcontroller

• 120MHz with hardware floating-point unit
• 1MB Flash memory, 256KB RAM
• Integrated Ethernet, USB, CAN interfaces
• Professional debugging capabilities

ARM Cortex-M4F

BOOSTXL-EDUMKII BoosterPack

Complete I/O Interface Module

• 128×128 color LCD display
• Multiple sensors: light, temperature, accelerometer
• Audio input/output with microphone and speaker
• Joystick and button interfaces

Educational Platform