CO7059 Advanced Embedded Systems and Internet of Things Coursework 1 Assignment Brief 2026-27 | University of Chester

CO7059 Advanced Embedded Systems and Internet of Things 

Learning Objectives Assessed

1. Use MBed OS and an application shield to interface with an LCD screen, accelerometer, and temperature sensor.
2. Understand the I2C communication between sensors and a microcontroller.

Coursework Brief: This coursework accounts for 25% of your final mark in this module.

Section A: Lab session [Total 60 marks]

To set up an STM32F303 microcontroller and MBedOS application shield. MBedOS will act as a layer of abstraction from the hardware. The main objective is to understand the communication between a microcontroller and sensor peripherals.

Please read the task and then follow the lab information to complete the task. You do not need to complete all the tasks. The final mark will be given based on your completion.

Tasks:

1) Increase the sampling rate of the MMA7660 sensor:

a. Investigate the MMA7660 library and its functions.
b. Increase the sampling rate of the accelerometer from its default value.
c. Build the project and program the microcontroller. Present the build output in your report.
d. Make references to MBed OS I2C documentation and the MMA7660 datasheet.
e. Explain in your report the I2C communication between the MCU and the sensor. What bytes are being transmitted/received?

2)    Use the MMA7660 library to determine orientation (reference Code 02):

a. Record ranges of x, y, z values in different orientations.
b. Rewrite the code to solve the display residue problem. If there are any differences in output, take a photograph for your report.
c. Explain the functionality of the MMA7660 library.
d.  Make references to I2C communication and datasheets.

3.) Determine microcontroller orientation:

a. Create a function that takes three accelerometer values and determines orientation.
b. Replace the LCD line which contains the 3-axis accelerometer values with the microcontroller orientation.
c. Take a photograph of the LCD output for your report.
d. In your report, explain the potential issues with using an accelerometer for orientation with respect to the motion of the microcontroller.
e. Recommend a different type of sensor to use with references to case study applications and datasheets.

Section B: Report. [Total 40 marks]

For this section, you will create a report explaining the code and results of the lab session. You will then perform a small research task to investigate other sensors for any embedded system case study of your choosing. This will require an investigation into the application of a sensor and its datasheet.

Tasks:

1) Investigate the C12832 library:

a. The C12832 library utilises the printf function; investigate its implementation.
b. Make references to the standard library and SPI communication.
c. Make references to the necessary datasheets and pin usage on the microcontroller.

2) Investigate additional sensors:

a. Choose a case study/application that uses an accelerometer, temperature sensor, and two other sensors of your choosing. Be exact with your sensor choice and reference data sheets.
b. Use data sheets, open-source code, and reference designs (example: STMicroelectronics discovery boards) to explain the implementation of the sensors.
c. Does your sensor use I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, etc? explain its method of communication. Example: for I2C communication, explain its I2C address, command bytes for configuration, data register addresses, and any formula required to transform the data into the sensor value.
 
This is an open task, which fully depends on your own research, learning and understanding. You don’t need to cover every type of sensor, and you can choose a few to analyse and describe the best.

Ensure that all code developed is placed into an appendix at the end of your report.

Marking Criteria

Coursework Will be Marked According to the Following University Criteria.

90-100%: a range of marks consistent with a first, where the work is exceptional in all areas;

80-89%: a range of marks consistent with a first, where the work is exceptional in most areas.

70-79%: a range of marks consistent with a first. Work which shows excellent content, organisation and presentation, reasoning and originality; evidence of independent reading and thinking and a clear and authoritative grasp of theoretical positions; ability to sustain an argument, to think analytically and/or critically and to synthesise material effectively.

60-69%: a range of marks consistent with an upper second. Well-organised and lucid coverage of the main points in an answer; intelligent interpretation and confident use of evidence, examples and references; clear evidence of critical judgement in selecting, ordering and analysing content; demonstrates some ability to synthesise material and to construct responses, which reveal insight and may offer some originality.

50-59%: a range of marks consistent with pass; shows a grasp of the main issues and uses relevant materials in a generally business-like approach, restricted evidence of additional reading; possible unevenness in the structure of answers and failure to understand the subtler points: some critical analysis and a modest degree of insight should be present.

40-49%: a range of marks which falls short of pass, fail; demonstrates limited understanding with no enrichment of the basic course material presented in classes; superficial lines of argument and muddled presentation; little or no attempt to relate issues to a broader framework; lower end of the range equates to a minimum or threshold pass.

30-39%: a fail; may achieve some learning outcomes but falls short in most areas; shows considerable lack of understanding of basic course material and little evidence of research.

0-29%: a fail; basic factual errors of considerable magnitude showing little understanding of basic course material; falls substantially short of the learning outcomes for compensation.