This course introduces students to the underlying building blocks of digital system and microcontroller design. Digital systems topics that are covered include: number systems, truth tables, Boolean algebra, combinational and sequential logic, and finite state machines. A microcontroller is used to teach register programming, reading and writing digital I/O, bitwise operations and bit-masking and microprocessor architecture. Laboratory exercises are designed to illustrate concepts, reinforce analysis and design skills, and develop instrumentation techniques associated with the lecture topics.

This course presents typical structures and applications of microcontroller systems. Emphasis will be on: hardware, programming, input/output methods, typical peripherals/interfacing (including Timers, ADC and micro to micro communications), interrupt handling and small system design and applications using high level programming languages. Microprocessor architecture and assembly programming will be introduced to provide a base for more advanced digital designs. Laboratory exercises are designed to illustrate concepts, reinforce analysis and design skills, and develop instrumentation techniques associated with the lecture topics.

This introductory course explores computational problem-solving as a way of thinking, providing students with a foundation of programming theory through a hands-on / minds-on approach to learning. Students will learn fundamental approaches to numerical and computational problems and apply and evaluate the effectiveness of those approaches using real-world problems from the fields of engineering, economics, the sciences, including the social sciences. Students will investigate the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in problem-solving, examining how AI-generated code can be used as a tool, how its outputs compare to human-developed solutions, and what ethical implications arise from AI utilization in academia and professional settings across multiple disciplines. Students will demonstrate oral communication skills through formal code reviews. These code reviews, conducted individually and in design teams, permit students to present their solutions to the entire class for feedback and professional critique. The course structure enables students to pursue problems in domains of their choice.