ITSYS-406-1503 Embedded Systems Assignment Brief 2026 | MCAST

ITSYS-406-1503 Assignment Brief

Assessment Criteria

Notes to Students:

• This assignment brief has been approved and released by the Internal Verifier through Classter.
• Assessment marks and feedback by the lecturer will be available online via Classter (Http://mcast.classter.com) following release by the Internal Verifier
• Students submitting their assignment on Moodle/Turnitin will be requested to confirm online the following statements:

 Student’s declaration prior to handing-in of assignment 

• I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and that I have read and understood the respective Plagiarism Policy

 Student’s declaration on assessment special arrangements

• I certify that adequate support was given to me during the assignment through the Institute and/or the Inclusive Education Unit.
• I declare that I refused the special support offered by the Institute.

General Guidelines

• This assignment carries 100% of the global mark.
• Plagiarism is strictly prohibited and will be penalised in accordance with the college’s disciplinary procedures.
• Where necessary documentation should be written in the first person.
• The website should be reviewed and approved by the lecturer throughout the months of April and

May otherwise the project will not be accepted.

This unit will be assessed on 3 main tasks:

o Task 1: Home Assessment – Install an operating system on a Raspberry Pi (7%)
o Task 2: Project Proposal (10%)
o Task 3: Project Work logging, completion, presentation and demonstration (83%)

• All the above tasks have separate deadlines as follows:

o Task 1 (Home assessment):
o Task 2 (Project Proposal):
o Task 3 (Project Work logging, completion, presentation and demonstration

Task 1: Home Assessment – Install an operating system on a Raspberry Pi

Attempt this task only if you have not submitted Assessment Worksheet 1 on 28th February 2025.

You should start this module by exploring the use of alternative operating systems on the Raspberry Pi. Perform research and decide in consultation with your lecturer on an alternative operating system other than Raspberry Pi OS to set up on your Raspberry using your second SD Card to retain your existing Raspberry Pi OS for your other work in this module. Please take note of the following requirements:

• You must use either the Use custom option on the Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher to transfer the OS image to the SD card. You must download the image separately from the distro web site and not using Raspberry Pi Imager to download the image.
• You should install the OS on your second SD card and retain it as an alternative to Raspberry Pi OS for your Raspberry Pi.
• Suggested operating systems include: Alpine Linux, PrimeOS, Fenix Linux, Armbian, Arch Linux, Twister OS, MX Linux, Ubuntu, Manjaro, Pop! OS, Fedora, RaspBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD, SARPi, Kali Linux, Gentoo,

OpenSUSE, OmniROM based on Android, LineageOS (Android) for Raspberry Pi 4, Emteria, FydeOS,  Windows 10 or 11, Lakka, Batocera, RetroPi, LibreElec, RecalBox, Devuan, Rocky Linux, Void linux. Other operating systems may be used after confirmation from your lecturer.

• Some of the above can be installed with one of the following desktops: XFCE, MATE, Cinnamon, KDE,

KDE Plasma, Enlightenment, Gnome, Sway or LXQT or any other desktop you may find.

• If you own a Raspberry Pi 5 make sure that the selected operating system has been released for it.
• The Distro/Desktop combination you install should be unique in your classroom and should be selected with consultation of your lecturer.
• Research the features of your chosen Operating System and Desktop. In a Microsoft Word document give an overview of the key features.
• In the same document you are then required to create a step-by-step guide which could help a total beginner to install the OS using screenshots and/or photos taken during the installation. Include a download link for the target OS in your guide. Also include a screenshot showing the working OS on your Pi with your name and class visible on the screen for confirmation to your lecturer that you have successfully installed the OS.

Task 2: Project Proposal

A technology-based company has asked you to propose a project that serves as a practical solution to a specific problem of your choice using a Raspberry Pi. Your project must utilise the functionalities listed in Table 1 below. Communication with the Raspberry Pi via a normal monitor and keyboard and mouse is not allowed in an embedded system. As a minimum remote connection to your Raspberry Pi should be used. For this task you need to fill in detail the proposal form document which you will find in Moodle together with this assignment.

This proposal will consist of the following: Title of the project: Title of the Project

Aims of the project: What are you aiming to achieve at the end of this project? Example: The aim is to create…

etc…

Functionalities: List at least 6 functionalities in total from Table 1 below (Minimum 2 of which must be advanced) for use in your project. Elements from both sections of the table (User Interface and Sensors and Actuators) must be included. The functionalities need to include a minimum of 4 different hardware functionalities listed in Table

1. Refer to Table 1

*Always discuss your proposal with your lecturer to make sure that all your functionalities are approved. 

Project must include saving of sensor data to files, use of functions and exception handling where relevant. Background Research: Research, compare and contrast similar projects. References to any book, website, or any other source, must be added to the References section.

Explanation of how the project will be built: Give an overview of how you will create and develop your project. Include how you have tested any hardware and software components that you intend to use and how you confirmed that they would successfully work in your system.

References: List all the sources, such as book, websites, and any other sources that you used to get the information to build this proposal.

Project Diagram: Give an overview of the project components. (Not showing specific connections but showing the role of each component)

Project plan: List all the tasks you need to do to complete Task 3 (e.g.: Research, Coding, Testing etc..). Use the template provided separately with this document.

This task must be carried out in full consultation with your lecturer and the project title and aim and proposed set of functionalities should be unique in your classroom and must be approved by your lecturer before the deadline of this task. Projects with the same set of functionalities and aims cannot be accepted. If two projects are similar in aims but use substantially different functionalities or vice-versa they may be approved

Table 1 – List of hardware and software functionalities which can be used.

Task 3: Project Work – design and  build an embedded system

The purpose of this project is to combine the knowledge and skills acquired during this module with research to produce a functional project. Project work will consist of research and hours of independent class work. You will work on the project proposed in Task 2.

You are expected to develop a project which includes the functionalities demonstrated during this module and additional functionalities to make the project more interesting.

The project should be presented in the following way:

1. Create an account on com or notion.so and create a weekly blog showing uploaded pictures and videos or links to videos you have uploaded on YouTube showing your progress step by step. You can also use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to capture video footage and screenshots of your progress. DO NOT EVER UPLOAD PYTHON CODE but show it to your lecturer directly. Ask your lecturer if you need assistance with uploading your material.
2. A copy of your entire project python code including a copy of any imported modules and sub-programs if applicable.
3. A progress report in the form of a PowerPoint presentation of your project showing step by step progress in completing the project with the following layout:
   • Title page giving the name of your project
   • A link to WordPress website showing progress of your project (refer to KU3.1)
   • An introduction to the project and its aims.
   • List of the hardware and software components included in the project including a list of imported modules
   • Hardware component diagram of your project using Fritzing (refer to AA4.4)
   • List and describe the advanced features you used in this project. (use photos/screenshots) (refer to KU3.2)
   • Show 5 hardware or software challenges encountered during the duration of the project and show how these were solved accompanied by images showing both challenge and solution (refer to KU4.1)
   • Photos of the project during different phases (multiple photos on one or two slides)
   • Photos showing the finished project from 2 angles.
   • An explanation of the code that you have developed for the project.
   • Any changes made to the original proposal and why they have been applied.
   • Mention potential future improvements (at least 2).
   • The presentation must also include a 1-to-2-minute video clearly showing your project in action. The video must show in detail the project working and any sections that are not working as proposed should be highlighted. You can either narrate the video using live voice or using subtitles. You can also use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) to capture video footage and screenshots of your progress. The video must be uploaded free to YouTube and a link inserted in the presentation.

Items 2 and 3 should be archived into a .zip file before uploading. The zipped file should have your full name and group in its title e.g. John Borg Project Group 4.1A.zip

Important: Update your blog every week, rather than all at one go at the end of your project. Your lecturer will monitor and approve your progress weekly or at most fortnightly. If you fail to update the blog, at least once every week, or you create it only after completion of the project, your entire project will not be accepted.

Deadline for this task is: 16 May 2025                                                 

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