Affordable tools for teaching embedded systems

Teaching embedded systems requires the choice of suitable tools, Factors such as cost and reliability can play an important role in the decision that affect students access to the equipment, conditioning their performance and enthusiasm. A possible option, which we advocate in this paper, is the in-house development of low-cost solutions, providing access to laboratory equipment without major restrictions, encouraging the interest for electronics and self-study. Several tools for teaching embedded systems are presented. These share the same characteristics, namely the fact that they are relatively easy to develop, and that they are inexpensive.