Development of a Low-Cost, Open-Source Measurement Equipment for Undergraduate Courses Dedicated to Embedded Systems

The University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien offers various courses dedicated to electronic engineering and embedded systems hardware & software design. These courses are embedded in various degree programs such as full-time, part-time, and distance learning. The attendees of these courses train their skills and expertise on the basis of labor exercises, assignments, and tasks. Especially in degree programs with focus on technology it is mandatory to evaluate and verify analog & digital signals, signals of communication interfaces, and control signals to gain knowledge. Traditionally this is done by utilizing oscilloscopes and various measurement equipment. Due to the fact that only a limited amount of time is available at the university and not every student has constant access to the measurement equipment, it would be beneficial to provide tools to complete labor exercises, assignments, and tasks at home as well. This paper gives an overview of already available measurement equipment, highlights the minimum requirements specification for the oscilloscope, describes the developed hardware & software in detail and introduces results of the prototype tests.