Embedded systems are always in demand by engineering students. The final year of electronics engineers begins with a frantic search for embedded systems projects and ends with multiple projects coming to fruition.
We compile a list of 27 embedded systems project ideas for engineers and hobbyists. These embedded projects can also be used as final-year engineering projects. Let’s give them a try.
(To access detailed information about a specific project, simply click on the name of the project below)
List of Top Embedded Systems Projects
1. Embedded Systems-based Projects on Lighting
1. LED Blinking Systems
Smart hardware designs simplify embedded software and make it more reliable. Designers use blinking LED signals to indicate different statuses and for inbuilt testability.
Making an LED array blink requires an individual software loop for each LED or an individual timer and specific software to serve it.
This can be an issue in a system that uses low-level MCUs which provide limited resources.
The circuit presented here solves this problem by adding a simple hardware comprising low-cost inverters with Schmitt trigger for blinking as many LEDs as required
This project is available at LED blinking systems
2. Dimming LCD Backlight
Presented here is an LCD power-saving backlight-control system circuit. LCD is used in many projects for information display since it consumes less power. But power consumption in an LCD backlight draws a lot of attention.
Since LDR resistance changes as per ambient light, the voltage of NE555 also varies accordingly. This variation in voltage, changes the duty cycle of the output waveform, giving a higher duty cycle when ambient light is not present. In this way, it can be used to dim the LCD backlight for power saving.
This project is available at Dimming LCD Backlight
3. Propeller Message Display
This next project describes a microcontroller-based propeller display that displays any message sent to it via the hyper-terminal of a personal computer. Moreover, a temperature sensing IC (TMP125) is mounted onto the propeller display to display temperature in real-time.
It gives a 360-degree view and displays several characters in a revolving circular path using just eight LEDs. The main highlight of the project is a vertical-facing display with a true 360-degree viewing angle.
This project is available at Propeller message display
4. Unique LED Lantern
Presented here is an LED lantern that also functions as an emergency light or a tent light. The design has all the required functions, including an on/off switch, a maintenance-free rechargeable battery, an integrated battery charger, and more.
The built-in battery can be recharged using any 500mA external DC input voltage ranging from 9V to 18V using its onboard voltage regulator.
This project is available at Unique LED Lantern
5. Decade Counter-Based Flash Light
This decade counter-based flashlight circuit generates flashing lights in the running pattern. In conventional running lights, the LEDs glow one by one. In this circuit, the LEDs flash a number of times one by one.
This project is available at Decade Counter-Based Flash Light
2. Sensor-based Embedded Systems Projects
1. Metal Detector
A simple circuit that can detect metallic conductors in its vicinity up to a range of 25 to 30 millimeters. Concealed metallic objects such as metal foils enclosed in a plastic cover, e.g., toothpaste tubes and refill tips.
However, very thin metallic foils may go undetected due to a large resistance. The circuit is based on the principle of a difference resonator consisting of inverters, detector coils, capacitors, and transistors.
This project is available at Metal detector
2. Biometric Attendance System
Attendance in educational institutions, and industries will require more paperwork and time. Biometric Attendance Systems are used to reduce this problem.
This next project explains how to design the biometric attendance system circuit using the AVR Microcontroller. The main aim of this circuit is to take attendance and display when requested.
This project is available at Biometric Attendance system
3. Solar Tracker System
Solar energy is coming up as a major source of energy. The need of the hour is renewable energy resources with cheap running costs. With the current systems for solar energy harvesting, we have high production only at fixed times mostly noon.
This project proposes a dual-axis solar tracker system that increases productivity by a significant margin.
This project is available at Solar Tracker
4. Light-Sensitive Fire Alarm
This light-sensitive fire alarm circuit is extremely sensitive, low-cost, and easy to assemble even for a beginner. It uses an infrared phototransistor as a fire sensor. NE555-based astable multivibrator generates the audible warning.
The fire flame is detected through a small hole in the plastic case for the phototransistor. The sensor should not face directly toward normal light sources like sunlight, bulbs, or tube lights to avoid a false alarm.
This project is available at Light-Sensitive Fire Alarm
5. Lid-Monitoring Sensor
If you need a lid monitor sensor system for an application, this is the circuit you have been looking for. One application for such sensors would be in the security market.
For example, construction companies need more ways to combat tool theft. Lid-monitoring sensors can be used to detect when a toolbox is being opened or tampered with.
This project is available at Lid-Monitoring Sensor
3. House Monitoring Embedded Systems Projects
1. Wi-Fi Embedded Webcam
This project is built around an MRF24WBOMA Wi-Fi module, a PIC microcontroller, and a camera module using the TCP-IP protocol wireless communication. The camera captures live video from a remote location.
This is transmitted wirelessly through the internet and can be viewed on a PC or a laptop. The design uses easily-available low-cost components and a serial peripheral interface (SPI).
This project is available at Wi-Fi Embedded Webcam
2. Air Quality Monitoring Device
Air pollution and concern about air quality are not something new. The emphasis has shifted from pollution problems caused by the industry to the ones associated with motor vehicle emissions. A typical PM2.5/10-based meter costs around US$ 200.
This project presents a meter for monitoring air particles, gas concentration, temperature, humidity, and time costing around US$ 45.
This project is available at Air Quality Monitoring Device
3. Fire Extinguishing Robot
Fire is like a double-edged sword. The discovery of fire stands as a milestone in the history of mankind. The aim of this project is to build a robot that can detect and extinguish fire.
This fire-extinguishing robot is a prototype of the actual one. The sensors used here are simple infrared (IR) photodiodes that detect IR rays coming out of the fire.
The sensor board mounted on top of the robot’s chassis is circular in shape so that it gives the robot an all-around detection view of 360°. Sensors are equally spaced at 45° each.
This project is available at Fire Extinguishing Robot
4. RF-Based Code Lock
This simple radio frequency (RF) based code lock incorporates a pair of 433MHz ready-made RF transmitter and receiver modules. It is a remote-controlled, code-protected lock system.
The code is fixed making it easy to implement. It requires very less power. You can remotely operate the solenoid lock from 30 meters or more depending on the RF modules used.
This project is available at RF Based Code Lock
5. Cell Phone-based Remote Controller for Water Pump
Farmers often face inconvenience in switching on a water pump installed in remote farms. Microcontroller-based circuits are used to solve this problem.
This next project presents a cell phone-based remote controller for the water pump. By calling the cell phone attached to the controller, the water pump can be directly activated.
This project is available at Cell phone-Based Remote Controller for Water Pump
4. Miscellaneous Embedded Systems Projects
1. Frequency Generator
Stable frequency sources for the generation of TTL and CMOS signals are always in need. These play a crucial role in the development, testing, and maintenance of digital and analog electronic circuits and embedded systems.
These sources are also useful for fast checking of oscilloscopes, probes, multi-meters, frequency meters, and other measurement equipment.
This circuit produces fixed frequencies of 4MHz, 6MHz, and 10MHz and adjustable square waves with variable frequencies from around 10 Hz to more than 100 kHz.
This project is available at Four frequency generator
2. Weather Logger
This next project is a personal weather logger. Humidity, atmospheric pressure, and temperature are logged through various transducers. A PC displays this data as a graph for analysis. PIC18F2550 is used to build the circuit.
Other peripherals include serial real-time clock DS1337, temperature sensor LM92, humidity sensor SHT11, pressure sensor MPX5100, 5V voltage regulator 7805, and 16×2 LCD display.
This project is available at Weather Logger.
3. Celestial Weight Calculator
Every science student knows about the variations in the weight of various bodies in different parts of the universe. The designed embedded system takes weight on Earth and shows weights on other celestial bodies of our solar system.
The device is designed and constructed using microcontroller AT89S52. It gives a better understanding of gravity. The system calculates the mass and acceleration due to gravity (g) for other celestial bodies and displays the corresponding weight (force).
This project is available at Celestial Weight Calculator
4. Mini Rechargeable Power Supply
Presented here is a robust, compact, and hand-held power supply that delivers 9.2V and 5V up to 1A (approx.) and 3.3V up to 500mA. It also includes a female A-type USB connector so you can power and charge other equipment such as mobile phones.
The circuit uses a single rechargeable 3.7V Li-ion battery pack (normally used in mobile phones and MP3 players). It uses a dedicated Li-ion charging IC which monitors undercharge and overcharge conditions to safely charge the Li-ion battery pack.
This project is available at Mini Rechargeable Power Supply
5. Ultrasonic Radar
A radar system consists of a transmitter to transmit a beam toward the target. This is then reflected by the target as an echo signal. A receiver receives and translates these signals.
Actual radar systems are built with high-power transmitters and receivers, huge antennae, complex processing systems using digital signal processors, and large displays.
The circuit described here demonstrates the working of a radar system. It uses ultrasonic waves to detect an object and measure its distance and angular position and displays the same on a 20×4 LCD screen.
This project is available at Ultrasonic Radar
6. Programmable Power Supply
This article presents a programmable power supply built around TL431 (IC1) and two bipolar transistors BD139 and TIP31. These are relatively low-noise, stable, and low-cost shunt regulators.
All sorts of power supplies are built using them. You can program the output voltage with simple switches. You can also program the output voltage with digital codes coming from a microcontroller (MCU) or from the printer port of a PC.
This project is available at Programmable Power Supply
7. RC Plane Finder
The lost plane finder introduced here has a little onboard beacon, also known as a lost model alarm/crashed aircraft beacon, which helps you find a crashed or downed radio-controlled plane.
Usually, the radio transmitter provides a set of pulses every 20 milliseconds, which, in turn, sends the radio receiver a separate pulse to each of the servos at the same interval.
In this circuit, an alarm will sound when the radio receiver no longer receives the set of pulses from the radio transmitter.
This project is available at RC Plane Finder
8. GSM-based Cellular IoT Home Automation
What if you are out of your home (and/or in another country) and suddenly realize that you have forgotten to turn off the geyser, lights, and other electrical appliances?
This costly mistake can increase the electricity bill as well as put your and others’ live in danger.
Fear not. We are going to make an IoT-based cellular device for home automation, which will help you in controlling your home appliances, no matter where you are.
This project is available at GSM-based Cellular IoT Home Automation
Let us know how you feel about this list of embedded systems projects. We would also welcome innovative embedded system project topics from you at: [email protected]
This article was first published on 26 April 2017 and recently updated on August 2023.
