Print as pdf if you want a pdf! If you want a nicer printout, click off the browser's automatically added header and footer.

Blekinge Institute of Technology
Department of Mathematics and Natural Science

Revision: 2
Reg.no: BTH-4.1.14-0253-2026


Course syllabus

Sensor Systems

Sensor Systems

6 credits (6 högskolepoäng)

Course code: ET2628
Main field of study: Electrical Engineering
Disciplinary domain: Technology
Education level: Second-cycle
Specialization: A1F - Second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements

Language of instruction: English
Applies from: 2026-03-11
Approved: 2026-03-11

1. Descision

This course is established by Dean 2023-05-15. The course syllabus is approved by Head of Department of Mathematics and Natural Science 2026-03-11 and applies from 2026-03-11.

2. Entry requirements

Admission to the course requires that the following courses are taken: Feedback control, and Signals and Systems. English 6.

3. Objective and content

3.1 Objective

The course aims to provide students with the ability to design, implement and evaluate sensor systems for IoT applications, where sensors, actuators, embedded data processing and communication are integrated from a systems perspective. The student learns to make informed design choices based on practical constraints such as energy, reliability and control, as well as to include local data processing and pattern recognition methods when appropriate.

3.2 Content

  • Sensor and actuator fundamentals, such as thermistors, IMUs, ultrasonic range sensors, DC motors, servos, etc.
  • Analog front-end and data acquisition, such as ADCs, synchronization, etc.
  • Embedded computing platforms, such as Arduino microcontrollers
  • Communication for IoT sensor systems: wired and wireless options, such as Wi-Fi, BLE, etc.
  • Edge and local intelligence and deployment considerations, such as on-device ML, feature extraction, etc.
  • Power and resource management, such as duty cycling, sleep modes, etc.
  • Verification and testing, such as calibration, validation, precision, etc.

4. Learning outcomes

The following learning outcomes are examined in the course:

4.1. Knowledge and understanding

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Explain how sensor, actuator, embedded-processing, and communication subsystems interact in an autonomous sensor system.
  • Describe core principles of embedded and real-time and how they influence measurement, control, and communication performance.
  • Explain common design options for wireless sensing systems and justify protocol/architecture choices in relation to application requirements.

4.2. Competence and skills

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Design and implement a smart embedded sensor system that performs measurement, local processing or pattern recognition, and communication, and evaluate it quantitatively using relevant metrics.
  • Integrate sensors and actuators with a microcontroller-based platform, including configuration of peripherals, basic real-time behavior, and systematic debugging.

4.3. Judgement and approach

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Critically assess an IoT sensor-system design with respect to reliability, security, sustainability, and ethical aspects (including data integrity and privacy), and propose technically sound mitigations and design improvements.

5. Learning activities

The structure combines several learning activities, such as lectures, labs, assignments, and projects.

6. Assessment and grading

Modes of examinations of the course

Code Module Credit Grade
2610 On-Campus Examination[1] 3 credits AF
2620 Project Assignment 3 credits GU

[1] Determines the final grade for the course, which will only be issued when all components have been approved.

The course will be graded A Excellent, B Very good, C Good, D Satisfactory, E Sufficient, FX Failed result, a little more work required, F Fail.

The examiner may carry out oral follow-up of written examinations.

The information before the start of the course states the assessment criteria and make explicit in which modes of examination that the learning outcomes are assessed.

An examiner can, after consulting the Disability Advisor at BTH, decide on a customized examination form for a student with a long-term disability to be provided with an examination equivalent to one given to a student who is not disabled.

7. Course evaluation

The course evaluation should be carried out in line with BTH:s course evaluation template and process.

8. Restrictions regarding degree

The course can form part of a degree but not together with another course the content of which completely or partly corresponds with the contents of this course.

9. Course literature and other materials of instruction

Material from the department and parts of the following book:

Jacob Fraden, Handbook of Modern Sensors: Physics, Designs, and Applications (5th ed., Springer), ISBN 978-3-319-19302-1