Computer Science

Intermediate

120 mins

Teacher/Student led

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC

Building the Embedded System

In this lesson, you will build a functional embedded system for your forest-themed project. Connect at least one digital and one analogue input, configure an output, implement code for automatic data collection and process simulation (e.g., wildfire risk), and test thoroughly. By the end, your system will meet all 2026 brief requirements, with evidence saved for your report.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes

Warning: Your screen size is quite small for viewing this. Rotate your device into landscape mode if you can.

1 undefined
2 Exact Basic Requirements You Must Meet
3 Hardware Checklist – Confirm Before Starting
4 Core Code Structure You Should Follow
5 Practical Building Time
6 Quick Testing Checklist
7 What to Save and Photograph
8 Checklist Before Next Lesson

1 - undefined

By the end you should have:

Understand how embedded systems apply to real-world environmental monitoring, preparing you for your final report
A working embedded system that fully meets the basic requirements of the 2026 brief
At least one digital input and one analogue input connected and reading data
At least one primary output (digital or analogue) functioning
Your system collecting and storing real environmental data related to your forest theme
Your system simulating a real-world process (e.g., canopy cover, drought cycle, wildfire risk)
Code that runs automatically after manual start/calibration

2 - Exact Basic Requirements You Must Meet

From page 5 of the official brief:

Build a functional embedded system that uses at least one digital input and at least one analogue input
The system must generate at least one primary output which can be either digital or analogue
The system can be started or calibrated manually but should operate automatically once started
Use your embedded system to collect and store environmental data that relates to your chosen theme
Configure your embedded system to simulate a real-world process related to the theme (e.g., canopy cover, drought cycles, wildfire risk)
Run tests to show how the system responds using different inputs or changing environmental data

3 - Hardware Checklist – Confirm Before Starting

Required	Your Hardware
Main board	e.g., micro:bit v2 / Raspberry Pi Pico / Raspberry Pi
At least 1 digital input	e.g., rain sensor, smoke detector, PIR motion
At least 1 analogue input	e.g., soil moisture, temperature (DHT22), light sensor
At least 1 output	e.g., buzzer, LED, servo, OLED screen
Storage method	e.g., microSD card, internal flash, USB drive

4 - Core Code Structure You Should Follow

To meet all of the 2026 SEC basic requirements, organise your code using the structure similar to below. You can adapt it as necessary to your project, board and language, but every part must be present and working.

Import required libraries
Pseudocode example:
from machine import Pin, ADC, Timer import time, os
Define pins for all inputs and outputs
Pseudocode example:
rain_sensor = Pin(15, Pin.IN) soil = ADC(Pin(26)) led = Pin(16, Pin.OUT) buzzer = Pin(17, Pin.OUT)
Calibration or manual start routine (runs once)
Pseudocode example:
print("Press button to calibrate/start") button.wait_for_press() print("System starting in 3…2…1…")
Main automatic loop that runs forever
- Read the digital input
  rain_detected = rain_sensor.value()
- Read the analogue input(s)
  moisture = soil.read_u16() temp = dht22.temperature()
- Simulate your chosen real-world forest process
  if temp > 30 and moisture < 30000: risk = "HIGH" else: risk = "LOW"
- Trigger your primary output(s) when conditions are met
  if risk == "HIGH": led.value(1) buzzer.value(1) else: led.value(0)
- Save a timestamp + all sensor readings to your data file
  with open("forest_data.csv", "a") as f: f.write(f"{time.ticks_ms()},{temp},{moisture},{risk}\n")
Delay or sleep between readings (e.g., 10–60 seconds)
Pseudocode example:
time.sleep(30) # 30-second gap between readings

This exact flow is what makes your system fully automatic after manual start, logs real environmental data, and simulates a forest process — ticking every single basic requirement on page 5 of the official brief.

5 - Practical Building Time

Follow these stages:

Connect and test each sensor one at a time (print values to screen/serial)
Add data logging (CSV file with timestamp, temperature, moisture, etc.)
Write the simulation logic (e.g., if temperature > 30°C AND moisture < 30% → high risk)
Add your output (buzzer + flashing LED when risk is high)
Test with real changes (blow hot air, wet/dry soil, cover light sensor)
Run for at least 10 minutes and confirm data is being saved correctly

Save your final code as main.py (or equivalent) in your Artefact folder.

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

Get ready to embark on an incredible learning journey! Get access to this lesson and hundreds more in our Digital Skills Curriculum.

Get started

Copyright Notice
This lesson is copyright of DigitalSkills.org 2017 - 2025. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.

Your Answer or Description of Your Work

Project URL This can be a link to your project (e.g. a Scratch, Microbit, Arcade or CodePen URL link).

Upload File

You must be logged into Scratch to share your project, otherwise the link will not work.

To get the URL link of your Scratch project:

Make sure you're logged into Scratch.
Click on the Share button in the project editor.
Click on the Copy Link button.
Click on the Copy Link link. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Microbit project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Arcade project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your CodePen project:

Make sure you're logged into CodePen.
Open your project in the editor.
Click on the Save button at the top of the editor.
Copy the link from the address bar in your web browser (e.g. https://codepen.io/Jane-Smith/pen/gOVXxBQ)

Building the Embedded System

Teacher Class Feed

1 - undefined

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Exact Basic Requirements You Must Meet

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Hardware Checklist – Confirm Before Starting

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Core Code Structure You Should Follow

To meet all of the 2026 SEC basic requirements, organise your code using the structure similar to below. You can adapt it as necessary to your project, board and language, but every part must be present and working.

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Practical Building Time

Send your work to your teacher

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

Building the Embedded System

Teacher Class Feed

1 - undefined

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Exact Basic Requirements You Must Meet

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Hardware Checklist – Confirm Before Starting

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Core Code Structure You Should Follow

To meet all of the 2026 SEC basic requirements, organise your code using the structure similar to below. You can adapt it as necessary to your project, board and language, but every part must be present and working.

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Practical Building Time

Send your work to your teacher

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

XP