Note: You must apply for this class (application procedure)

As the name implies, this is a project-based course. You will be involved in a team project, spending the quarter building a substantial embedded system. The projects vary by year, but past projects involve robotics, internet of things, computer vision and 3D modeling on embedded platforms, medical devices, and human-computer interaction. Feel free to browse some past projects.

The classroom sessions cover public speaking, technical writing, team management, and entrepreneurship. You will be presenting your project in front of your peers several times – first as an elevator pitch, then a status update, and final presentation. And you will write a final technical report. But the key is your final demo and video: where you will (hopefully) “wow” your fellow classmates and the instructors.

Attendance: This class requires attendance at most lectures. Many of the lectures have hands-on activities that do not translate to a podcast; thus, the class is not podcast. Attendance in the first two weeks of class is crucial.

Instructor: Prof. Ryan Kastner (kastner@ucsd)

Class Materials:
Spring 2026 Canvas
Lecture Topics
Class Projects
Course Tasks
Class Enrollment Procedure

Class Calendar: