This document provides an overview of embedded systems and microcontrollers. It defines embedded systems as dedicated systems that are hidden parts of larger systems. Microcontrollers are described as single-chip computers containing a CPU, memory, and I/O ports. The key differences between microprocessors and microcontrollers are explained. The document also discusses common microcontroller vendors including Atmel, various AVR microcontroller categories and features, and the Atmega16 microcontroller in detail.