embedded electronic controller

[masymas]

Hi Everybody,
I'm new to this forum and I welcome any suggestion about my problem.
I need to design an embedded micro controller board that will be mounted in a battery-operated portable liquid fuel heater. I am not an expert in electronics and I need help.
Here is a brief description of the project :
- the controller board must have an interface with the user (push button ON/OFF, 2 indicating leds showing the status of the system)
- the controller will run on 12VDC voltage and will have to drive the necessary actuators
- the control board will have a "memory" unit that will store the operating program and diagnosis loop ( check battery OK, check fuel level OK, check temperature OK, etc.)
- level checks, a temperature sensor and oxygen or CO2 sensor provide the controller with the input information to check the temperature of the heater, the level of combustible fuel available in the reservoir
- a hot wire igniter will ignite the burner
- should the heater overheats, or the fuel is running out, or the oxygen gets too low, or the battery getting low, then the burner is shut off and the the remaining fuel is flushed from the burner back to the reservoir.
I hope my description is clear.
I was thinking that may be an existing "standard microcontroller board" could be used, since I understand that the operating program can be changed.
What I need is information so that I can specify the controler board.

Thank you for your feed back
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rgds
masymas