Prospectus

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Embedded Systems and Software

Course
2018-2019

Admission requirements

It is recommended but not mandatory that the students have taken the Digital Techniques, Computer Architectures, and Compiler Construction courses.

Description

Embedded Systems are application domain specific information processing systems that are tightly coupled to their environment. They appear in home appliances, copy machines, automotive entertainment systems, medical imaging systems, wireless and portable multimedia terminals, distributed sensor networks, and more.

The course first introduces the notion of and some basic concepts in embedded systems and software. Then it deals with basic methods, techniques, algorithms, and components that are found in embedded systems. Groups of students are asked to select one of these items, study it in more detail, and present their findings in a short presentation. The course goes on with the discussion of a particular embedded platform and a particular embedded application.

In a second part, the course focuses on methods, techniques, and tools for system-level design, programming and implementation of Embedded Multi-processor Systems-on-Chip (MPSoC). In particular, the DAEDALUS framework for system-level design of MPSoCs will be studied in detail. DAEDALUS features: 1) automated translation of sequential application code to equivalent parallel specification code; 2) automated system-level synthesis of specific MPSoCs; 3) automated mapping of the parallel specification code to the synthesized specific MPSoC; 4) fast implementation/prototyping of the whole MPSoC embedded system on FPGA-based prototyping boards.

In a third part – that is integrated with the second part – the course takes the form of laboratory hands-on sessions in which the DAEDALUS framework is used to design and prototype a relatively simple MPSoC. This MPSoC is based on the embedded application and platform discussed in the first part of the course

Course objectives

The Embedded Systems and Software course intends to introduce students to state-of-the-art methods, techniques, and tools to design, program, implement, and use embedded systems. This is done through a series of lectures, hands-on sessions, and discussions on relevant journal/conference paper.

Timetable

The most recent timetable can be found at the students' website.

Mode of instruction

Lectures and mandatory hands-on sessions.

Course load

Hours of study: 168:00 hrs (= 6 EC)
Lectures: 20:00 hrs
Practical work: 60:00 hrs
Examination: 80:00 hrs
Other: 8:00 hrs

Assessment method

There is no traditional written exam. The final grade is a combination of grades for:
(1) presentation on a give topic related to the course material (40%);
(2) performance during the hands-on sessions (40%) and;
(3) pro-active attitude during lectures and paper discussions (20%).

Reading list

List with selected journal/conference papers and book excerpts will be provided to the students. All this literature could be downloaded from Internet.
Slides will be provided to the students for download.

Registration

  • You have to sign up for courses and exams (including retakes) in uSis. Check this link for information about how to register for courses.

  • Due to limited capacity, external students can only register after consultation with the programme coordinator/study advisor (mailto:mastercs@liacs.leideuniv.nl).

Contact information

Lecturer: dr. Todor Stefanov
Website: Embedded Systems