Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

To expose students to techniques and methodology in embedded system design. Students will develop hands-on experience in design, simulation and implementation using EDA tools. Upon satisfactory completion of this unit of study, students should be able to carry out the design of an embedded system from requirement analysis through to implementation. To achieve this the student shall:

• Understand the constraints and characteristics of embedded systems.
• Understand the hardware/software trade-offs inherent in embedded systems.
• Understand the particular requirements of real-time systems.
• Be able to apply this understanding to carry out the design process.
• Become familiar with a range of design methodologies through their application to a significant design problem.

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (36 hrs), Laboratory and Project Work (30 hrs)

Assessment:

Examinations, Labs, Project Work

Generic Skills Outcomes:

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
• Expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so

Content:

• Overview of embedded systems and their characteristics.
• Embedded system modelling.
• Embedded system hardware and software.
• Real-time constraints.
• Real-time operating systems, software vs hardware concurrency, OS facilities.
• Hardware/software co-design, partitioning and tradeoffs.
• Embedded development tools. Analysis and design methods using graphical notations e.g. UML including state diagrams and automated generation of code.
• System-on-a-chip (implementation of a FPGA based project incorporating CPU & peripherals).

Textbooks:

Recommended Reading: