Unit name | Embedded and Real-Time Systems |
---|---|
Unit code | EENG34030 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Kris Nikov |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites | |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering |
Faculty | Faculty of Engineering |
Microprocessors are routinely embedded within the heart of modern electronic systems and this unit is designed to deal with the key topics concerned with implementing a microprocessor-based system and programming it to meet the real-time demands of embedded systems. The unit focuses on ARM technology and in this context microprocessors are described, their interconnect components explained and programming approaches discussed. Topics addressed include bus systems (e.g. ARM AHB, AXI), signalling and handshaking, arbitration, system-on-chip design and simulation with VHDL, serial and parallel data interfaces, analogue interfaces, programming input-output systems, interrupts, simple state machine schedulers, programming real-time systems, the real-time scheduler, and synchronising parallel processes. This unit will use Problem Based Learning (PBL) with an assessment consisting of 100% coursework. The assessment is formed by a set of realistic industry-focus problems gradually increasing in complexity. Some assessment components will involve system-on-chip design/simulation using VHDL and some practical programming work using a real time embedded system.
The hardware part of the unit focuses on power efficient processors from ARM (e.g. Cortex M0) and how these processors can be used to build embedded and real-time systems using FPGAs as the target implementation technology. FPGAs are introduced as a low-cost, high-performance custom computing platform suitable for Embedded and Real time Systems. The bus systems required to interface the processors with other peripherals are studied focusing on ARM AMBA AHB/APB and AXI interconnects. Practical work during this phase involves building a AHB system-on-chip around the Cortex M0 processor.
On successful completion of the unit a student will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, practical activities supported by drop-in sessions, problem sheets and self-directed exercises.
Formative: Online Test 1
Summative: Coursework 1 (50%), Coursework 2 (50%) marked on a Pass/Fail marking scheme
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EENG34030).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.