Unit information: Embedded and Real-Time Systems in 2011/12

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	Professor. Munro
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	EENG20400.
Co-requisites	EENG34040.
School/department	School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

Microcomputers 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 microcomputer-based system and programming it to meet the real-time demands of embedded systems. Microcomputer controllers are described, their interface components explained and programming approaches discussed. Topics addressed include bus systems, signalling and handshaking, arbitration, designing memory systems, 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) which will use 5 problems each of which will be expected to take 2 weeks to complete. Some will involve practical work using a real time embedded system.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit a student will be able to:

• apply the design principles, basic practice and trade-offs for a variety of device/bus interaction models in a microcontroller system including memory (RAM & ROM) and I/O;

• describe the programming techniques required to operate a small-scale, multi-tasking, real-time system;

• assess the various mechanisms used to address the problem of process synchronisation in a pre-emptive, multi-tasking environment;

• formulate the need for operating system support to provide these mechanisms;

• explain the principles of embedded system design, operation, and performance.

Assessment Information

Name: Coursework

Type: Quiz & Presentation

% of final mark: 35

Description: A WebCT quiz for each problem & a presentation mark; both awarded to the group. This mark to be allocated to students using peer/self-assessment

Name: Terminal Exam

Type: Exam

% of final mark: 65

Description: 2 hour written paper

Reading and References

Recommended:

• Barrett, Steven F., & Pack, Daniel J., Embedded Systems – Design and Applications with the 68HC12 and HCS12, ISBN 0131401416

• Burns, Alan & Wellings, Andy, Real-time Systems and Programming Languages: Ada 95, Real-Time Java and Real-Time POSIX, 3rd ed, ISBN 0201729881

• Li, Quing & Yao, Caroline, Real-time Concepts for Embedded Systems, ISBN 1578201241

Optional additional reading:

• Douglass, Bruce, Doing Hard Time: Developing Real-Time Systems with UML, Objects, Frameworks and Patterns, ISBN 0201498375

• Buttazzo, Georgio C., Hard Real-time Computing Systems: Predictable Scheduling Algorithms and Applications. ISBN 0387231374