School of Electronics and Computer Science:
COMP3006 Real-time Computing and Embedded Systems
Basic Information
| School | Dept- Electronics & Computer Science |
|---|---|
| Known as | COMP3006. |
| Session and Semester | Semester Two, 2011 - 2012 |
| Credit | 10 Credit Points |
| Unit Leader | Denis A Nicole MA PhD MIEE CEng |
| Moderators | Prof Michael J Butler |
| Study | 100 nominal hours, of which apporximately 30% related to laboratories |
| Assessment | Examination 70%, Coursework 30% |
| Coursework | 1 introductory exercise and 1 formal assignment based on programming of IA32 embedded systems. |
| Teaching | Lectures 24, laboratories 6h 40m |
| Prerequisites and Exclusions | Prerequisites: (COMP1006 - Computer Architecture or ELEC2013 - Computer Systems Engineering). |
| Referral | On referral, this unit will be assessed 100% by examination. |
| Syllabus Approved |
Description
Aims
to provide a detailed elementary knowledge of real-time computing for embedded and control computer systems.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- embedded systems tools and techniques,
- aspects of high level languages appropriate to embedded systems development techniques.
Intellectual Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- evaluate features of real-time schedulers, kernels and operating systems,
- evaluate alternative real-time strategies not based on operating systems.
Practical Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- write applications that are subject to critical timing constraints,
- design and implement simple real-time systems based on real-time OS kernels.
General Transferable (key) Skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:
- perform critical evaluations of competing commercial and "free" offerings.
Topics Covered
- Issues and concepts
- Definition of real-time
- Temporal and event determinism
- Architecture review and interfacing
- Interrupts, traps and events
- Response times and latency.
- Real-time clocks
- Operating systems
- Structure of an RTOS
- Nucleus, servers, schedulers and dispatchers
- Synchronization and communication: priority and distribution queues
- Device drivers
- Short Case studies e.g. Windows CE, VxWorks
- Languages in real-time
- Concurrency Issues
- Real-time programming in high-level languages, e.g. C, Java, C#
Teaching and learning activities
Teaching methods include
- lectures,
- laboratories, including direct interaction with Unit Leader.
Learning activities include
- practical implementation of a real-time system.
Methods of assessment
| Assessment method | Number | % contribution to final mark |
|---|---|---|
| Examination [exam] | 1 | 70 |
| Laboratory work [labs] | 4 | 30 |
Feedback and student support during module study
principally by direct interaction during laboratories.
Relationship between the teaching, learning and assessment methods and the planned learning outcomes
The knowledge and understanding skills listed above will be taught in lectures. The intellectual skills will be taught in lectures and re-enforced through the coursework.
The purpose of the exam is to test understanding of topics that it is difficult to fully assess in a single assignment, and also to allow students to show that the abilities demonstrated in the coursework are their own.
Resources
Core Resources
- Burns, A and Wellings, A, Real Time Systems and Programming Languages: Ada 95, Real-Time Java and Real-Time POSIX, 3rd Ed., ISBN 0201729881, Pearson Education (2001). [Library] [Shops]
Background Resources
- Horowitz P and Hill W, The Art of Electronics 2nd Ed., ISBN 0521370957, Cambridge University Press (1989). [Library] [Shops]
- Flanagan D, Java in a Nutshell, ISBN 0596007736, O''Reilly (2005). [Library] [Shops]
- Buhr R J and Bailey D L, An Introduction to Real-Time Systems: From design to Multitasking with C/C+, ISBN 0136060706, Prentice Hall (1998). [Library] [Shops]
- Douglass B P, Real Time UML: Advances in the UML for Real-time Systems 3rd Ed., ISBN 0321160762, Addison-Wesley (2004), [Library] [Shops]
Taught to
COMP3006
Non-existing cohort: "ceMEng3" (Compulsory)Pt III BSc Computer Science (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "csBScAi3" (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "csBScDs3" (Optional)
Non-existing cohort: "csBScIm3" (Optional)
Computer Science Integrated PhD (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Distributed Systems & Networks (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Image and Multimedia Systems (Optional)
Pt III MEng Computer Science with Mobile and Secure Systems (Optional)
Pt III BEng Electrical Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electrical Engineering (Optional)
Pt III BEng Electronic Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Artificial Intelligence (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Nanotechnology (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Optical Communications (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Power Systems (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Mobile and Secure Systems (Compulsory)
Pt III MEng Electronic Engineering with Wireless Communications (Optional)
Pt III BEng Electromechanical Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Electromechanical Engineering (Optional)
ECS Socrates Students (Optional)
Pt III BEng Software Engineering (Optional)
Pt III MEng Software Engineering (Optional)
Students who are not registered on an ECS approved programme may take this module subject to meeting its pre-requisites and the availability of resources. To confirm this, please can you contact the module leader (as listed above) in the first instance. They will then refer you on to the appropriate director of studies for formal approval of your selection.