ELEC6236 Digital System Design

Module Overview

The aim of this module is to teach you how to design digital systems using modern design techniques. The following topics will be covered:

How SystemVerilog is interpreted for simulation and synthesis
How to use EDA tools to configure FPGAs
The principles of functional verification of digital systems
The principles of Built-In Self-Test and system-level design for test techniques

Aims & Objectives

Aims

On successfully completing this module, you will be able to:

Describe sequential digital systems in a hardware description language.
Validate a digital system using a simulator.
Synthesise a digital system to an FPGA.
Generate tests for a combinational digital circuit.
Understand how to include design for test structures in a sequential digital system.
Understand how to move data between clock domains.

Syllabus

Hardward Description Languages: SystemVerilog
Basic building blocks and language constructs
Register Transfer-Level Design
Controller/datapath partitioning
Synthesising designs to FPGAs
Simulation and synthesis principles
Test generation and design for test
Built in Test: Principles, structures, signature analysis
Multiple Clock Domains: Transferring data between clock domains.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		30
Computer Lab		6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 3 hours
Number of sessions completed by each student: 1
Max number of students per session: unlimited
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12
Preferred teaching weeks: 6 to 7

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Supervised Lab exercises	-	10%
Design exercise	-	20%
Exam	2 hours	70%

Referral Method: By examination, with the original coursework mark being carried forward

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ELEC6234 Embedded Processors

Module Overview

This module provides an introduction to modern techniques and industrial software tools used in embedded processor architecture synthesis of modern computer architectures.

Aims

This module gives a broad introduction to application-specific processor system design and illustrates the use of such processors in the broader context of complex digital systems
A significant portion of the module assessment is coursework where students will design a complete, practical processor system and demonstrate it on an FPGA platform
Introduction to modern embedded architectures such as ARM Cortex, OpenRISC, Altera NIOS and Xilinx picoBlaze will be given

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Embedded processor architecture design, including instruction set design, arithmetic hardware, instruction decoding, branching, I/O multi-processing; modern industrial embedded processors such as ARM Cortex, Altera NIOS and Xilinx picoBlaze, picoMIPS

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Design application-specific modern processor architectures that are fit-for-purpose in embedded applications and optimised for size and performance.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Show a mature approach to the design, verification and evaluation of complex digital systems.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Use modern FPGA synthesis tools to evaluate and verify designs, develop and test processor designs on an FPGA development platform.

Syllabus

Revision of RISC architecture principles
Processor RTL hardware blocks
Control path, Program Counter and Program Memory,
Data path, ALU, Register files, caches, memories, synchronous RAM in processor designs
Embedded hardware blocks, hardware multipliers, DSP blocks
Instruction set and instruction decoder
Performance analysis, design for low energy consumption
Soft microprocessor cores
Altera NIOS, Xilinx picoBlaze, ARM Cortex-M1, OpenRISC
Application Specific PicoMIPS concept and examples
Multi and many-core embedded processor system
Application case studies

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		36
Tutorial		6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 15 minutes
Number of sessions completed by each student: 1
Max number of students per session: 8
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:1
Preferred teaching weeks: 10 to 11

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
picoMIPS synthesis	-	50%
Exam	2 hours	50%

Referral Method: By examination

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ELEC6233 Digital Systems Synthesis

Module Overview

To describe the design of complex digital systems using a (SystemVerilog and SystemC based) behavioural synthesis approach.
To provide understanding of the algorithms which underpin behavioural synthesis including scheduling, allocation and binding.
To gain hands-on experience in the application of behavioural synthesis to generate designs optimised for user-defined constraints.
To describe digital design for testability techniques at the behavioural and RTL levels.
To provide an overview of emerging SoC design and test methods.
To describe system level low power design methods.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Advanced digital synthesis techniques including, low power techniques, the use of SystemVerilog and SystemC in digital system design

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Understand techniques for digital system behavioural synthesis, verification and performance evaluation

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Hands-on experience of optimised behavioural synthesis for user defined constraints, such as power consumption, performance, size.

Disciplinary Specific

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Gain understanding of modern emerging System-on-Chip design methods

Syllabus

Review of hardware description languages and behavioural synthesis of digital systems (SystemVerilog, SystemC, Bluespec).
Behavioural synthesis data structures and algorithms
- Data and control flow representations
- Data flow graph (DFG) descriptions
- Control data flow graph (CDFG) descriptions
- Extended Petri-net models
Synthesis and design space
- Design space exploration
- Constructive vs. transformational/iterative techniques
- Behavioural optimisation
- Scheduling, allocation, module binding and controller synthesis

Scheduling and binding algorithms

Unconstrained and constrained scheduling
Scheduling of multicycled and pipelined functional modules
Allocation and binding algorithms
Interconnect allocation and optimisation
Overview of transformational/iterative approaches (simulated annealing, genetic algorithms)

Design for testability

Design for Testability: scan-based and built-in-self-test (BIST) techniques
Test scheduling, test controllers, on-line test

Low power design of IP core for SoC applications, development of a high-level synthesis system.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		36
Tutorial		12

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Low Power Lab	-	10%
Complex system synthesis	-	40%
Exam	2 hours	50%

Referral Method: By examination and a new coursework assignment

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ELEC6232 Analogue and Mixed Signal CMOS Design

Module Overview

The key aim of this module is to provide the background and the methods for the understanding of the operation of basic analogue CMOS cells, and how to design common functions. The emphasis is placed on design of analogue functions specifically as part of mixed signal systems.

Only a few “Digital” CMOS ICs are actually completely digital; most have some analogue functions, often signal conditioning and data conversion interfaces, but maybe only a clock oscillator. The approach adopted is based on “bottom-up” approach, by encouraging a sound understanding of the analogue behaviour of devices and a range of fundamental circuit principles, with the emphasis on gaining skills at first order design by hand as a starting point for simulation and as guidance for optimisation.

Device models suitable for hand calculation are considered as well as their limits of applicability. The methods for manufacturability and robustness in design are given high priority.

Functions addressed include primitive cells, biasing and references, op-amp designs, sampled and continuous time filters, A/D and D/A converters

Pre-Requisite Knowledge:

• Basic MOS transistor construction and physics

• Basic MOS transistor large and small signal models

• DC and AC network analysis skills

• Behavioural level understanding of Op-Amp circuits

• Elementary appreciation of sampled data systems

• Basic circuit simulation CAD skills (SPICE)

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Learning Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will have obtained an appreciation of:

• Active and passive components available in CMOS and their parasitic elements of first order transistor modelling for initial manual design and the limits of applicability

• Behaviour and design of basic analogue circuit primitives, including quantitative treatment of matching

• CMOS Op-Amp design, from single ended to full differential structures

• Signal and bias handling for noise immunity in mixed signal substrate

• Switched capacitor techniques

• Practical issues in voltage and current scaling A/D and D/A converters

• SD modulator operation and design

• PLL circuits suitable for clock generation

Syllabus

CMOS Technology and MOS Transistor Model Review

Amplifier Basics

Current Mirrors

Reference Circuits

Matching

Op-Amp Design

Comparators

Switched Capacitor Techniques for Data Conversion

Nyquist A/D and D/A Converters

Sigma-Delta A/D and D/A Converters

PLLs for IC Clock Generation

Crystal Oscillators

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		30
Demonstration or Examples Session	Design exercises to develop the skills in hand calculation as the basis for simulation and optimisation. There will be direct interaction and opportunities for 1:1 questions during these clases.	6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Design Assignment	-	25%
Exam	2 hours	75%

Referral Method: By examination

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ELEC6228 Applied Control Systems

Module Overview

This module will introduce the student to key topics within control and signal processing, developing understanding through a combination of theoretical content and practical application.

The theoretical content is focussed in a number of key themes within the areas of system identification and control, encompassing fundamental theory together with application examples and case-studies. Emphasis is placed on guided background reading using supplied references and worked examples, to broaden and expand underlying knowledge, and enable students to apply it to practical situations.

The second component of the module involves working in small groups to apply these techniques to real-world systems, and is supported through core material related to real-time hardware and the practical implementation of signal processing and control schemes. Each group will be given a practical control problem which will require design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of the theoretical approaches studied. This motivates and stimulates deep understanding of the theory through direct practical experience, and allows students to directly come into contact with and address issues related to real-world implementation.

In the final component of the module, each group will present details of their practical work in a seminar to their peers, describing the experimental design process, additional theoretical content, implementation issues encountered, and the experimental results gained. This will enable them to critically evaluate the approaches of others.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Elements involved in real-time control, including hardware, software and data transfer
Practical performance issues, performance criteria and iterative testing

Intellectual skills

Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:

Express practical performance criteria in terms of control design specifications
Apply advanced control methodologies to practical problems
Interpret and refine solutions based on experimental test results

Subject specific skills

Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:

Derive models that capture the underlying characteristics of a practical problem
Apply theoretical principles to derive control solutions to the problem
Implement the controller in real-time
Assess the quality of the results in practice

Employability/Transferable/Key Skills

Having successfully completed the module, you will be able to:

Work in a small team to solve a practical control problem
Write a report which describes the problem, and motivates the solution applied, and contains full detail of the application and validation of the proposed method
Present and explain theoretical solutions and practical results to the class
Critique other group’s work from theoretical and practical perspectives

Syllabus

The module is presented through 6 lectures of core material (“Introduction” and “Real-time implementation issues”), together with 18 lectures covering three themes within Control and Identification. These three topics will each be presented in 6 lectures, and will operate in rotation from the six given below. The final component of the course will be seminars given by each group.

Introduction [3 lectures]

Review of control systems components, performance criteria and implementation issues
Overview of system identification methods, modelling for control, iterative testing and refinement
Choice of control structure, overview and comparison of control methodologies
Practical issues, software programming and hardware
Examples of practical systems, and control system implementation

Real-time implementation issues [3 lectures]

Overview of real-time commercial hardware, selection criteria and functionality
Noise reduction, signal conditioning, sampling, actuator limitations
Use of Matlab and Simulink in real-time control
Guide to Real-time Workshop, tutorial and FAQs
Overview of report writing

Optimal Control [6 lectures]

Linear Quadratic Regulator: Problem Formulation
State Estimation
Solution Implementations
Introduction to the Minimum Principle
Linear Quadratic Tracking: Problem formulation
Solution Implementations
Practical applications and examples
References and further reading

Model Predictive Control [6 lectures]

Linear convex optimal control
Finite horizon approximation
Model predictive control
Fast MPC implementations
Practical applications and examples
References and further reading

Iterative Learning Control [6 lectures]

Motivation and application example
Frequency domain ILC
Time domain Iterative Learning Control
Extension for Nonlinear systems: Newton-based ILC
Non-minimum phase experimental example
Rehabilitation experimental example
References and further reading

Data-driven Control [6 lectures]

Model-based versus data-based control approaches
The data-driven approach
Identifiability and persistency of excitation
Solution of data-driven LQ finite-horizon control problem
Hankel matrix
Optimality of state feedback
Examples
References and further reading

Adaptive control [6 lectures]

Theadaptive control problem
Real-time parameter estimation
Self-tuning regulators
Model-reference adaptive control
Applications examples
Directed further reading

Multivariable Control [6 lectures]

Introduction to multivariable control
MIMO transfer functions, frequency response, relative gain array, RHP zeros
Introduction to MIMO robustness
Limitations on MIMO performance
Robust stability and performance analysis for MIMO systems
Controller designs (LQG, H₂ and H_∞ control)
Practical case studies
Directed further reading

Student Seminars [12 lectures]

Each group writes a report detailing their work and present a seminar to the cohort, including:

How they have applied the theoretical aspects to their testbed in order to achieve the goals presented to them
How they tackled implementation issues
How they have used background reading to improve their designs
Evaluation of the experimental results achieved
Use of results to refine their designs
Practical demonstration
Question and answer session

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture	Underlying course material is presented in 36 lectures (24 lectures and 12 presentation seminars).	36
Tutorial	The lecture material is supported by tutorial sessions that will go through examples given in the lectures.	12

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Coursework sheet associated with each of the 3 control topics	-	30%
Group report of the experimental component	-	50%
Seminar presentation session given by each group	-	10%
Written critique of another group’s work	-	10%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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ELEC6227 Medical Electrical and Electronic Technologies

Module Overview

This module aims to provide an in-depth understanding, appropriate to an engineer, of medical technologies for clinical applications and an understanding of the electrical hazards to human health.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

human anatomy and physiology (appropriate to an engineer)
physical/electrical properties of human tissues and organs including their biological function
electrical and electronic methods for biomolecular and cellular based analytical and diagnostic applications
physiological measurement

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

the application and operation of medical imaging systems, monitoring and in vivo sensing systems, drug delivery
health related hazards of electrical and electronic devices; nature and approaches taken for hazard management

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

regulation, standardisation of medical technologies and requirements for bringing new technologies to market.

Syllabus

Anatomy

o anatomical terminology

o structural level of the human body

o muscular, skeletal, nervous, cardio-vascular, respiratory systems

• Physiological instrumentation

o measurement systems

o biopotentials (to include ECG, EMG, EEG and neurostimulation methods)

o cardiovascular instrumentation (to include pacemakers, pressure, dissolved gas measurement)

o biosensing approaches related to remote and intelligent sensing (including evolving technologies i.e. drug delivery, diabetic monitoring, epilepsy and pain management)

o neurological processes, measurement and stimulation

o brain function and memory

• Imaging technology

o X-Ray, gamma camera

o nuclear magnetic resonance imaging

o ultrasound imaging, including doppler ultrasound

• Bioanalysis, diagnostic methods

o electrophoresis, isoelectric focussing as applied to genomic and proteomic applications

o nuclear magnetic resonance imaging as applied to metabolomics applications

o biophotonic methods for analysis and imaging

o overview of urine, blood and tissue based clinical diagnostic tests

• Biohazards of electrical and electronic devices and related technology

o electrical safety, particularly for medical applications

o electrical environmental hazards and methods for managing these

o radiation hazards

• Sources of information and regulations with regard to medical devices

o Reports and investigations with respect to electrical/electronic technology on human health aspects

o Patent, academic and other research sources for medical technologies

o Regulations, standards, and approaches for taking devices from the research lab to the clinic

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		24
Tutorial		12

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Report on Health Hazards of one electrical/electronic technology	-	33%
Report on one existing medical imaging technology and approaches being considered for improvement/development	-	33%
Report on new emerging medical technologies	-	33%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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ELEC6226 Power Electronics for DC Transmission

Module Overview

The syllabus will be based upon several topics relating to the use of power semiconductors and components in power systems. The course starts with considerations of the individual power electronic devices, before moving on to their use as part of an HVDC convertor station. Finally, you will consider issues surrounding HVDC transmission links as a whole, including the relevant cable and line technologies. This will be set against the context of the changing requirements for bulk transmission of power which are affecting electrical grids around the world.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Appreciation of overhead line and underground cable technology applicable to long distance DC transmission, using both LCC and VSC technologies

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Understand the characteristics of power semiconductor devices
Know the limitations of different power converters and how they affect the design of transmission links
Design of compensating circuits for reducing harmonic distortion in current and voltage waveforms

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Search for technical data from a wide range of sources
Write a technical and critical document on power electronic systems
Coherently present technical information for in a group interview environment

Syllabus

The syllabus will be based upon several topics relating to the use of power semiconductors in power systems.

Power semiconductor devices:

Review of devices – field effect and bipolar.
A study of high voltage and high current devices. Their input and output characteristics.
Gate drive circuits and their limitations and effects of turn-on and turn-off characteristics.
Thermal models and the cooling of devices.
Experimental circuit protection.
Series and parallel operation

Six pulse power convertors

Naturally commutated three phase convertors.
Bi-directional power conversion.
Electronic synchronisation to a supply

Harmonic analysis of current waveforms:

Twelve pulse power convertors
Star delta phase shift using two six-pulse convertors
Harmonic reduction of power waveforms
Study harmonics in common power convertor waveforms
Regulations for power supplies
Simulation of typical power waveforms
Investigation of power compensation circuits and their analysis

HVDC Transmission Systems:

Benefits of using HVDC links
Overview of links in operation
OHL vs Cable
Paper vs Polymeric Cable technology
Requirements for multi-point transmission grids

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Combination of lectures, drop-in tutorial sessions for technical discussion and directed independent study.

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture	Approximately 5 lectures of material per coursework component	20
Tutorial		10

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Essay Assignment Report (3000 words) on the characteristics of power semiconductor devices used for a given HVDC converter application	-	50%
Group report and presentation on the design of an HVDC Transmission link against a given application.	-	50%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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ELEC6224 Advanced Electrical Materials

Module Overview

This module build upon material covered in earlier parts of the course and to concentrate on organic materials and the potential in providing novel solutions to demanding engineering problems. It concentrates on the response of these materials to applied fields and includes: charge transport thropugh disordered materials; advanced dielectrics; conducting polymers; liquid crysyals and liquid crystal polymers. The assessment activities are designed to provide scope for students to refine their organizational and team working abilities through the completion of two assignments that require both technical expertise and a range of transferrable skills

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

The arrangement of electrons in atoms, molecules and solids, as exemplified by current generation high voltage insulation systems, conducting polymers and liquid crystals.
How electronic structure leads to materials with different macroscopic properties.
The way in which different material characteristics are exploited to drive emerging technologies.

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of advanced materials research.
Review, consolidate, extend and apply your knowledge and understanding.
Solve problems encountered during the course of conducting a mini- project relating either to (a) charge transport dynamics within an insulating polymer or (b) molecular engineering as a strategy to high strength/high modulus materials.
Select, summarise and survey a group of related research articles relating either to (a) the fundamentals/applications of molecular engineering as a means of producing novel mechanical systems or (b) the importance of space charge in high voltage insulation systems.
Analyse and critically evaluate cross-disciplinary results obtained from a range of sources.

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Study independently in order to gain specialist knowledge.
Organise your time to meet defined objectives.
Work efficiently and effectively as a team.
Work collectively and independently to manage tasks to completion through effective planning, implementation, reading and other research and critical evaluation.
Present and explain technical work, both verbally and in written form.
Communicate advanced information and concepts in writing.

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution to a problem and generate a solution to that problem.
Undertake practical work in order to obtain data pertinent to a defined task.
Demonstrate an appreciation of risk and safe laboratory practice.
Record your work accurately.
Employ library facilities, the World Wide Web, the Web of Knowledge and related data bases to review specified topics and extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem.

Syllabus

Charge Transport in Disordered Materials

Review of electrical conduction in solids - band theory and periodic structures.
Charge transport in disordered systems, hopping transport, traps and space-charge.

Polymeric Cable Insulation

Review of polymeric materials; the structural elements within polymeric materials.
The structure and chemistry of current generation polymeric cable insulation.
The Pulsed Electro-acoustic technique for measuring space charge.
Nanodielectrics and next generation materials.

Conducting Polymers

Molecular structure and delocalisation.
Charge carriers and doping.
Applications of conducting polymers
Photovoltaics and nanoparticles.

Liquid Crystals: Electro-optic and Mechanical Materials

The molecular basis of liquid crystallinity: nematic, smectic, cholesteric and discotic structures.
Thermotropic and lyotropic systems; monodomain and polydomain structures.
Liquid crystals and light.
Main-chain liquid crystal polymers as high performance mechanical materials.
Side-chain liquid crystal polymers as novel actuator materials: artificial muscles.

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

The topics covered in this module are all related and provide an introduction to the fundamentals and applications of advanced electrical materials. The assessment methods are designed to apply the underlying concepts provided in lectures and require you to review, consolidate, extend and apply this knowledge and understanding in the form of a mini-project and a critical review.

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture	Lectures covering the core material.	12
Tutorial	Dedicated feedback session.	1

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Research Review of 3000 words	-	50%
Mini-project	-	50%

Referral Method: By set coursework assignment(s)

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ELEC3222 Computer Networks

Module Overview

The aims of this module are:

To provide an introduction to modern computer networks and the Internet; To describe network architectures and principles;
To describe the components and layers of the TCP/IP network model used on the Internet;
To describe emerging network technologies and security issues;
To give experience in designing and building embedded network devices; To expose students to networking standards.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

understand the architecture and components of computer networks
understand issues regarding the security of modern computer networks

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

interpret standardisation documents

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

design and analyse embedded networked devices and systems

Syllabus

Network architectures and principles Layered networking models (e.g. TCP/IP)
Physical networks and their design Wireless networks
Data link layer (e.g. Ethernet, Wi-Fi)
Network layer (e.g. IP networking, addressing, routing, QoS, multicast) Transport layer (e.g. TCP and UDP)
Application layer
Standardisation of communication protocols
Principles of network security
Emerging network technologies
Networking for constrained embedded devices
Development environments for constrained embedded devices and networks

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture		24
Tutorial		12
Specialist Lab		9

Assessment

Assessment methods

Laboratory sessions are scheduled in the labs on level 2 of the Zepler building
Length of each session: 3 hours
Number of sessions completed by each student: 3
Max number of students per session: unlimited
Demonstrator:student ratio: 1:12
Preferred teaching weeks: 3 to 5

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
Computer networking coursework working in small groups but assessed individually	-	40%
Exam	hours	60%

Referral Method: By examination

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COMP6236 Software Engineering and Cyber Security

Module Overview

This module focuses on both theoretical and practical perspectives in the development of software systems, exploring secure software design and development methods, and software analysis and reverse engineering. It therefore explores aspects of software engineering that are directly applicable cyber security.

The aims of the module at a high level are to:

Explore common threats to the secure operation of software systems
Give students knowledge of secure software development best practices
Understand the importance of formal methods and software testing
Give students exposure to software system analysis and reverse engineering

This module is compulsory for students taking the MSc in Cyber Security.

Aims & Objectives

Aims

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

Common issues affecting the security of software systems
Best practices for secure software development
Applying formal methods and software testing
Software analysis and reverse engineering
Issues of privacy and trust for software design

Subject Specific Intellectual

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Describe specific methods for exploiting software systems

Transferable and Generic

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Apply secure software development principles to a range of application domains

Subject Specific Practical

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to:

Understand basic C programs, x86 Architecture, Memory Allocation and Assembly Language.
Build more secure software systems and applications
Undertake basic reverse engineering of software

Syllabus

The syllabus includes the following topics:

Understanding software threats and hazards
Privacy and trust issues in software system design
Security by design
Security models, and principles of secure computing
Managing secure software design and development
Software development lifecycle
Formal methods approaches
Software testing
Static/dynamic analysis of software systems
Reverse engineering

Learning & Teaching

Learning & teaching methods

The module will be delivered through up to 24 lectures, which will include at least two regular lectures each week, in addition to tutorial and practical sessions.

The tutorial and practical sessions are designed to support students and prepare them to take the assignment.

Lecture - 24 hours per semester
Tutorial - 6 hours per semester
Computer Lab - 6 hours per semester

Activity	Description	Hours
Lecture	Regular lectures	24
Tutorial	Tutorial sessions	6
Computer Lab	Computing labs	6

Assessment

Assessment methods

Method	Hours	Percentage contribution
The coursework will be focused on a practical application of the taught material, on the topic of building more secure software systems and applications, and/or undertaking basic reverse engineering of software. The coursework may therefore be a single piece of work, or one split into two parts covering each aspect.	-	30%
Exam	120 mins hours	70%

Referral Method: By examination

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