ELEC ENG 4056 - Real-Time & Embedded Systems

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2017

Introduction to Real Time systems; C for Real Time systems; Synchronisation and communication; Scheduling Real Time systems; Advanced scheduling; Simulation of a Real Time system.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ELEC ENG 4056
    Course Real-Time & Embedded Systems
    Coordinating Unit School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact up to 7 hours per week, typically 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ELEC ENG 3022
    Assumed Knowledge COMP SCI 2000
    Course Description Introduction to Real Time systems; C for Real Time systems; Synchronisation and communication; Scheduling Real Time systems; Advanced scheduling; Simulation of a Real Time system.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Andrew Allison

    Course Co-ordinator and Lecturer: Dr. Andrew Allison
    Email: andrew.allison@adelaide.edu.au
    Office: IngkarniWardli 3.51
    Phone: 8313 5283

    Lecturer: Dr Braden Phillips
    Email: braden.phillips@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.



  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

     
    1 correctly apply the terminology , and list applications, of real time systems
    2 translate requirements of real-time systems into forms that can be encoded.
    3 work within the constraints imposed by the real-time aspects of systems
    4 re-cast practical design problems into real time task models for the purpose of analysis, evaluation or implementation
    5 evaluate the implications of design choices on real time system implementation
    6 be able to explain the purpose and structure of a real time operating system
    7 implement simple real time functions using a real time operating system and a programming language suitable for embedded real-time systems
    8 analyse and schedule real time task sets on a single processor
    9 apply real-time methodology to multiprocessor and distributed systems

     
    The above course learning outcomes are aligned with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for the Professional Engineer.
    The course is designed to develop the following Elements of Competency:

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-9
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-9
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    A set of course notes, practice problems and other supporting materials will also be available for downloading from the course web site.

    Recommended Resources
    Recommended Reference Books:

    Burns and Wellings, “Real-Time Systems and Programming Languages: Ada, Real-Time Java and C/Real-Time POSIX,” 4th edition, Addison Wesley, 2009

    Laplante and Ovasaka, “Real-Time Systems Design and Analysis: Tools for the Practitioner” (4th Edition)

    Posix Threads (Pthreads) Application Programming Interface-Appendix B, Linux for Embedded and Real-time Applications, Chapter Appendix B, pp.275-286 (available in the Barr-Smith Library)

    Kernighan and Ritchie, “The C Programming Language,” 2nd edition, Prentice Hall, 1988 

    Tanenbaum "Modern Operating Systems" 2nd ed., 2001

    Blum "Exploring Arduino: Tools and techniques for Engineering Wizardry" Wiley, 2013.

    Online Learning
    Extensive use will be made of the MyUni web site for this course, https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/webapps/login. Course notes, tutorial problems and solutions, laboratory exercises and practice problems will all be available for downloading from the web site. Where the lecture theatre facilities permit, audio or video recordings of lectures will also be available for downloading.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course relies on lectures as the primary delivery mechanism for the material. Tutorials supplement the lectures by providing exercises and example problems to enhance the understanding obtained through

    lectures. Computer exercises are used to provide hands-on experience for students to reinforce the theoretical concepts encountered in lectures. Continuous assessment activities provide the formative assessment opportunities for students to gauge their progress and understanding. The subject material falls into 6 major topics. The final topic is presented as an extended computer-laboratory exercise. Lectures: lecture slides will be available prior to lectures and, where material outside of the scope of the textbook is presented, detailed notes will be provided. Students will be encouraged to read sections of the course textbooks in preparation for lectures.

    Tutorials: these will give students an opportunity to practice through the solution of a set of problems. The problems will be available prior to the tutorial and students will be expected to prepare by answering whatever problems they can, and by framing questions to assist them solve the remaining problems. During the tutorial students will work together and with the assistance of tutors to solve remaining problems.

    Computer Exercises: these will be undertaken as individuals in a computer suite. A worksheet of exercises will introduce students to the C programming language, use of the Wind River Workbench and VxWorks real time operating system. These will be strongly structured. Extended Computer Exercise: the final topic, Real Time Adaptive Filters, is presented as a project based exercise in which students develop software to solve a real-time problem using the C programming language in the VX-Works environment. The problem will be specified in terms of a required function. Some lecture time-slots serve for this topic will serve as discussion forums in which students can raise questions and seek guidance from the lecturer. This exercise will be less strongly guided than the other exercises. The aim is to stimulate different possible solutions to a well-defined problem.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Assesment Activity Quantity Contact Hours Workload hours
    Lectures 30 3 60
    Tutorials 5 5 10
    Computer Exercises 1-3 3 8 8
    Quiz 1 1 1
    Computer Exercise 4 1 5 16
    Practice exercises and revision indefinite 0 50
    TOTAL 49 145
    Learning Activities Summary
    TOPIC 1: Introduction to Real Time Systems (4 lectures, 1 tutorial) Introduction Designing and Modelling Real Time Systems Implementation Alternatives Testing & Reliability Safety and Certification Trends & Future Directions

    TOPIC 2: C for Real Time Systems (7 lectures, 1 tutorial, 2 computer exercise)

    TOPIC 3: Synchronisation, Communication & Scheduling (6 lectures, 1 tutorial) VxWorks: A Real-Time Operating System Using VxWorks Semaphores Synchronisation and Priority Inversion Synchronisation & Communication Message Queues Deadlock

    TOPIC 4: Scheduling Real Time Systems (7 lectures, 1 tutorial, 1 computer exercise) Modelling Periodic Tasks Cyclic Executives Round Robin Rate Monotonic Scheduling Scheduling Real Time Systems Rate Monotonic Analysis Deadline Constrained Tasks

    TOPIC 5: Advanced Scheduling (6 lectures, 1 tutorial) Dynamic Scheduling Handling Aperiodic Tasks Modelling Aperiodic Tasks Advanced Scheduling Schedulability with Blocking Multiprocessor Systems

    TOPIC 6: Communicating sequential processes (4 lectures, 1 extended computer-laboratory exercise)
    Specific Course Requirements
    There are no specific course requirements for this course.  A prior exposure to computer programming would be helpful.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Computer exercise number 4 gives students a chance to work in the laboratory in small groups with the lecturers.

    This exercise involves the solution of the Producer-Consumer problem in a microcontoller environment. Synchronisation is provided through the use of interrupts.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Weighting (%) Individual/ Group Formative/ Summative
    Due (week)*
    Hurdle criteria Learning outcomes
    Computer Laboratory Exercises 16 Group Summative Weeks 2-12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8.
    Quiz 14 Individual Summative Week 9 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
    Examination 70 Individual Summative Examination weeks Min 40% 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
    Total 100
    * The specific due date for each assessment task will be available on MyUni.
     
    This assessment breakdown is registered as an exemption to the University's Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy. The exemption is related to the Procedures clause(s): 1. a. ii    1. a. iv   
     
    This course has a hurdle requirement. Meeting the specified hurdle criteria is a requirement for passing the course.
    Assessment Related Requirements
    There are no special requirements.
    Assessment Detail
    Details of individual assessment tasks will be provided during the semester.
    Submission
    Computer exercises will be assessed during the computer session. The final computer-based exercise will be assessed by demonstration during a marking held in one of the computer-laboratory time-slots. Students can expect the grades from continuous assessment components to be available on MyUni within two weeks from the submission deadline.

    According to the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering’s policy on Homework and Assignment Submissions (https://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/policies/homework-assignment-policy.pdf), submission of the computer exercises or PBL exercise will not be accepted after their deadlines unless accompanied by documentary evidence of an unavoidable reason for the delay. The

    School’s policy on Supplementary Exercises for Continuous Assessment Components (https://www.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/policies/continuous-assessment-exercises.pdf) applies to the quiz, computer exercises and PBL exercise.

    Full details can be found at the School policies website: http://www1.eleceng.adelaide.edu.au/students/policies/
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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