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2021/2022

Embedded Systems Design

Code: 102733 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500895 Electronic Engineering for Telecommunication OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Jordi Carrabina Bordoll
Email:
Jordi.Carrabina@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Teachers

Jordi Carrabina Bordoll
Raimon Casanova
Marc Codina Barbera

Prerequisites

Folowing knowledge is recommended:

  • C/C++ Programming

  • Linux Operating System
  • Technology of electronic components 
  • Electronic Systems and Applications
  • Computer Architecture and Peripherals

Objectives and Contextualisation

The overall objective of this course is threefold: 

1. Acquisition of criteria and techniques for the design of electronic systems (embedded).  
2. Familiarisation with the usual components, interfaces, protocols, and software levels (BSP, HAL, MW, OS) and development tools.
3. Design of an embedded system on a prototyping platform 

Competences

  • Communication
  • Develop personal attitude.
  • Develop personal work habits.
  • Develop thinking habits.
  • Learn new methods and technologies, building on basic technological knowledge, to be able to adapt to new situations.
  • Manage activities involved in projects in the field of telecommunications.
  • Resolve problems with initiative and creativity. Make decisions. Communicate and transmit knowledge, skills and abilities, in awareness of the ethical and professional responsibilities involved in a telecommunications engineer’s work.
  • Work in a team.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Adapt to unforeseen situations.
  2. Communicate efficiently, orally and in writing, knowledge, results and skills, both professionally and to non-expert audiences.
  3. Design and use complex electronic systems that interact with external transduction elements, providing them with the necessary intelligence to operate in a subordinated and / or autonomous manner.
  4. Develop critical thinking and reasoning.
  5. Develop curiosity and creativity.
  6. Develop systemic thinking.
  7. Efficiently use ICT for the communication and transmission of ideas and results.
  8. Generate innovative and competitive proposals in professional activity.
  9. Obtain hardware / software solutions for communications applications using complex platform based interfaces.
  10. Optimize embedded systems from design and choosing suitable design methodologies and implementation technologies.
  11. Prevent and solve problems.
  12. Work cooperatively.

Content

1. Technology of Complex HW/SW Embedded Systems

1.1 Embedded HW/SW Systems
1.2 From microcontrollers to SoCs (Systems-on-a-Chip)
1.3 Homogeneous and heterogeneous Multiprocessor Systems
1.4 Sensors and Microsystems 

2. Platforms and Subsystems 
 
2.1. Industrial and Open embedded platforms 
2.2. Considerations on Mechanics, energy and Regulations 
2.3 Communications Subsystems 
2.4 Reconfigurable Devices for prototyping and implementation 
2.5 Memory Subsystem 
 
3. Implementation of Embedded systems 
 
3.1 Clocks and Voltage Regulators 
3.2 Rules of good design 
3.3 Design, manufacture and Assembly of PCBs 
3.4 Cost estimate and industrialization 
 

4. Embedded system design 

4.1 Idea generation for the design of an embedded system and market study 
4.2 Functional and performance specifications 
4.3 Proposal for system architecture
4.4 Proposal for system implementation
4.5 Documentation

5. Seminars (optional)

5.1 Design of high-performance PCBs 
5.2 Printed electronics 
5.3 Application examples (wearables, image processing, 3D, speech, etc

6. Laboratory sessions

We plan 5 sessions for the analysis and programming of an embedded system on the Synergy plataform from Renesas.

Methodology

Directed activities: lectures, seminars and laboratory sessions

Supervised Activities: embedded system design work (one per students groups of 2 or 3 people), tutoring, (optional) participation in an international challenge proposed by industries on embedded systems

Autonomous Activities: study of concepts and methodologies, preparation of design work and laboratory activities, writing reports and presentations

A visit to an industry related to the design and/or manufacture of embedded systems will be proposed (if possible).

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Laboratory Sessions 12 0.48 4, 3, 10
Lessons 26 1.04 4, 3, 9, 10
Seminars on current trends 12 0.48 2, 4, 3, 10, 12
Type: Supervised      
Tutoring 12 0.48 4, 3, 9, 10
Type: Autonomous      
Preparation of Laboratory Sessions 8 0.32 4, 3, 9, 10
Study 68 2.72 2, 4, 3, 9, 10, 12

Assessment

Evaluation of the Course is based on the following weighting:

  • Partial Control(s) and/or Final exam (35%)  
  • Laboratory work (35%)  
  • Design Work (30%)  

The design work and laboratory work are compulsory in order to pass the course and have to be passed satisfactorily (mark above 5 over 10).

in case of a mark in the parcial control lower than 4 (over 10) the student must do the Final test to pass the course.

Any modification of this method of evaluation by circumstances not provided appropriate way will be communicated to the affected students.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Design (groupal) of an embedded system 30% 6 0.24 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
Final Test 35% 2 0.08 2, 6, 4, 3, 9, 10, 12
Parcial control 35% 2 0.08 2, 5, 4, 3, 8, 9, 12
Report on the results of the laboratory developments 35% 2 0.08 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12

Bibliography

The material given to the supervised activities is self-explanatory. we will also use training material provided by Renesas on the Synergy platform.  

Web resources will be used with to refer current embedded technologies.

To delve into the subject, you can consult the following bibliographic sources:

  • F. Balarin et al.: "Hardware-Software Co-Design of Embedded Systems: The POLIS Approach".
  • F. Hüning: Embedded Design for IoT with Renesas Synergy.
  • Johnson, H.W., Graham m., "high-speed digital design: a handbook of black magic"

Example of international competition http://www.innovatefpga.com/portal/

Software

Development framework for the Renesas Synergy plataform and embedded board for code execution.

https://www.renesas.com/us/en/products/microcontrollers-microprocessors/renesas-synergy-platform-mcus