Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

1. Integrated circuits design methods using VHDL/Verilog and design automation tools

2. Low-power integrated circuits design for modern applications such as machine learning or signal processing

3. Embedded systems architectures and concurrent behaviour in embedded systems

4. Hardware/software design and modelling of embedded computing systems.

Outline Of Syllabus

Section 1 : Integrated Circuits Design

Design review of combinational and sequential circuit designs. ASIC and FPGA based digital systems designs. Digital systems design and synthesis: register-transfer level design, system-level design. All aspects will be based on VHDL or Verilog based design automation tools.



Section 2 : Methods of IC Design

Introduction to analogue and mixed signal IC design; Low-power digital IC design and synthesis methods. Considerations for high speed systems, metastability and clock distribution. Introduction to Design for Test and Testbench design methods. All aspects will be based on VHDL or Verilog based design automation tools.



Section 3 : Introduction to Embedded Systems and Processes

Definitions, design metrics and marketing issues of embedded computing systems. Real-time behaviour and concurrency modelling, FSM, Petri nets, Reachability Graphs. Software implementation of FSM. Concurrent processes and data communication between them. Concurrent threads, data communication between threads, critical sections, properties. Practicals designed using C/C++ mostly.



Section 4: Embedded Systems Architectures and Applications

Asynchronous Communication Mechanisms, properties, taxonomy, modelling, implementation. Real-Time scheduling and schedulers. Optimality theorems. Design of a simple Timeline scheduler. Programming with short periodic tasks. Synchronisation problem in interfacing the real-time systems to the environment. Embedded systems in the IoT domain.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the course:
1.       Students will be able to explain the IC design flow and implementation methods including ASIC, FPGAs and low-power circuits. M1
2.       Students will be able to define fundamental concepts of embedded systems architectures. M1
3.       The students will be able to select, design and implement the correct systems architectures and implement their process concurrency for real-time performance and energy efficiency. M2, M3
4.       Students will be able to judge ethical and societal issues related to fairness, privacy, and security of embedded systems. M8

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of course, students will be able to:

1.       Design integrated circuits using professional design automation tools to employ them in several practical applications. M2, M3
2.       Design, debug, and interpret code to build hierarchical embedded architectures and evaluate their performance. M3
3.       Interpret synthesis results and data to improve IC designs further. M2, M3
4.       Engineer low-complexity embedded solutions for real-world applications and domain specific problems. M3
5.       Identify hardware/software co-design related optimization opportunities for real-world embedded problems and applications. M1

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Underlying theory and its application in practice is taught in the lectures. This is, however a predominantly practical subject (e.g. IC design using design automation tools and languages or Embedded Systems software projects) and the substantial laboratory-based component reflects this. The latter requires a considerable amount of quiet reflection and preparation, time for which is allocated under independent study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

This is a practical engineering-driven discipline which combines the real-time embedded systems specific and IC design with general knowledge of hardware and software programming and co-design. Therefore, the module combines the theory taught in lectures with applied study carried out as computer practicals and private self-directed learning. The essential design skills, which include analysis, synthesis, implementation and individual project management are exercised in practicals. Support from a qualified demonstrator staff is an important aspect of skill transfer. All levels of Bloom’s taxonomy are included.

General Notes

N/A