Course description for EECS 598: Embedded System Design and Synthesis

Course title: Embedded System Design and Synthesis

Instructor: Robert Dick

Description

Embedded systems are computers within other devices such as automobiles and medical devices. This course will survey the field of real-time embedded system design and synthesis and introduce open research topics in the automatic design of reliable, high-performance, low power consumption, inexpensive embedded systems.

Required text: None

Reference texts

• Wayne Wolf, "Computers as Components: Principles of Embedded Computing System Design", Morgan Kaufman, 2001.
• Robert Dick, Multiobjective Synthesis of Low-Power Real-Time Distributed Embedded Systems, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Ph.D. dissertation, Princeton University, 2002.
• Numerous research papers and book chapters will be assigned. Students will write brief summaries of the assigned articles.

Course goals

Prepare students for research in embedded system synthesis and design. Introduce real-time systems and embedded operating systems basics. Complete original projects that may serve as foundations for further research.

Prerequisites

• Knowledge of computer organization, e.g., EECS 470 (Computer Architecture) or EECS 370 (Introduction to Computer Organization) or EECS 373 (Design of Microprocessor Based Systems), similar course from another university, or similar experience and
• Knowledge of computer programming and algorithm design, e.g., EECS 281 (Data Structures and Algorithms), similar course from another university, or similar experience.

Please email the instructor if you are missing a prerequisite but believe your background might be sufficient.

Prerequisites by topics

• Computer programming,
• Algorithm analysis and design, and
• Fundamentals of logic design and computer organization

Lecture topics

1. Introduction to embedded systems
2. Overview of heterogeneous multiprocessor system-on-chip design problem
3. Models and languages
4. Formal methods for designing reliable embedded systems
5. Heterogeneous multiprocessor synthesis
6. Reliability optimization
7. Real-time systems
8. Scheduling
9. Compilation techniques for embedded systems
10. Embedded operating systems
11. Low-power and power-aware design
12. Novel fabrication techniques for compact and low-power embedded systems
13. Emerging applications (e.g., sensing and actuation intensive applications and user-aware computing)
14. Hardware and software data compression for use in embedded systems
15. Review and student presentations on short projects

Projects

Students will complete one small project and one main project. The instructor will propose a number of possible small project topics. Students may select from among these or propose their own ideas. Small project reports and presentations will be required. The main course project is often an extended version of the small project, but this is not required.

Exams

There will be a final exam covering the assigned reading.

Grading

• Projects: 50%
• Presentations: 25%
• Literature summaries: 10%
• Exams: 15%

Page maintained by Robert Dick.