Course syllabus - Programming of Reliable Embedded Systems

Objectives

The course shall provide the student with knowledge of software for advanced robotic systems with a special focus on methods and means to create software for safety critical systems. The course shall also provide knowledge in programming of heterogeneous computing systems.

The areas of application for future robots will include situations that require robots possessing qualities of potential harm to people to incorporate software ensuring the safety of humans. An example would be service robots for the elderly. Such a robot could possess the strength to aid a person in standing, from the bed or the floor, or even carrying a person. Demands will thus be put on the software to not enable the human to be harmed.

Embedded systems used in robots of advanced functionality will consist of different types of interconnected computational units. Microcontrollers will handle sensors and actuators, while the high performance parts can consist of a number of CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs. It is important to know how to compose such a system and how to ensure its proper execution.

Learning outcomes

The student shall after completed the course:

- be able to design a multi threaded program by using Ada tasking including Rendez-Vous
- understand different ways of creating synchronization and transfer of data by the use of protected objects
- understand the Ravenscar profile and know how to build software according to Ravenscar
- be able to model a system in UPPAAL and utilize it to verify the system properties
- be able to program FPGAs using VHDL
- possess an insight into GPU-programming

Course content

Complete semantics and syntax for tasking and protected objects in Ada. Restrictions concerning the Ravenscar profile. Semantics and syntax for VHDL. Showing different ways of writing code for GPUs. Some theory for timed automata. Exercises in programming tasking (including protected objects) in Ada, programming FPGAs using VHDL, constructing models of simple systems in UPPAAL, and coding of corresponding systems using the Ravenscar profile.

Tuition

Parts of the course might be held in cooperation with an international institute of education.

Specific requirements

Complex Electronic Systems 7.5 ECTS credits and Data Structures, Algorithms and Program Development 7.5 ECTS credits or corresponding. In addition Swedish course B/Swedish course 2 and English course A/English course 5 are required. For courses given entirely in English exemption is made from the requirement in Swedish course B/Swedish course 2.

Examination

Exercise, laboratory work (LAB1), 2 ECTS credits, marks Pass (G)
Project (PRO1), 2 ECTS credits, marks 3, 4 or 5
Examination (TEN1), 3,5 ECTS credits, marks 3, 4 or 5

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass with credit, Pass, Fail