Course syllabus - Real-Time Systems 1, Distance Course

Objectives

The aim with this course is to give an introduction to the area of real-time systems, providing the basic knowledge and understanding about the methods and techniques for engineering of robust real-time system. After taking this course, the students will posses such knowledge and understanding that they will be able to apply different technical solutions for development of real-time applications in a structured way.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

1. describe and argue about the characteristics of real-time systems
2. analyse and evaluate different real-time operating systems from the performance point of view
3. implement real-time applications by using a real-time operating system
4. analyse and provide guarantees for time behaviour of a computer system based on the individual timing requirements of the real-time tasks in the system
5. design safety-critical real-time systems based on application requirements and system limitations
6. understand and apply different communication protocols for distributed real-time systems

Course content

The course gives an insight into how real-time systems differ from traditional computer systems, covering the topics such as timeliness, real-time scheduling, operating system support, resource usage, design of real-time systems, real-time communication and distributed real-time applications. Furthermore, it explains how these theories can be applied when implementing and analysing such systems or real hardware platforms.

Specific requirements

Mathematics from three years of upper secondary school with science profile. Also theoretical knowledge and practical competences in basic programming, datastructures and algorithms and operating systems are required and a TOEFL test result (PBT) at least 530, TWE score 4, (iBT) at least 72, TWE score 17 or IELTS test score for academic purposes with an overall band score of minimum 5.5 and no band score below 5.0. The English test is COMPULSORY for all applicants except citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and USA. The TOEFL code you must use is SWEDEN 9520.

Examination

Written assignment (INL1), 4.5 credits, examines learning objectives 1-6), marks Fail (U), 3, 4 or 5
Laboratory work (LAB1), 3 credits, examines the learning objective 3, marks Fail (U) or Pass (G)

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

Grading scale: 5, 4, 3

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

The course overlaps with 3 credits towards Embeded Systems I and Embedded Systems II and also completely with CDT308 Real-Time Systems I, distance course.