High-Performance Embedded Systems

EEE4120F

EEE4120F - HIGH PERFORMANCE DIGITAL EMBEDDED SYSTEMS

16 NQF credits at HEQSF level 8 
Convener: Dr S Winberg 
Course entry requirements: EEE3096S (Embedded Systems II)
Course outline: 
This course aims to consolidate the student’s understanding of embedded systems, to extend these skills with techniques of parallel computing and FPGA development experience, in order to equip the student for practice in the field of “High Performance Embedded Computing”. In industry today, there is an increasing desire for graduates skilled in these practices, for working on these specialized systems that combine parallel systems and specialized firmware to deliver complex operation at very high speeds, and possibly in a small low-power package as well. Applications that fall into this area include intelligent smart sensors, backend processing for radar and radio astronomy instruments, autonomous systems, and production line inspection systems among other state-of-the-art digitize systems. Topics include fundamental theories, design practices, and techniques related to the design of digital high-performance embedded systems. The concept of digital accelerators is explored, which allows for offloading operations from a host CPU to deliver high real-time computation rates. Lectures include both theory as well as reviewing case studies related to real systems that were developed.
Lecture times: Tues, Thurs, 6th & 7th period 
DP requirements: Minimum 40% overall class average to write the final exam 
Assessment: Labs (10%), Project (10%), Tests (20%), June Exam (50%)

Embedded Systems II

EEE3096S

EEE3096S/3095S - EMBEDDED SYSTEMS II

16 NQF credits at HEQSF level 7 
Convener: Dr S Winberg 
Course entry requirements: EEE2046F (Embedded Systems I)
Course outline: 
This course focuses on embedded systems architectures, firmware and software tool stacks. This course builds on Embedded Systems I course. Consideration for the Internet of Things (IoT) is included in the form of design scenarios and project-based learning. The course is split into two parts. Part 1 (10 credits) covers: theory and practices of design and analysis through modeling and simulation of embedded systems; embedded operating systems, and methods for modelling and simulation of computer systems are studied. An introduction to Linux commands, embedded Linux code development and source code version control tools are also taught. Part 2 (6 credits) introduces Hardware Description Language (HDL)  programming and computer architecture fundamentals techniques and tools for developing gateware and simulating designs. Part 1 practicals concern using a single board computer, deploying and using an embedded operating system, building applications using a cross-compiler tool stacks, and hardware software interfaces – the practical work culminates in Miniproject A, which requires the use of taught tools to design, analyse and implement an IoT application. Part2 practicals involve implementing a combination logic design and developing a small HDL testbench to analyse its behavior.
Lecture times: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 5th period 
DP requirements: Completion of all practical assignments and project. Minimum 50% for the weighted sum of practicals and project marks. 
Assessment: Practicals (20%); Project (10%); Tests (20%); Exam (50%)

Software Defined Radio

EEE5140Z

EEE5140Z - SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO (Masters Level Course)

20 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9 
Convener: Dr S Winberg 
Course entry requirements: EEE2046F (Embedded Systems I)
Course outline: 
This course aims to provide advanced students with an overview of a software-defined radio (SDR) systems and the technologies necessary for successful implementation, as well as exposure to significant computer and hands-on project work necessary to implement working SDR systems. Students will be able to: understand the fundamentals of the communication link, modulation and demodulation, digital filters, dealing with uncertainty and errors in the channel, error detection and correction mechanisms, characteristics of wireless network protocols, and be able to discuss the allocation of radio resources and technologies. Understand the systems required by a software-defined radio to function and the trade-offs, benefits and limitations encountered in choosing a software-defined radio system design. Understand elementary antenna design to accommodate the needs of a particular software-radio system. Calculate an accurate link budget for a software-defined radio system or other wireless communications link. Understand how analogue and digital technologies are used for software-defined radios and the topologies and applications of those networks. 
DP requirements: Minimum 45% for project 
Assessment: Coursework 50%, Examination 50%

Digital Systems EEE4084F

In this course students hone their understanding and expertise in digital systems, making use of digital logic, circuit design and some Hardware Description Language (HDL) programming.

Embedded Systems (full year course) EEE3074W

This course was about designing and developing embedded systems. The aim of this course is to provide the principles of doing embedded system development effectively in order to produce professional, highly maintainable and robust systems. This course has (to a large extent) been replaced partly by the combination of EEE2046F and EEE3096S.

Digital Electronics and Microprocessors 

EEE3064W

C++ Programming for Electrical Engineers EEE2039G

C++ Programming for Electrical Engineers (EEE2039G) : This courses module was removed from our undergraduate programme curricula as C and C++ is taught in the context of other courses, which has the advantage of using C++ to solve specific engineering problems. Students are nevertheless recommended to consider taking the Computer Science Department's CSC3023F course (which provides detailed on Operating System design and C++ programming concepts).

This EEE2029G course has a focus on diving in to hands-on coding, using my favorite free, open-source IDE Code::Blocks, although we do pause to reflect on appropriate practices such as design-before-hack, drawing flow-charts (in the right way), and also doing some quick UML diagrams to get a handle on how to designing software for more complex systems (but note this is not a fully UML course, only touches on some essentials).

Tutor Training Camp

(voluntary course)