Information on individual educational components (ECTS-Course descriptions) per semester

Embedded Systems 3

Degree programme Mechatronics
Subject area Engineering Technology
Type of degree Master
Full-time
Winter Semester 2024
Course unit title Embedded Systems 3
Course unit code 024612030201
Language of instruction German, English
Type of course unit (compulsory, optional) Compulsory optional
Teaching hours per week 4
Year of study 2024
Level of the course / module according to the curriculum
Number of ECTS credits allocated 6
Name of lecturer(s) André MITTERBACHER, Horatiu O. PILSAN, Jorge SCHMIDT
Requirements and Prerequisites

None

Course content
  • The levels of plant automation
  • Fields of application of field busses
  • CAN-Bus and Profibus
  • Selection of a field bus
  • Peripheral units of microcontroller
  • Selection of a microcontroller
  • Power saving modes of microcontroller
  • Start-up of a microcontroller system
  • Memory test methods for RAM and ROM
  • Lower layers of the OSI for wireless communication links with a focus on the physical and media access layer
  • Fundamentals of RF wave propagation and modulation techniques
  • Media access techniques employed in wireless protocols
  • Examples of technical realizations of wireless protocols (e.g. WIFI, BT)
  • Example implementation of a wireless stack in a microcontroller.
  • Motivation and historic development of HDLs
  • Syntax of a typical HDL
  • Fundamental digital logic in HDL
  • Verification of digital design using HDL test benches
  • Simulation of HDL designs and test benches
  • Types of PLDs and their properties
  • Design flow of PLDs
  • Synthesis of digital logic described by HDLs for a PLD
  • Realization of small projects
Learning outcomes

The students can

  • enumerate the classical application areas of field busses.
  • explain the different layers of plant automation.
  • explain the field busses CAN and Profibus inkluding their specific properties.
  • reason the fields of application of these two busses based on their properties.
  • explain the specific properties of the peripheral units of a microcontroller.
  • choose a microcontroller for a given application.
  • list and compare the power saving modes of a microcontroller.
  • describe how the start-up-phase of a microcontroller shall be implemented.
  • compare memory test methods and choose the appropriate one for a given application.
  • describe the special properties of a wireless communication link based on the layer model (e.g. OSI).
  • sketch fundamental properties of radio frequency wave propagation. - describe the physical layer of different wireless protocols.
  • describe and discuss modulation techniques used in wireless links and their pros and cons.
  • describe and discuss the techniques employed on the media access layer of wireless link.
  • describe and discuss examples of technical realizations of wireless links (e.g. WIFI, Bluetooth, 802.15.4).
  • use a wireless stack (e.g. Bluetooth low energy) to implement a wireless communication link on a microcontroller platform.
  • list the historical development of HDLs. Example of typical HDLs are known.
  • describe and discuss the application of HDLs in digital design.
  • apply HDL to describe fundamental elements of digital logic based on HDL syntax knowledge.
  • describe combinatorial and sequential logic (counters, decoder, state machines, digital filters or controllers).
  • use HDL to define test benches that stimulate digital logic under test.
  • employ simulator tools to simulate test benches and digital logic under test. - list different types of PLDs.
  • describe internal resources of programmable logic devices.
  • select a PLD for a given application based on its properties.
  • describe the design flow of PLDs in detail.
  • synthesize a HDL design for a PLD using the design tools.
  • identify elements of the digital logic on all levels of the design flow.
  • employ PLDs to realize digital logic in small projects.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Interactive lectures, Self directed learning, Laboratory exercises, Practical project work.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam

Comment

Not applicable

Recommended or required reading
  • Schrom, Harald (2007): Optimiertes Feldbussystem. Entwurf und Realisierung eines integralen Low-Power, Low-Cost Feldbussystems. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.
  • Bormann, Alexander; Hilgenkamp, Ingo (2006): Industrielle Netze. Ethernet-Kommunikation für Automatisierungsanwendungen. Heidelberg: Hüthig (PRAXIS).
  • Tse, David ; Viswanath, Pramod (2005): Fundamentals of wireless communication. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
  • Thomas, Donald ; Moorby, Philip (2008): The Verilog Hardware Description Language. 5th ed. 2002 edition. Springer.
  • Ashenden, Peter J. (2011): The designer’s guide to VHDL. 3. ed. Amsterdam (u.a.): Morgan Kaufmann.
  • Grout, Ian (2008): Digital systems design with FPGAs and CPLDs. Amsterdam (u.a.): Elsevier/Newnes.
  • Brinkschulte, Uwe (2010): Mikrocontroller und Mikroprozessoren. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face, distance learning)

Face-to-face