SCO-30303 Real Time Systems

Vak

Studiepunten 3.00

Language of instruction:

English

Expected knowledge on:

Electronics

Contents:

More and more agro-technological machines have built-in computer control, sometimes invisible or unnoticeable to the user, but they have become imperative for the proper functioning of the apparatus. As examples one may think of vision systems for harvesting-robots, GPS location finding systems on agricultural machinery, GSM-communication, autonomous vehicle guidance systems, plant recognition, disease detection, mechanical weed control etc. In this course you will learn not only the general lay-out of computers but also the emphasis will be on the architecture necessary for embedded systems performing complex signal processing like digital filtering, transformations en correlations. Classical Von Neumann and modern Harvard architectures are compared. Knowledge about (field) busses and network protocols are a definite must when you are dealing with measurement and control tasks. Modern Digital Signal Processors (DSP's), a very powerful generation of processors, are used in audio, vision and communication applications; the how and why of these processors is demystified. During the course there will be a focus on both the theory of commonly used signal processing techniques like digital filtering, Fourier-transforms, correlation as well as the practical implementation. In a laboratory setup such an implementation will be tested.

Aims:

- familiarising the student with computer terminology;
- getting insight in both the working principles of the CPU and its associated memory as well as the I/O structures;
- understanding the why and how of the architecture of a DSP that performs fast on-line signal processing;
- obtaining knowledge about interfaces, networks, (field) busses and appropriate communication protocols;
- during practical work actually implement a digital signal-processing algorithm in a DSP.

Activities:

Lectures, tutorials, use of web sites and educational software, practical work.

Examination:

Exam: 60% (passing mandatory). Practical: 40% (passing mandatory).

Literature:

Ir. F.J. Dijkstra, 1997, Computers organisatie-architectuur-communicatie, E.P.N.
Steven W. Smith, 1999, The Scientist and Engineer's Guide to Digital Signal Processing, second edition, ISBN 0-9660176-4-1, California Technical Publishing, also on the internet: www.DSPguide.com