General information
To achieve practical experience of the construction of a real-time system, a compulsory laboratory assignment is included in the course. The purpose of the assignment is to develop a distributed synthetic chorus, with several individual tone generators (Part 1) that execute under strict timing constraints while at the same time being mutually synchronized other over a communication network (Part 2). The software is programmed using the C programming language extended with the TinyTimber kernel. As a preparation for Part 1 and Part 2 of the laboratory assignment, you work on Part 0 of the laboratory assignment during study week 2.
During the course of the laboratory assignment you will see a simple tone generator develop into a small synthesizer/sequencer combo capable of performing the song "Brother John" ("Broder Jakob" in Swedish). And not only that – the whole exercise will emanate into a network-aware music application that may participate in coordinated "Brother John" performances together with all other like-minded boards it finds on the local network. So let the music play!
The expected time to do the entire assignment, including Part 0, 1 and 2, is 6 weeks (study weeks 2 through 7). Part 0 should take one session, Part 1 should take 1-2 sessions, and Part 2 should take 3-4 sessions. Obviously you can finish sooner whenever you are done with all parts. On the other hand, if you need more time you can use the remaining week of the study period.
Since the laboratory assignment involves significant interaction with laboratory assistants (demonstrating designs and solutions) as well as other groups (designing a communication protocol) each student is expected to attend at least 3 laboratory sessions, out of which one must take place in study week 2 or 3.
As a final part of the laboratory assignment the students should document their work in a written report that should be electronically submitted (see below for details).
The grade of the laboratory assignment, according to the scale Fail (U) or Passed (grades 3, 4, 5), is based on the quality of the submitted written report as well as the student's performance during the laboratory sessions.
Note: Before you start working on the assignment, you are urged to pay attention to the Rules of Conduct.