Parallel and Distributed Real-Time Systems - EDA421 / DIT171

  7.5 hec, Quarter 4, 2014/15

This web page functions both as a course description sheet and as a medium for distribution of new information regarding the course. The information will be updated dynamically, so please visit this web page at least once per week. For general information regarding the course please consult the syllabus page at the Student Portal.

News

 

Staff (contact information)

Course elements

Aim and context

Real-time systems play a vital role in many application domains including drive-by-wire automotive systems, intelligent traffic control systems, banking systems, and autonomous robots. For many real-time applications, the system must be designed with multiple processors in order to meet imposed application constraints. Such situations can occur when tasks need to be physically distributed (as in a fault-tolerant vehicle braking system) or when the inherent parallelism of the application need to be fully exploited (as in a high-performance multimedia application).

After the course the students shall be able to:

This course is intended to give a deeper understanding of the problems involved in designing real-time systems based on multiprocessor architectures, and covers the following topics:

Context

The course requires a BSc in Computer Science and Engineering or equivalent. Preparatory courses in real-time systems, algorithms, operating systems and computer architecture are desired but not required.

Important Dates

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Mon   Mar 23 First lecture, 13.15 - 15.00 in ES52
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Mon   Apr 20 : Homework assignment #1 handed out
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Fri   May 8 : Deadline, Homework assignment #1
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Fri   May 8 : Homework assignment #2 handed out
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Tue   May 26 : Deadline, Homework assignment #2
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Thu   June 4 : Voluntary written exam, afternoon, Johanneberg

Lectures

The course is organized as a series of lectures where fundamental theories and concepts are presented. Lectures are are offered on the following time and study weeks:

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Mon   13.15 - 15.00   ES52   (week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
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Thu   08.00 - 09.45   ES52   (week 2 and 7)
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Thu   10.00 - 11.45   ES52   (week 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8)
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Fri   15.15 - 17.00   ES52   (week 1 and 8)

As a complement to the lectures, there will be a homework assignment on the specific topics covered during the scheduled lectures. As an aid for the students for their homework, consultation sessions will be offered. The consultation sessions offer assistance regarding questions and problems related to the homework assignment (or other related issues). The intention is for the student to attempt to solve the problems and then go to the consultation session in case help is needed. Consultation sessions are offered on the following time and study weeks:

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Mon   13.15 - 15.00   ES52   (week 7 and 8)
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Thu   08.00 - 09.45   ES52   (week 4 and 5)
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Thu   10.00 - 11.45   ES52   (week 5)
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Fri   15.15 - 17.00   ES52   (week 3 and 7)

Preliminary schedule: TimeEdit

Detailed information on the lectures will appear here.

Course literature

Selected research publications from journals and conference proceedings (downloadable here.)

Course Evaluation

For the purpose of course evaluation, we ask volunteers to act as student representatives. Their role includes giving the teachers some feedback on the course. Please send them an email if you have comments or suggestions for improvements regarding the course.

The student representatives are:

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Johan Gustafsson (MPCSN)
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Fredrik Hidstrand (MPCSN)
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Henrik Hugo (MPCSN)
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Emil Lindqvist (MPEES)
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Eyþór Sigmundsson (MPCSN)

Minutes from mid-quarter course evaluation meeting can be found here.

Chalmers central instructions on course evaluation