Advanced Computing Architectures-MEET

T - Theoretical; TP - Theory and practice; PL - Laboratory; S - Seminar; OT - Tutorial.

• Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

  Understanding the concepts and techniques for system-level design of systems with hardware and software components. Model, simulate and synthesize digital systems using methods and tools at system level. Understanding HW/SW architectures in particular the mechanisms of communication, memory sharing and synchronization. Describe examples of applications and HW/SW systems. Design and implement HW/SW systems of medium complexity in FPGA. Use of an operating system in HW/SW architectures. Design and implementation of multiprocessing architectures: MPSoC, NoC, among others.

• Syllabus

  - Methodologies for system level design;
  - Methodologies for HW/SW design;
  - Modeling, simulation and synthesis of digital systems at the system level;
  - Study of debugging methods for HW/SW systems;
  - Study of the communication mechanisms, memory sharing and synchronization in HW/SW systems;
  - Design of HW/SW systems of medium complexity in FPGA;
  - Use of operating systems in developing HW/SW  systems;
  - Study of multiprocessing architectures;
  - Study of communication architectures for multi-core systems;
  - Development of case studies in the areas of networking, signal processing and scientific computing.

• Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's objectives

  Study the methodologies and the architectures for designing HW/SW systems, including technical specification, synthesis, simulation and debug, is consistent with the objectives of the curricular unit of HW/SW system design. The syllabus offered is fundamental to the understanding of HW/SW systems and the design of such systems.

• Teaching methodologies (including evaluation)

  Thirty theoretical and practical classes are planned during the semester that correspond to 67.5 hours of contact (15 lessons of 3 hours and 15 lessons of 1.5 hours). The total time student job is 160 hours. The classes are for presentation and discussion of the topics proposed in the syllabus. The main topics are further explored by performing various practical works in practical classes.
  Learning outcomes are assessed with the development of two theoretical-practical works and a final project accompanied by technical reports and related discussion. The final classification is obtained by weighting the grades obtained in the various works, as follows: NF = 0.20 * 0.30 * T1 + T2 + 0.50 * T3.

• Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

  For teaching the design of HW/SW systems theoretical and practical lessons are the fundamental for the student to acquire the necessary knowledge and laboratory classes where students can apply this knowledge. The laboratory component is very important, and the student is assessed primarily with the development of HW/SW architectures in the laboratory by applying the knowledge gained in the lectures.

• Main Bibliography:
  • Mário Véstias. "1 - Folhas das aulas teóricas". ISEL. 2012,
  • Mário Véstias. "2 - Textos complementares". ISEL. 2012,
  • Stuart Ball. "Embedded Microprocessor Systems: Real World Design". Newnes. 2002,
  • Ralf Niemann "Hardware/software co-design for data flow dominated embedded systems". Springer. 1998.
  • Pong P. Chu “RTL Hardware Design Using VHDL: Coding for Efficiency, Portability, and Scalability” , Wiley-IEEE Press, 2006.