Course Syllabus

ECE 3849 Real-Time Embedded Systems

Course Syllabus - Spring 2025

Course Information

Course: ECE 3849 Real-Time Embedded Systems
Credits: 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: ECE 2049 (recommended)
Meeting Times: Tuesdays & Fridays 10:00-11:50 AM

Location

Lectures: Unity Hall 420
Labs: AK317
Office Hours: AK303
All sessions recorded on Echo360

Instructor and Teaching Staff

Instructor

Professor Xinming Huang
Email: xhuang@wpi.edu
Office: AK303
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00-3:00 PM

Teaching Assistant

Edwin A. Rios
Email: earios1@wpi.edu

Lab and Help Session Schedule

Lab Sections

Section	Day	Time	Location	TAs
Dx01	Thursday	2:00-5:00 PM	AK317	Edwin
Dx02	Thursday	10:00 AM-1:00 PM	AK317	Edwin

Help Sessions

Day	Time	TA	Location
Monday	5:00-7:00 PM	Edwin	AK317
Tuesday	6:00-8:00 PM	Edwin	AK317
Wednesday	5:00-7:00 PM	Edwin	AK317

Additional Labs

Day	Time	Description
Monday	10:00 AM-1:00 PM	Open Lab (Edwin)
Tuesday	2:00-5:00 PM	Open Lab (Edwin)

Course Description

This course continues the embedded systems sequence by expanding on real-time software and embedded microprocessor system architecture. Students will develop applications that meet strict real-time constraints with limited resources.

Focus Areas

The course covers both software design for deterministic execution and hardware components including CPU architecture, buses, memory devices, and peripheral interfaces.

Topics Covered

Software Development

• Embedded software development
• Real-time scheduling algorithms
• Inter-task communication
• Software performance optimization

System Architecture

• CPU architecture and organization
• Bus interfaces and timing
• Memory management systems
• Peripheral interface design

Real-Time Concepts

• Deterministic execution timing
• Interrupt controllers and handling
• Direct memory access (DMA)
• Multitasking and RTOS

Practical Applications

• Device driver development
• Hardware debugging techniques
• Performance analysis tools
• System integration methods

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Write real-time software that uses hardware support via interrupt controllers and timers, without requiring an operating system
2. Develop multitasking applications using a real-time operating system (RTOS) with proper synchronization
3. Analyze and optimize software performance at both instruction and high levels using profiling techniques
4. Design memory systems using appropriate technologies such as SRAM, DRAM, and NOR/NAND flash
5. Create peripheral interfaces using memory-mapped, SPI, I2C, USB, and other standards, including device drivers
6. Debug embedded systems using in-circuit emulators and logic analyzers

Required Equipment and Textbooks

Hardware Platform

• TI EK-TM4C1294XL evaluation board
• BOOSTXL-EDUMKII educational BoosterPack
• Equipment distributed during lab sessions
• Teams of 1-2 students (no extra credit for single-person teams)

Textbooks (Optional)

Primary Reference

Real-Time Operating Systems for ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers
Author: J. W. Valvano
Publisher: 2017
ISBN: 978-1466468863

Secondary Reference

An Embedded Software Primer
Author: D. E. Simon
Publisher: Pearson India, 2011
ISBN: 978-8177581546

Assessment and Grading

Grade Distribution

Component	Weight	Details
Exams	40%	Midterm (20%) + Final (20%)
Laboratory Work	45%	Lab 0 (5%) + Labs 1-5 (8% each)
Homework	15%	Best 5 of 6 assignments (3% each)
Total	100%

Grading Scale

A: >=90% | B: >=75% | C: >=60% | NR: <60%

Assessment Details

Exams

Exam Information

• Format: Open book, open notes
• Technology: Computers and tablets allowed (no internet)
• Materials: All necessary data sheets included
• Dates:
  • Midterm: Friday, April 11
  • Final: Wednesday, May 7 (last day of term)

Make-up Policy

Make-up exams available only for documented circumstances. Must attend at least two exams to receive course grade.

Laboratory

Lab Requirements

• 6 lab assignments (Labs 0-5)
• All labs must be signed off by TA
• Lab reports required for Labs 1-5
• Late penalty: 20% for late submissions
• Partial completion acceptable (typically at least 50%)

Lab Policies

• Work in groups of 1-2 students
• Discuss general approaches with other groups
• No copying of source code or reports
• No reuse of code from previous offerings

Homework

Homework Policy

• 6 individual assignments
• Best 5 grades counted (can miss 1)
• No late submissions accepted
• Submit in Word or PDF format
• Show all work for partial credit
• Collaboration allowed during preparation

Course Schedule

Weekly Topics Overview

Week	Lecture Topics	Lab Activity	Assignments
1	Introduction, Real-time fundamentals	Lab 0: Tutorial	-
2	Scheduling theory, Response time	Lab 0 signoff	HW1 due
3	Shared data, Concurrency	-	-
4	FIFOs, Reentrancy	Lab 1 signoff	HW2 due
5	RTOS, Multitasking	-	HW3 due
6	Semaphores, Gates	Lab 2 signoff	Midterm
7	Mailboxes, Software timers	Lab 3 signoff	HW4 due
8	Memory management, Debugging	Lab 4 signoff	-
9	I/O, DMA, Networks	-	HW5 due
10	CPU architecture	Lab 5 signoff	-
11	Assembly, Performance	-	HW6 due
12	Review	-	Final Exam

Subject to minor adjustments

Detailed Lecture Schedule

Real-Time Fundamentals

Weeks 1-4: Core Concepts

• Latency and response time analysis
• Interrupt-driven programming
• Priority scheduling basics
• Rate Monotonic Scheduling (RMS)
• Earliest Deadline First (EDF)
• Shared data protection
• Concurrency and atomicity

Reading: Simon Ch. 4-5, Valvano Ch. 3

RTOS Development

Weeks 5-8: Advanced Topics

• RTOS fundamentals
• Multitasking implementation
• Semaphores and synchronization
• Inter-task communication
• Mailboxes and queues
• Software timers
• Memory management

Reading: Simon Ch. 6-7, Valvano Ch. 4

System Architecture

Weeks 9-12: Hardware Integration

• CPU architecture and organization
• Memory systems design
• I/O interfaces (SPI, I2C, USB)
• Direct Memory Access (DMA)
• Performance analysis
• Assembly language optimization

Reading: Valvano Ch. 1-2, 8-9

Course Policies

Attendance and Participation

• Lecture attendance strongly recommended (not graded)
• Lab attendance required for signoffs
• Lectures recorded on Echo360 for review
• Class discussions encouraged

Academic Integrity

Important Policy

Individual effort required for homework assignments. Lab collaboration permitted within teams, but no code copying between teams or from previous course offerings.

Late Work Policy

• Homework: No late submissions accepted
• Lab reports: 20% penalty per day late
• Lab signoffs: Must be completed during lab sessions or office hours

Students with Disabilities

Students requiring accommodations should contact the Disability Services Office (DSO) early in the term. Exam accommodations will be arranged through the Proctor Center in Unity Hall.

Resources and Support

Course Materials

• Lecture notes posted on Canvas before each class
• Completed notes posted after lectures
• Practice exams and solutions provided
• Review sessions before each exam

Technical Support

• TAs available during all lab sessions
• Help sessions three evenings per week
• Professor office hours for additional support
• Canvas discussion forums for questions

Development Environment

• Code Composer Studio (CCS) - Required IDE
• TI-RTOS - Real-time operating system
• Hardware debugger - Integrated with CCS
• Logic analyzer access - For advanced debugging

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Success in ECE 3849

This course builds practical skills essential for embedded systems careers. Regular lab attendance, early homework completion, and active participation in help sessions are key to success.

Remember: Start lab work early, attend help sessions when needed, and don’t hesitate to ask questions during office hours.