COMPSYS 704 : Advanced Embedded Systems

Engineering

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Selected advanced topics from current research in embedded systems such as: embedded systems based on formal models of computation; centralised and distributed architectures for embedded systems; static and dynamic embedded systems; languages and frameworks for distributed embedded systems; actor and agent systems; verification. Includes a significant individual research project.

Course Overview

The overarching theme of the course is technologies related to Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial  IoT (IIoT) and approaches to use them in creation of future systems in application domains such as industrial automation, building automation, robotics, health informatics, precision agriculture, to name a few.

This course aims to cover and provide students insights to selected topics in advanced embedded systems that are underlying technology of IoT and IIoT. It includes concepts such as formal models of computation for embedded (centralised and distributed) systems, programming and design languages and approaches based on those concepts, advanced architectures of multiprocessors and networks-on-chip, and embedded wireless sensor and actuator networks and technologies for streaming applications based on various (small to very large, "big data") scale sensing and actuation. Students will undertake a small scale individual research project on selected topic of their choice and get familiar with the state of the art in research and practice. In addition to the fundamental concepts, students will also gain hands on experience on embedded systems modelling and design using state of the art technologies in two design projects drawn from real-life applications.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: COMPSYS 723, and 202 or SOFTENG 281

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand non-functional and design requirements of complex embedded and distributed systems, specification/programming, model of computation (MoC). (Capability 3.2, 6.1 and 7.1)
  2. Understand design flow and issues when designing embedded systems and role of formal models of computation. (Capability 3.2)
  3. Understand the Globally asynchronous Locally Synchronous (GALS) model of computation and its application on complex distributed embedded systems. (Capability 3.2 and 4.1)
  4. Investigate selected research topic, perform the literature and other sources search of related work and writing a technical report (Capability 3.1 and 4.2)
  5. Analyse and design complex embedded and distributed systems using the system-level languages, such as GALS-based SystemJ, and demonstrate it by implementing simulated industrial automation systems in distributed setting. (Capability 4.1 and 5.1)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of of modern embedded technologies that are widely applied in sensor and actuator networks, industrial/building automation, healthcare/wearable devices, and other IoT applications (Capability 5.1)
  7. Evaluate and apply modern embedded devices, and associated programming practices and development environments through real-life IoT applications. (Capability 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 1 - industrial automation modelling 40% Group & Individual Coursework
Assignment 20% Individual Coursework
Project 2 - embedded system design 40% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Project 1 - industrial automation modelling
Assignment
Project 2 - embedded system design

A passing mark is 50% or higher for each type of assessment, according to the University policy.

All assessments are compulsory for all students and DNC for the course will be awarded if the student has not completed labs and not submitted the deliverable for any component (assignment or project) as required. The details of each assessment and requirements will be given via course page on Canvas.

By default late submissions are not allowed, unless specific late submission penalties are released on Canvas.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week, including study weeks, involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For each week in this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures and an hour tutorial or lab per week, and the remaining hours are supposed to be used for reading, thinking, designing parts of the systems and writing reports.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures and labs/clinics.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities (labs) will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The lectures are accompanied with lecture slides and additional reading materials delivered via Canvas. They also include recordings of individual lectures. The tools for designing systems within projects are provided on lab computers or when possible offered to students to download via Canvas or other appropriate medium.

Health & Safety

Health and safety conditions when using MDLS and/or ECSE research labs require certificate of passing induction training. Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Previous Project 1 will be split into a Project 1 (40%) and Individual Research Assignment (IRA) (20%), which is contextually connected to Project 1. This is based on limited SET evaluations and interaction with the 2024 class.

Other Information

While official prerequisite is COMPSYS 723, 202 or SOFENG 281, other courses with equivalent content may also be acceptable. Knowledge of programming in traditional programming language, C/C++ and Java, and basics of micro computing with traditional microprocessors and embedded systems is essential and should not be waived under any conditions. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.