News

Results of the September 10th exam and exam inspection

Written on 10.09.21 by Martina Maggio

The results of the exam have been published and should be visible to you here via CMS.

The text and solution of the exam exercises are posted under the Exams header in the internal page Materials. You can book a zoom appointment to inspect your exam correction and discuss the exercises until Monday… Read more

The results of the exam have been published and should be visible to you here via CMS.

The text and solution of the exam exercises are posted under the Exams header in the internal page Materials. You can book a zoom appointment to inspect your exam correction and discuss the exercises until Monday September 13th at 23:59 by sending an email to maggio[@]cs.uni-saarland.de with the subject "[ES21] exam inspection September". Emails with a different subject and emails received after the deadline might be ignored. Make sure to check the solution before booking an appointment to inspect your exam.

Regarding the exam on September 10th

Written on 07.09.21 by Martina Maggio

The seating assignment for the exam on September 10th is now visible on your personal status page in the CMS.

Regarding hygiene regulations during the exam, please note the following:

  • It is necessary for you to bring your medical mouth-nose protection mask (surgical mask or FFP2/KN95/N95… Read more

The seating assignment for the exam on September 10th is now visible on your personal status page in the CMS.

Regarding hygiene regulations during the exam, please note the following:

  • It is necessary for you to bring your medical mouth-nose protection mask (surgical mask or FFP2/KN95/N95 mask) with you.
  • A safety distance of at least 1.5m should be kept at all times.
  • While entering/leaving the room (this includes also waiting situations), moving in the room, and while talking to supervisors, putting on your mask is mandatory.
  • You do not have to wear your mask when (everybody is) seated.

Please bring the following things to the exam:

  • Pens (non-erasable pens in dark blue or black). 
  • Your student ID card.
  • A pocket calculator.
  • Something to drink and (no noisy) food if you want.
  • Your face mask.

Please note:

  • We will provide you with sufficient amount of paper, please don't bring your own.
  • Any cheat sheets, books, etc. are not allowed (the formula sheet will be attached to the exam itself as in the examples that you have in the Materials page).

When & how to enter the building?

  • We plan to start the exam at 9:30 and finish at 11:30. However, keeping distance to each other and following the safety instructions has priority, so we may start or finish later.
  • The exam takes place in the Günter-Hotz lecture hall (AudiMo - Günter-Hotz-Hörsaal, Gebäude E2 2). Your personal status page is showing you the seat we reserved for you. If you are seated in rows 1-9, please come to the front doors of the foyer. For rows 10-17, please come to the back doors opposite of the math building E2 4.
  • Please be no later than 9:15 in the proximity of your designated entrance door. At any time, keep a distance of at least 1.5m to other people.
  • The staff members will open the doors to let you in. Inside the building, you have to wear your face mask util everybody is seated and you must try to keep the distance of 1.5m to other students. You go directly to your seat and you take all your belongings with you (this is different to non-Corona times, where you leave your bags at the side of the lecture hall).

If your answer is "yes" to one or more of the following questions, then you are not allowed to attend the exam. Did you have definite contact with a Covid-19 patient, who was tested positive, in the last 14 days? Do you have any of the following symptoms (Cough / Husten, Sore throat / Halsschmerzen, Nasal congestion / runny nose / Schnupfen, Diarrhoea / Durchfall, Fever / Fieber, Aches and pains / Gliederschmerzen, Loss of smell (e.g. no longer able to smell burnt food) / Geruchsverlust, Loss of taste (e.g. unable to distinguish when food is burnt) / Geschmacksverlust). Please take these instructions seriously, both for your own safety and the safety of others. Also, you always must follow the instructions of the staff members in the lecture hall. Otherwise, you can be excluded from the exam.

Finally, the exam inspaction will take place on zoom. There will be a registration period for the inspection. To register for the inspection you will need to send an email an email to maggio[@]cs.uni-saarland.de (the deadline for sending this email will be announced together with the grades).

Results of the August 5th exam and exam inspection

Written on 13.08.21 by Martina Maggio

The results of the exam have been published and should be visible to you here via CMS.

The text and solution of the exam exercises are posted under the Exams header in the internal page Materials. You can book a zoom appointment to inspect your exam correction and discuss the exercises until… Read more

The results of the exam have been published and should be visible to you here via CMS.

The text and solution of the exam exercises are posted under the Exams header in the internal page Materials. You can book a zoom appointment to inspect your exam correction and discuss the exercises until Wednesday August 18th at 23:59 by sending an email to maggio[@]cs.uni-saarland.de with the subject "[ES21] exam inspection". Emails with a different subject and emails received after the deadline might be ignored. Make sure to check the solution before booking an appointment to inspect your exam.

Qualis evaluation results

Written on 05.08.21 by Martina Maggio

Good luck to all of you who did the exam today and thanks to whose of you who filled in the qualis evaluation. I have shared with you the results of the evaluation in the Materials section and I appreciate the feedback that is going to help me improve the course for future editions.

Regarding the exam on August 5th

Written on 03.08.21 by Martina Maggio

The seating assignment for the exam on August 5th is now visible on your personal status page in the CMS.

Regarding hygiene regulations during the exam, please note the following:

  • It is necessary for you to bring your medical mouth-nose protection mask (surgical mask or FFP2/KN95/N95 mask)… Read more

The seating assignment for the exam on August 5th is now visible on your personal status page in the CMS.

Regarding hygiene regulations during the exam, please note the following:

  • It is necessary for you to bring your medical mouth-nose protection mask (surgical mask or FFP2/KN95/N95 mask) with you.
  • A safety distance of at least 1.5m should be kept at all times.
  • While entering/leaving the room (this includes also waiting situations), moving in the room, and while talking to supervisors, putting on your mask is mandatory.
  • You do not have to wear your mask when (everybody is) seated.

Please bring the following things to the exam:

  • Pens (non-erasable pens in dark blue or black). 
  • Your student ID card.
  • A pocket calculator.
  • Something to drink and (no noisy) food if you want.
  • Your face mask.

Please note:

  • We will provide you with sufficient amount of paper, please don't bring your own.
  • Any cheat sheets, books, etc. are not allowed (the formula sheet will be attached to the exam itself as in the examples that you have in the Materials page).

When & how to enter the building?

  • We plan to start the exam at 9:30 and finish at 11:30. However, keeping distance to each other and following the safety instructions has priority, so we may start or finish later.
  • The exam takes place in the Günter-Hotz lecture hall (AudiMo - Günter-Hotz-Hörsaal, Gebäude E2 2). Your personal status page is showing you the seat we reserved for you. If you are seated in rows 1-9, please come to the front doors of the foyer. For rows 10-17, please come to the back doors opposite of the math building E2 4.
  • Please be no later than 9:15 in the proximity of your designated entrance door. At any time, keep a distance of at least 1.5m to other people.
  • The staff members will open the doors to let you in. Inside the building, you have to wear your face mask util everybody is seated and you must try to keep the distance of 1.5m to other students. You go directly to your seat and you take all your belongings with you (this is different to non-Corona times, where you leave your bags at the side of the lecture hall).

If your answer is "yes" to one or more of the following questions, then you are not allowed to attend the exam. Did you have definite contact with a Covid-19 patient, who was tested positive, in the last 14 days? Do you have any of the following symptoms (Cough / Husten, Sore throat / Halsschmerzen, Nasal congestion / runny nose / Schnupfen, Diarrhoea / Durchfall, Fever / Fieber, Aches and pains / Gliederschmerzen, Loss of smell (e.g. no longer able to smell burnt food) / Geruchsverlust, Loss of taste (e.g. unable to distinguish when food is burnt) / Geschmacksverlust). Please take these instructions seriously, both for your own safety and the safety of others. Also, you always must follow the instructions of the staff members in the lecture hall. Otherwise, you can be excluded from the exam.

Finally, the exam inspaction will take place on zoom. There will be a registration period for the inspection. To register for the inspection you will need to send an email an email to maggio[@]cs.uni-saarland.de (the deadline for sending this email will be announced together with the grades).

Qualis course evaluation (links in Materials)

Written on 24.06.21 by Martina Maggio

In the materials section, I have shared two links for the evaluation of the course and the tutorials. I encourage you to fill in the (anonymous) evaluation, and to give (constructive) feedback on the course quality, material, and organisation. The evaluation will be very useful and I will take into… Read more

In the materials section, I have shared two links for the evaluation of the course and the tutorials. I encourage you to fill in the (anonymous) evaluation, and to give (constructive) feedback on the course quality, material, and organisation. The evaluation will be very useful and I will take into account your comments for future editions of the course.

Midterm submission graded and exam admission status updated

Written on 19.06.21 by Martina Maggio

The grade and feedback for you midterm submission are now visible on your CMS page. The correction has also set your admission status for the exams (the condition being that you passed the midterm assignment). In the feedback part of the form, you will find the initials of the tutor that graded your… Read more

The grade and feedback for you midterm submission are now visible on your CMS page. The correction has also set your admission status for the exams (the condition being that you passed the midterm assignment). In the feedback part of the form, you will find the initials of the tutor that graded your assignment. Please contact the tutor (or visit their tutorial session) if you have questions about the correction.

Midterm submission period is over

Written on 07.06.21 (last change on 08.06.21) by Martina Maggio

This is just to confirm that the midterm submission period is over. Thanks for submitting your solutions. I expect to have them graded and post the results by June 20th at the latest.

Midterm assignment deadline & Exam dates and instructions

Written on 03.06.21 by Martina Maggio

Due to the many requests of a short extension, the midterm assignment deadline has been pushed back 48 hours, and the new deadline is Sunday 6th, 23:59 (you additionally have the weekend to turn the assignment in). Also, the exam dates are August 5th and September 10th, in both cases from 9:15 to… Read more

Due to the many requests of a short extension, the midterm assignment deadline has been pushed back 48 hours, and the new deadline is Sunday 6th, 23:59 (you additionally have the weekend to turn the assignment in). Also, the exam dates are August 5th and September 10th, in both cases from 9:15 to 12:00 in Günter-Hotz Lecture Hall, E2 2, HS I, E2 5. If you cannot be physically present at the exam in Saarbrücken, please write an email (maggio[@]cs.uni-saarland.de) explaining the reasons why you cannot attend the exam in person, and we'll discuss alternative solutions on a case-by-case basis.

Discord channel for students interaction

Written on 24.05.21 by Martina Maggio

During the tutorials some of you felt the desire to be connected with fellow students and be able to discuss the assignment (and other course-related topics). We have created a discord channel, where you can interact. To sign up, you can use this link. We will be able to read the messages and… Read more

During the tutorials some of you felt the desire to be connected with fellow students and be able to discuss the assignment (and other course-related topics). We have created a discord channel, where you can interact. To sign up, you can use this link. We will be able to read the messages and (although with some delay, at least on my side) we'll try to reply. The main function of the channel is still just interaction between you students and not asking questions.
PS: There is a new version of the assignment that corrects an imprecision in the text.

Midterm assignment

Written on 20.05.21 by Martina Maggio

This is a reminder that the midterm assignment will be released tomorrow morning at 9:00am in the materials sections on the website. The submission of the solution will be open until Friday, 04.06.2021 23:59. You are welcome to discuss the assignment in the next tutorials. Note that the assignment… Read more

This is a reminder that the midterm assignment will be released tomorrow morning at 9:00am in the materials sections on the website. The submission of the solution will be open until Friday, 04.06.2021 23:59. You are welcome to discuss the assignment in the next tutorials. Note that the assignment should be completed before the deadline in order to take part in the exam.

Course kickoff: April 13th at 14:15 (zoom meeting link active from 14:00)

Written on 06.04.21 (last change on 09.04.21) by Martina Maggio

Hello everybody and welcome to the Embedded Systems course in the summer semester 2021. During the course you will experience a mix of lectures and tutorials. The first lecture is going to be live on zoom on April 13th at 14:15. We are going to discuss the logistics of the course and the main… Read more

Hello everybody and welcome to the Embedded Systems course in the summer semester 2021. During the course you will experience a mix of lectures and tutorials. The first lecture is going to be live on zoom on April 13th at 14:15. We are going to discuss the logistics of the course and the main motivation behind the study of embedded systems and why we have selected some specific topics. The following lectures are going to be recorded videos (that you will be able to download), released at specific times. Tutorials are going to be live and held in zoom. To get the links for the first lecture, the videos, and the tutorials you can simply go to the Materials page. To see the schedule for the course, you can browse to the Timetable page. To contact me or your tutors, please use the email addresses that you find in the Team page. I hope you will enjoy the course.

Show all

Embedded Systems

Embedded systems are computer systems with a dedicated function within a larger mechanical or electrical system. The vast majority of computing systems are - in fact - embedded. Many of the systems we interact with in our daily life contain embedded systems. Think for example about a washing machine, or a dishwasher, or a smart watch, or a mobile phone. According to a 2009 article, "around 98% of the new CPUs produced each year are embedded".

Embedded systems often interact with the physical world around them, and many of them are control systems, that change the behavior of the environment around them to achieve some desired specification (think for example about a thermostat, or about the cruise control system in a car). Because their computation is dedicated to specific tasks, it is often possible to optimize the computation units to: (i) reduce the size and cost of the product, and (ii) increase its reliability and performance.

In this course we will take a look at the theoretical foundation of embedded systems programming. In particular, the course is divided into three modules:

  1. Models,
  2. Control, and
  3. Implementation.

Models (Lecture 2 to 7)

The first part is dedicated to modeling the physics that the embedded systems interact with. We will look at (particular classes of) dynamical systems and discuss models in continuous time and discrete time. We will also look into how to model discrete state systems, and combination of discrete state and dynamical systems, known as hybrid systems.

Control (Lecture 8 to 11)

The second part of the course is dedicated to control principles. We will investigate how to change the behavior of physical systems and how the computation can interact with the environment around us. In particular, we will look at two control techniques: (i) state feedback, and (ii) PID control.

Implementation (Lecture 12 to 17)

The third part of the course is dedicated to study what happens when implementing code for embedded systems. In particular, we will look at scheduling, communication, fault tolerance, and testing.

Calendar

Lectures and tutorials are scheduled according to what you see in the calendar page. The first lecture (discussing course logistics and content in general) is live, using zoom. The other lectures are recorded. Tutorials are going to be live using zoom. You will find the zoom links in the material page.

Disclaimer: We have decided to use zoom for both the first lecture and tutorials, as it provides superior functionality and usability for lecturing, including seamless live interaction and smooth integration of a whiteboard. We thus encourage you to join the zoom meeting with your real name, your camera on, and ask questions verbally. However, this is of course voluntary. If you are concerned about privacy, we encourage you to enter the zoom meeting under a nickname or pseudonym, and use only the textual chat for communication.

Evaluation

To be admitted to the exam, you need to pass a midterm assignmentThe grade is entirely determined based on the result of the exam.

Prerequisites

  • Knowledge of Linear Algebra is needed for both part 1 and 2.
    To refresh linear algebra concepts, I recommend you to watch the youtube playlist "the essence of linear algebra".

Software

  • You will use (at least) one alternative as software to study and practice the course content: Julia (with the ControlSystems library) or MATLAB (and the ControlSystems toolbox). Julia is open source, you can download the current Julia version here and MATLAB from asknet (free of charge with your student account). It is also possible to use Python (with the ControlSystems library), but the solutions of the exercises will not include python code for comparison. You don't need to choose a preferred language at the course start, but please make sure that you have the software you want to use installed before the first exercise session and use the software to double check the solution of your exercises.
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