Course Description: This course delves into the design and implementation of real-time embedded systems, focusing on the challenges of meeting strict timing requirements in resource-constrained environments. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of real-time operating systems (RTOS), scheduling algorithms, inter-process communication, and hardware considerations. Through practical examples and projects, students will apply these concepts to develop real-time applications on ARM-based microcontrollers.

Topics to be Covered:

Module 1: Foundations

• Real-time systems: definitions, characteristics, and applications

• Hard vs. soft real-time constraints

• Task analysis and timing requirements

Module 2: Real-time Operating Systems (RTOS)

• RTOS architecture and functions

• Task management (scheduling, synchronization, communication)

• Memory management in an RTOS environment

Module 3: Hardware for Real-time

• ARM Cortex-M architecture and peripherals

• Timers, real-time clocks, and interrupts

• Interfacing with sensors and actuators

Module 4: Real-time Application Development

• Building real-time applications with FreeRTOS

• Real-time communication protocols (CAN, MQTT)

• Debugging and testing real-time systems

• Case studies: Real-time control systems

Tools and Resources:

• ARM Cortex-M development board (e.g., STM32 Nucleo board)

• FreeRTOS (or another suitable RTOS)

• Embedded C development environment (e.g., Keil MDK, IAR Embedded Workbench)

• Debugging tools (e.g., JTAG debugger)

Books:

• "FreeRTOS: A Practical Guide (3rd Edition)" by Richard Barry

  • ISBN-13: 978-1839212100

  • Publisher: Independently published (December 20, 2020)

  • Note: This edition is updated for FreeRTOS v10. While newer versions of FreeRTOS exist, this provides a solid foundation.

• "Building Embedded Systems: An Introduction to Processes, Tools, and Techniques (1st Edition)" by Karim Yaghmour

  • ISBN-13: 978-0596809560

  • Publisher: O'Reilly Media (June 2005)

  • Note: Although this book is older, it covers fundamental concepts that are still relevant.

• "Making Embedded Systems: Design Patterns for Great Software (1st Edition)" by Elecia White

  • ISBN-13: 978-0596154478

  • Publisher: O'Reilly Media (April 2011)

  • Note: This book provides valuable guidance on software design principles for embedded systems.

Online Resources:

• FreeRTOS Official Website: The official FreeRTOS website (www.freertos.org) is a treasure trove of documentation, tutorials, example code, and community support.

• Zephyr Project: Zephyr (www.zephyrproject.org) is another powerful open-source RTOS with a strong focus on real-time capabilities and IoT applications. Their website provides comprehensive documentation, API references,and sample projects.

• ARM Cortex-M documentation: The ARM website offers detailed documentation on Cortex-M architectures,including programmer's guides, technical reference manuals, and application notes.

• Online Courses and Tutorials: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy offer various courses on embedded systems and real-time operating systems, often including open-source tools and examples.

Research Papers and Articles:

• Real-Time Scheduling Theory: Search for seminal papers on scheduling algorithms like Rate Monotonic Analysis (RMA) and Earliest Deadline First (EDF) to understand the theoretical foundations.

• Real-time Communication Protocols: Explore research papers and articles on CAN bus, MQTT, and other protocols relevant to real-time applications.

Open-Source Communities:

• FreeRTOS Forums: Engage with the FreeRTOS community to ask questions, share knowledge, and find solutions to common challenges.

• Zephyr Project Mailing Lists: Participate in the Zephyr Project mailing lists to connect with developers and stay updated on the latest developments.

Evaluation 

20% Midterm exam

20% Projects and reports

60% Final Exam