Embedded Hardware Systems Design Practical

This module is designed as a follow-up for the Embedded Hardware System Design (lecture and seminar) offered in the last semester. However, it is also suitable for other participants who did not attend the lecture. Previously, the participants learned about the knowledge of hardware systems design. It started with different ideas, flows, and steps in moving from a high-level system architecture specification model to a fully functional, optimized system on the FPGA. The insights into different algorithms and techniques in every step of building the hardware (turning behavioral models to logic elements, mapping, and placing them to FPGA resources, connecting those resources to realize a working system) were discussed. These are the foundations for the participants to critically analyze and successfully design an embedded hardware system.

In this module, the participants will be exposed to practical challenges involved in the various aspects of designing hardware for embedded systems. The goal of this module is to have a hands-on practice of implementing various stages of embedded hardware design. The module will follow a project-based approach, where the participants will be evaluated on their implementation of a project of their choosing. The projects will involve implementing one or more aspects of emebedded system design -- system-level design with algorithm-level exploration for embedded systems, mapping and scheduling of application tasks on embedded platforms, using FPGAs for accelerating embedded application tasks, RTL-level design of custom embedded hardware, implementing algorithms for technology mapping and placement of logic blocks etc. Depending upon the project choosen by the participants, the first half of the course will involve guided lab sessions/lectures for each project. The second half of the course will be used by the participants to implement their projects.