EEEN301 (2024) - Computer Architecture and Embedded Systems

Prescription

The course develops an understanding of the structure of computers, how they execute programs and how they interface to the real world. The course first covers ARM assembly language programming, data representation, computer arithmetic, microprocessor architecture at the hardware level and a comparison with GPU, DSP and FPGA architectures. The course then explores the design flow and application of embedded computers in real-world engineering problems. Practical experience is gained using microprocessors, techniques to interface them with the physical world, development tool chains, debugging and embedded Linux operating systems.

Course learning objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Explain the main components of a typical computer and their interconnections, standard ways of representing data in hardware, the arithmetic and logic unit (ALU), data paths, pipelining, caches, and I/O. (BE graduate attribute 3(a))
2. Analyse the effects of the hardware logic designs in a computer on the basic operations in programming languages and the performance of computer programs. (BE graduate attribute 3(a))
3. Use an embedded computer to solve a variety of real-world problems, with and without the linux embedded operating system.  (BE graduate attribute 3(b) 3(f))
4. Identify and explain the advantages and disadvantages of low-level programming versus using an embedded operating system. (BE graduate attribute 3(b) 3(f))
5. Effectively communicate in a written manner the methodology, design compromises, results and evaluation of embedded computer-based solutions to real-world problems. (BE graduate attribute 2(b) 3(f))

Course content

We’ve designed this course for in-person study, and to get the most of out it we strongly recommend you attend lectures on campus. Most assessment items, as well as tutorials/seminars/labs/workshops will only be available in person. Any exceptions for in-person attendance for assessment will be looked at on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances, e.g., through disability services or by approval by the course coordinator.
 
If you started your programme of study remotely and can only study remotely, please contact the School so we can help and confirm what courses are available.

Withdrawal from Course

Withdrawal dates and process:
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/course-additions-withdrawals

Lecturers

Teaching Format

During the trimester, there will be two lectures per week plus one hour of tutorials. The lab component will consist of in lab sessions of three hours each.

Dates (trimester, teaching & break dates)

• Teaching: 26 February 2024 - 31 May 2024
• Break: 01 April 2024 - 14 April 2024
• Study period: 03 June 2024 - 06 June 2024
• Exam period: 07 June 2024 - 22 June 2024

Set Texts and Recommended Readings

Required

There are no required texts for this offering.

Recommended

• The course text book is 'Computer Organization and Design, ARM edition'. We will not follow the text closely or entirely, but students are advised to ensure access for additonal reading.

Mandatory Course Requirements

In addition to achieving an overall pass mark of at least 50%, students must:

• Achieve at least a D grade for 80% of the labs, because the practical work in the labs is critical to CLO 3, and is not assessed in the tests/assignments.

If you believe that exceptional circumstances may prevent you from meeting the mandatory course requirements, contact the Course Coordinator for advice as soon as possible.

Assessment

This course is internally assessed.

Assessment Item	Due Date or Test Date	CLO(s)	Percentage
2 Tests	TBC	CLO: 1,2,4,5	50%
2 Assignments (7 hours each)	TBC	CLO: 1,2,5	15%
Laboratory exercises / report (3 hour lab session plus 2 hours for analysis and write-up)	TBC	CLO: 2,3,4,5	35%

Penalties

Work submitted late will incur a 10% penalty per late day or part thereof. Students expecting to submit work late should use the extension system that is part of the submission system.

Extensions

Extension procedures for EEEN 301 will use the normal Faculty extension process. You need not contact the course lecturers directly for most assignment extensions, but simply follow the procedures within the submission system. If you require extensions beyond that handled automatically then you should contact staff.

Submission & Return

Submission of assignments and laboratory reports will be through the ECS submission system. Marks and comments will also be returned via the submission system.

Workload

The student workload for this course is 150 hours.

Teaching Plan

See: https://ecs.wgtn.ac.nz/Courses/EEEN301_2024T1/LectureSchedule

Communication of Additional Information

The ECS course wiki (https://ecs.wgtn.ac.nz/Courses/EEEN301_2024T1/) will be the main source of information for the course. Some information, notably video of the lectures and course feedback forms will be available on Nuku.

Links to General Course Information

• Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/exams/academic-integrity
• Academic Progress: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/progress/academic-progess (including restrictions and non-engagement)
• Dates and deadlines: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/dates
• Grades: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/study/progress/grades
• Special passes: Refer to the Assessment Handbook, at https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/documents/policy/staff-policy/assessment-handbook.pdf
• Statutes and policies, e.g. Student Conduct Statute: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/governance/strategy
• Student support: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/support
• Students with disabilities: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/st_services/disability/
• Student Charter: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/learning-teaching/learning-partnerships/student-charter
• Student Feedback on University courses may be found at: http://www.cad.vuw.ac.nz/feedback/feedback_display.php
• Terms and Conditions: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/study/apply-enrol/terms-conditions/student-contract
• Turnitin: http://www.cad.vuw.ac.nz/wiki/index.php/Turnitin
• University structure: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/about/governance/structure
• The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy:
  Victoria University values te reo Māori. Students who wish to submit any of their assessments in te reo Māori must refer to The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy
  He mea nui te reo Māori ki te Whare Wānanga o te Ūpoko o te Ika. Ki te pīrangi koe ki te tuhituhi i ō aro matawai i roto i te reo Māori, tēnā me mātua whakapā atu ki te kaupapa here, The Use of Te Reo Māori for Assessment Policy
• VUWSA: http://www.vuwsa.org.nz

Offering CRN: 34002

Points: 15
Prerequisites: EEEN 202 (or ECEN 202), NWEN 241
Restrictions: ECEN 301, NWEN 342
Duration: 26 February 2024 - 23 June 2024
Starts: Trimester 1
Campus: Kelburn