Content

During the design seminar, the students will learn hands-on to select the best digital platform for a given application. It consists of the following steps:

• Step 1: the given application is implemented on a small micro-controller in software. This will typically be C on an 8-bit or 16-bit micro-controller. Its SW performance is measured.
• Step 2: the C-version is further optimized in assembly if the performance goals are not reached. This task will give them insight into performance losses due to software compilers.
• Step 3: students will make a HW/SW co-design project. A dedicated hardware block, either as co-processor, or instruction set extension, is made for the time critical parts of the application. Since there is a large design space, students have to choose themselves the split between HW and SW, based on the performance results obtained in the previous steps.
• Step 4: HW/SW co-simulation of the final design is made. And if time permits, it is downloaded on an FPGA.
• Step 5: Students have to present their design to their fellow students. Important trade-offs, design decisions and critical evaluation are discussed.

Course material

All material and instructions are available on Toledo.

Is also included in other courses

• H09J6A : Design of Digital Platforms