Embedded Systems Design Academic Curriculum Sharing Across

Ibero-America

Andres F. MarquezIvan Vanegas

Ramiro JordanWilfrido A. Moreno

10/10/2012

Outline• Description.• Motivation.• Initiatives.

– Digital Library Linkages.– Advanced Continuing Education.– Research and Development– Los Libertadores

• Rapid System Prototyping Course.• Conclusions.

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Description

• Research and development initiative by ISTEC, USF, and UNM to create community of universities to share academic resources related to STEM areas in Latin America.

• Dissemination of knowledge, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

• Network to promote integration between academia, government, industry and society.

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Motivation

• Limited access to education and professional opportunities in Latin American countries creates long-lasting quality of life inequalities.

• ISTEC fosters socio-economic development:– Advance the state of higher education in STEM.– Joint international content generation.– Strengthen social responsibility.– Leadership models of accountability.

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Digital Library Linkages (LibLink)

• Integrate institutions that provide bibliographical services by sharing library resources.

• Information management.• Digital repositories provide free access to:

– Materials.– Magazines.– Books.

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Advance Continuing Education (ACE)

• Enhancement of curricula, accreditation, distance learning.

• Use of current technology platforms for educational process.

• Double degree programs encourage intellectual interaction among academic institutions.

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Research and Development (R&D)

• Transfer of technology by developing R&D labs to enhance interaction between industry and academia in order to nurture innovation.

• It Improves the ability for the latest technology to be applied to the resolution of problems with social and economic impact.

• Academic training centers for professional development series (PDS).

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Research and Development (R&D)

• Training centers provide an opportunity for engineers to adopt emerging technologies, and create effective communication networks.

• Chosen Academic members for PDS:– Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja (UTPL),

Ecuador.– Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (PUJ), Cali,

Colombia.

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ISTEC-Motorola Model

• Build laboratories in Ibero-American region.• 172 labs were installed in academic

institutions using Motorola’s CPUs and DSPs.• From 1992 to 2005, over 600,000 students

have taken hands-on classes in these labs.• Microelectronics and nanotechnology design

center (CEITEC) was a joint venture among the Government of Brazil, Motorola, and industry.

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Educación

Bioingeniería

Ener

gí

a

Cyb

er S

yste

ms

Salud

Nanotecnología

Cyber-Physical Systems

Embedded Systems

... .....

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..

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Automation & Control/Roboti

cs

Automation & Control/Robotics

Mechatronic Control SystemsMechatronic Control Systems

“Mechatronic Engineering

is the synergist combination of Electronic,

Mechanical, Controls and Computer

Engineering to create a useful product”

Aerial Venn diagram from RPI's website describes the various fields that make up Mechatronics

Integrated Electrical Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory Engineering Laboratory 

PlatformPlatformFrom: Theory to Design, Simulation,

Prototyping and Deployment

Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory PlatformPlatform

DMMOscilloscopeFunction GeneratorGenerator

ARB DSABode AnalyzerAnalyzer

Power SupplySupply

NI ELVIS is…

Breadboard

Instrumentation

PC-Based Measurement

Multisim Integration

USB Connectivity

Electronics Logic DesignAC / DC Circuits

Linear Controls Microelectronics Communications EmbeddedSystems

Microprocessors

Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory PlatformPlatform

NI ELVIS Complete Process

Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory Integrated Electrical Engineering Laboratory PlatformPlatform

1. Curriculum (theory)

2. Multisim (capture & simulate)

3. Build Circuit

4. NI ELVIS (measure and compare)

1. Curriculum (theory)

2. Multisim (capture & simulate)

3. Build Circuit

4. NI ELVIS (measure and compare)

Embedded Systems“A Knowledge Community”

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... ..

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..

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Rapid System Prototyping Course

• System prototyping using VHDL and FPGAs.• PLD, CPLD and FPGA architecture overview.• System design, simulation and

implementation using Xilinx software and a Spartan-3E development kit.

• Register transfer level design.• Regular sequential circuit design.• Industry trends in FPGAs and prototyping.

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Development Tools

• Design creation: Source files, design modules.• Synthesis: Architecture-specific design netlist.• Simulation: Verify functionality of design.• Constraints entry: Specify timing, placement.• Implementation: Create physical file format.• Implementation analysis: Analyze

performance.• Device configuration: Programming file.

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Conclusions• ISTEC has partnered with academic institutions

and industry to provide sustainable socio-economic development in Ibero-America.

• ISTEC has developed initiatives that create activities to address specific areas of research, social, pedagogical, informational, and technological impact.

• “Social Impact” via Science and Technology – Education Eduaction

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Conclusions

• The rapid system prototyping class introduces FPGA-based system design. Class structure and resources have been adapted to improve the interaction and learning experience.

• At the University of New Mexico, work is in progress with the Albuquerque Public Schools system to implement Xilinx's Spartan-3E Starter Kit based laboratories in selected high schools.

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Questions?

Thank you

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References• (1) A. Marquez, R. Jordan, and W. Moreno. Experiences Teaching a Rapid System Prototyping Class.

IberchipXVIII. March 2012, pp.55-59.• (2) Moodle, http://moodle.org/, May 2012.• (3) ISTEC, “About ISTEC” http://www.istec.org/about/about-istec/, May 2012.• (4) ISTEC, “Creating Sinergy in the Region”

http://www.istec.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Creando-Sinergia-en-la-region.pdf, May 2012• (5) CEITEC, http://www.ceitecmicrossistemas.org.br/• (6) La Plazita Institute. http://www.laplazitainstitute.org/• (7) P. P. Chu, FPGA Prototyping by VHDL Examples. Wiley-Interscience, first ed., 2008.• (8) P. P. Chu, RTL Hardware Design Using VHDL. Wiley-Interscience, first ed., 2006.• (9) R. C. Cofer and B. F. Harding, Rapid System Prototyping with FPGAs: Accelerating the Design

Process. Newnes, first ed., 2006.• (10) Xilinx, “Picoblaze 8-bit embedded microcontroller user guide.”

http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/ip_documentation/ug129.pdf, May 2012.• (11) Xilinx, “Xilinx university program.” http://www.xilinx.com/university/, May 2012.• (12) Xilinx, “Ise design flow overview.” http://www.xilinx.com/support/documentation/sw

manuals/xilinx11/ise_c fpga_design_flow_overview.htm, July 2011.• (13) Altium, “Altium designer.” http://products.live.altium.com/, May 2012.• (14) LANIC: http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/map/

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