Overview
HWA #1
HWA #2

Overview

The course is examined by two homework assignments, herein referred to as HWA #1 and HWA #2. There is no written exam in the course. HWA #1 is solved during study week 1 (Fri) - study week 5 (Tue) of the course, and HWA #2 during study week 5 (Wed) - study week 8 (Fri) of the course. Please see the exact dates on the schedule page.

The home assignments are done individually or, if desired, in groups of three students. If you work in a group, then all three students in the group submit only one solution that you three have designed and developed together. However, each of the group members needs to declare the percentage of contribution in solving the different parts of the solution. The teacher will assess each student separately and the three students of the same group may not necessarily receive the same grade. In other words, the assessment and grading of the assignments are individually performed.

You may register in a group here. If you are joining a group that already has some members, please ensure before joining the group that all of you are already in agreement to work together. At most three students are allowed to work in a group.

In HWA #1 the students shall implement a dependable software for a real-time system, that is examined by means of a demonstration of the software in a laboratory room during study weeks 4-5 (please see the schedule page to know the room number). In HWA#1, your group also needs to collaborate with other groups to enable network communication based on the CAN protocol. In HWA #2 the students shall solve a set of theoretical problems and document the solutions in a written report that is orally examined in the office of the examiner. In HWA#2, your group does not collaborate with other groups, i.e., you only work with the members of your own group. HWA#2 is examined by means of an oral examination that each member of your group needs to attend alone. In other words, each student individually books one appointment with the examiner and presents the solutions of HWA#2 even though you develop the solution in a group. The oral examination for HWA#2 is done in the examiner's office. The appointment slots for presenting your HWA#2 will be announced later and you will be notified via Canvas announcement. During the oral examination of HWA#2, the examiner may also ask you questions regarding HWA#1.

The grade for each home assignment, according to the scale Fail (U) or Pass (grades 3, 4, 5), is derived from the sub-score awarded at the grading of the assignment. HWA #1 will be awarded a sub-score based on the quality of the produced software and the performance at the demonstration of the software and based on the oral examination that takes place along with HW#2.

HWA #2 will be awarded a sub-score based on the quality of the problem solutions and the performance at the oral examination of the solutions. Note that the assessment and grading of the assignments are individually performed, i.e., the three members of the same group may not necessarily be assigned the same grade.

In order to get a Pass grade for the entire course it is required that the student has a Pass grade for both homework assignments. The final grade of the whole course, according to the scale Fail (U) or Pass (3, 4, 5), is then based on the weighted average of the grades of the two homework assignments (30% HWA #1 and 70% HWA #2).

Note: GU students use the Chalmers grading scale within the Canvas system, but will get corresponding GU grades when the grades for the individual course elements and the final course grade are reported to Ladok. The grade for the individual course elements or the final course grade for a GU student is on the scale Fail(U) or Pass (G, VG).

If you have any questions regarding grading, please contact me via email.

Preparation: If you have not done the laboratory problem related to CAN communication (i.e., the "Yes, We CAN" part) during the introductory real-time systems course, then you may prepare by solving that part (available here) no later than Thursday of study week 1. This preparatory module is to build the necessary background for doing HWA#1. This preparatory module is not checked by the examiner but you are welcome to ask for help if needed.

Homework assignment #1

In this assignment, you will (1) add fault-tolerant functionality to the melody player from the laboratory assignment in the preparatory course (EDA223/DIT162 or LET627), and (2) implement a dependable CAN message handler.

HWA #1 is handed out on Friday in study week 1 and should be completed by Tuesday in study week 5 (see schedule for actual dates). Before/after the deadline in study week 5 you should demonstrate your solutions to the assignment problems, Before the deadline, you must submit the relevant parts of the software (typically, the application.c file) and a small report in Canvas.

For this assignment, you will be offered loan equipment (MD407 processor card + USB/CAN cables) and you work on the assignment using your or your group partner's computer. Each group will get one set of loan equipment.

The loan equipment can be picked up during study week 1. You essentially book a time with the teacher to pick up and return the loan equipment at the campus. The teacher will announce such available time in Canvas calendar (here). The exact details on how, where, and when to pick up the loan equipment will be announced during the first lecture in study week 1 and also via Canvas announcement. One student can pick only one set of loan equipment on behalf of her/his group. As soon as the deadline for HWA #1 has passed on Tuesday in study week 5, the loan equipment should be returned to the teacher. The teacher will announce such available time in Canvas calendar (here).

IMPORTANT!!! If you have not done the laboratory problem related to CAN communication (i.e., the "Yes, We CAN" part) during the introductory real-time systems course, then you may prepare by solving that part (available here) no later than Thursday of study week 1. This preparatory module is to build the necessary background for doing homework assignment #1. This preparatory module is not checked by the examiner but you are welcome to ask for help if needed.

Demonstration of your solutions to the homework assignment #1 problems takes place during the scheduled demonstration sessions in the laboratory room. Please see the time and location for the demonstration in the schedule . After the demonstration, you will be awarded preliminary points for the solution, based on the correctness of the solution. This preliminary point may change later on during the oral examination of homework assignment #2 since during that oral examination, you may also be asked questions regarding your solution to homework assignment #1.

Submission of your HWA #1 software code is done here.

Note: you do not have to submit any of the source files relating to the TinyTimber run-time system.

Note: After the deadline, the loan equipment should be promptly returned to the examiner.

Homework assignment #2

In this assignment, you will solve a collection of problems related to real-time scheduling. The problems will encompass a combination of theoretical analysis and paper reading.

HWA #2 is handed out on Wednesday in study week 5 and should be completed by Friday in study week 8 (see schedule for actual dates). Before the deadline in study week 8, you should submit a document containing your solutions to the assignment problems. Consultation regarding the assignment will be offered during the scheduled consultation sessions. The purpose of the consultation session is to get guidance regarding your way to solve problems from HWA#2. Please see the time for consultations in the schedule .

An oral examination of the student's solutions to the assignment problems takes place at a time during the three weeks following the deadline of HWA#2. Each student should book a time with the teacher. Although three students working in a group submit only one solution, each of the students should book a different time for an oral examination and may be asked different questions during the oral examination. In addition, questions related to HWA#1 may also be asked by the examiner. After the examination of a solution to an assignment problem, each student will be awarded points for the solution of homework assignment #2, based on

the correctness of the solution,
the ability of the student to defend and explain the chosen solution, and
the amount of contribution made by that student in deriving that solution (in case three students work together).

Submission of your solutions to HWA #2 is done here.

After submitting the solutions, each student individually should book a time with the course examiner for the oral examination of HWA#2. Choose an available appointment time in the Canvas calendar for this course (click the 'Find Appointment' button in the menu to the right). When such oral examination slots are added to the Calendar, you will be notified by a Canvas announcement.

Note: A late submission may result in a reduction of awarded points for HWA #2. See the cover sheet of the assignment paper for details.