Course Title: Design With Hardware Description Languages

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Design With Hardware Description Languages

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

EEET2035

City Campus

Postgraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 2 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2016

EEET2035

City Campus

Postgraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

EEET2362

RMIT University Vietnam

Postgraduate

125H Electrical & Computer Engineering

Face-to-Face

 Viet2 2011,
Viet2 2012,
Viet3 2012,
Viet2 2013,
Viet1 2014

Course Coordinator: Dr Glenn Matthews

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2091

Course Coordinator Email: glenn.matthews@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Availability: Email for appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study:

You should have satisfactorily completed Introduction to Embedded Systems (EEET2256) or other equivalent studies.

It is also recommended that you have successfully completed Embedded System Design and Implementation (EEET2096)/ Computer Architecture and Organisation (EEET2261) or equivalent studies.

To successfully complete this course, you should have the ability to manipulate basic Boolean logic and to have an introductory level knowledge of microprocessor-based systems.

This course will require you to design, implement, test and debug Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Hardware Description Languages. This course will guide you through the fundamentals of the Verilog(hardware)and Tcl(scripting) programming languages and as such experience in C++ development (or another high-level language) is an advantage.


Course Description

Programmable logic and re-configurable hardware is extensively used for the design of high-performance embedded electronic systems. These devices can be found in a wide array of complex systems such as mobile telephones to special purpose high-performance computing engines. Programmable devices offer a combination of flexibility and processing power that easily surpasses general purpose computing devices and challenges even dedicated architectures such as Digital Signal Processors (DSPs). Reconfigurable hardware also offers a time to market advantage, design integration, are easy to design with and can be reprogrammed time and time again even in the field to upgrade overall system functionality. Furthermore, with the advent of highly-integrated System-on-Chip (SoC) and FPGA architectures, there is a growing need to fully comprehend how to take advantage of these coupled systems for the next-generation of high-performance computing applications.

It is therefore imperative that graduates of communications, electronics and computer systems have the opportunity to gain experience in this powerful design and implementation methodology. This course introduces design methods and tools for programmable logic systems, with a particular focus on Verilog, architectures and system level design.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes:

PLO 2. Demonstrate an  advanced and integrated understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline
PLO 4. Apply advanced knowledge of established engineering methods in the analysis of complex problems in the  engineering discipline
PLO 5. Utilise advanced mathematics, software, tools and techniques, in the conduct of research into the  design and analysis of complex engineering systems
PLO 8. Communicate engineering designs and solutions respectfully and effectively, employing a range of advanced communication methods in interpreting and transmitting knowledge, in an individual or team environment,  to diverse audiences.​​


On successful completion of this course, you will be able to (CLOs):

CLO 1 - Critically analyse and clearly interpret the role of programmable logic devices in advanced modern electronic systems. 
CLO 2 - Design moderately complex digital circuitry using programmable logic.
CLO 3 - Effectively use a modern hardware description language (Verilog) and computer aided design tools to implement designs in programmable devices.
CLO 4 - Systematically fault find (debug) moderately complex SoC hardware using a range of external tools such as oscilloscopes and logic analysers.
CLO 5 - Communicate a critique of reconfigurable logic trends in high-performance computing modules to professional audiences.


Overview of Learning Activities

Student Learning occurs through the following experiences and evaluation processes:  

  • Comprehensive review of recorded lectures where syllabus material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
  • Completion of lectorial questions and laboratory projects designed to give further practice in the application of theory and procedures, and to give feedback on student progress and understanding;
  • Completion of written laboratory reports consisting of programming and other digital synthesis problems requiring an integrated understanding of the course topics;
  • Private study, working through the course as presented in classes and learning materials;
  • Practice at solving conceptual and hardware programming problems;
  • Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation (where possible).


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be expected to use library and electronic resources (as well as any other appropriate resources) to engage in professional reading of relevant literature on FPGAs, SoC design and the Verilog Hardware Description Language.

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems.

Note that all specific class material, including a copy of the necessary design tools, will be made available at the beginning of the course.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Task 1: Lab Tasks 35% CLO2, CLO3 and CLO4
Assessment Task 2: Lab Project 40% CLO1, CLO2, CLO3, CLO4 and CLO5
Assessment Task 3: Practical Lab, 25%, CLO2 and CLO3