COURSE
OUTLINE
Current as of Jan. 30, 2008
Abstract
520.448:
This course is only open to Seniors, Juniors intending to graduate before
Spring 2009, and Juniors in special programs such as the 5 year Masters Program. This will be a strictly project based
class. I will propose projects that students will do in pairs. The
projects will cover a wide range of subjects, ranging from image analysis and
processing, through robotics control to VLSI design. All projects will
require a heavy dose of computer usage (programming and simulation) and/or
software/hardware design/implementation. The lectures will present
background information on all the ideas we will encounter in the
projects.
520.738: This course is for Graduate Students only. This course is the graduate expansion of the 520.448 Electronic Design Lab, which is an advanced laboratory course in which teams of students design, build, test, and document application specific information processing microsystems. Semester long projects range from sensors/actuators, mixed signal electronics, embedded microcomputers, algorithms and robotics systems design. Demonstration and documentation of projects are important aspects of the evaluation process. For this graduate expansion, all projects will be based on recently published research from IEEE Transactions. The students will be required to fully research, analyze, implement and demonstrate their chosen topic. The emphasis will be on VLSI microsystems, although other topics will also be considered.
Teaching Assistant
|
Alexander Rissel |
|
|
Office:
401 Barton Tel: 410-516-0746 Email: alexrussellsa at gmail dot com |
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VLSI
Design
(1) Design a Microprocessor for fabrication
in 0.5um CMOS process. (Primarily intended for students who took 520.491 last
semester and wish to finish their projects.)
· VLSI design using
CADENCE/SPICE/VERILOG
· Preparation for submission
of chip for fabrication through MOSIS
(2) Design of an intelligent VLSI sensor.
Possible designs include imagers that do the following:
·
Motion computation
·
Fast spatial image convolution
·
Centroid computation
·
Imager/transmitter
The project
will involve the following:
·
VLSI design using CADENCE/SPICE/VERILOG
·
Preparation for submission of chip for fabrication through MOSIS
Developing
a Hardware/Software System
(3) Design a Stereo Imaging System using
linear imagers and a microcontroller.
· Test Linear Imager Chip
· Interface custom chips to a
microcontroller.
· Implement stereo algorithm
(4) Design an intelligent visual tracking
system using a microcontroller and one (or more) of the following chips:
·
Foveated imager
·
Stereo imager
·
Optical flow chip
·
Temporal difference imager
This project will probably involve:
·
Assembly programming of a microcontroller.
·
Design of motor driver circuits.
·
Interface the custom chip to the microcontroller.
·
Interface to an RC car or other small vehicle.
(5) Design an intelligent visual tracking
system using Optical Flow Algorithms.
· Requires programming in
C/C++ on PC
· Develop software motion
tracking algorithm based on Optical Flow
· Explore various approaches
on Optical Flow computation
(6) Design Human Interface Device for a PC
(3D mouse, etc.)
· Requires assembly
programming of a microcontroller
· Use a custom VLSI sensor
(see project 4)
· Interface a custom chip to a
PC
(7) Design a VGA driver for a using a
current mode imager chip.
· Requires assembly
programming of a microcontroller.
· Requires some board level
and high speed analog circuit design
· Interface custom chip to the
microcontroller.
(8) Design 3D imaging system using a
microcontroller and compact stereo vision system.
· Requires assembly
programming of a microcontroller
· Interface custom chip to the
microcontroller
· Requires some programming on
PC
· Interface to a mobile robot
(9) Design control unit for a walking
robot (Snappy).
· Requires C programming for
DIO Card
· Interface to Snappy
· Develop various walking
algorithms
Digital
Telephony
(10) Video Telephone System
· Requires circuit design for
voice and video digitizing
· Requires assembly
programming of microcontroller or microprocessor
· PIC/microphone
Other
Projects
(11)
· Design transceiver circuits
· Implement range computation
hardware
· Display reading
(12) Smart Embedded Web-based Device Controller.
· Learn the uFlash Web or
other server board
· Develop software for data
transmission to/from hardware
· Control devices using remote
access.
(13) Smart Audio Amplifier
for Home HiFi System
· Design a simple stereo 50W
amplifier
· Interface system with audio
source
· Implement control strategies
to maintain a constant output level
(14) Smart Wireless Video
Surveillance System
· Develop Software to link IP
Cams and Board PC
· Low web-based access and
control of video data
(15) Your own project
· Must be approved by
the professor
· Be creative.
· Consider how to divide
the work.
· Plan how to test
whatever you make.
· Some hardware must be
involved.
· Must be approved by
the professor!!!
Some
Important Notes
All project
choices (not just #15) must be approved by the professor.
Most
projects will probably involve programming a microcontroller (probably a PIC;
we have the programmers) and constructing circuits, be they wire-wrap or PCBs.
Planning is
important. This includes scheduling and division of labor.
Pick a
project that interests everyone in the group, but one that is also not too
ambitious. Even cool projects can turn into horrible time-eating monsters.
You have
limited resources. These include:
Time
Money
Parts
(don't design something around a part with a 2 month lead time)
Lab space
Test
equipment
I will give
tutorials on some important topics. These might include:
Construction
techniques (wire-wrap, soldering, etc.)
Printed circuit
board (PCB) design
Microcontroller
programming
This
document is subject to, and probably will, change.