Universities: RWTH Aachen and University of Trento

Many objects and devices used commonly in everyday life are becoming intimately integrated with computer systems. In the near future pervasive intelligent systems will offer everybody easy access to information technology resources and provide user-friendly tools for controlling and monitoring external environments and equipments. With respect to other software systems, these systems are characterized by the need for appropriate architecture and reliable software which satisfy timing and environmental constraints. The curriculum on Embedded Systems Informatics aims at educating the participants to master the techniques and methods necessary to develop embedded systems. The specialization introduces the fundamental principles underlying the theory and the practical design and implementation of these systems. Moreover, it allows the students to put these principles into practice on applications in the fields control systems (e.g., controllers for automotive systems or industrial plants) and to ambient intelligence application (e.g., domotics, or sensors networks).

In the case of the Curriculum in Embedded Systems Informatics, the student can select her or his main University between the RWTH Aachen University and the University of Trento. The student will thus attend the 1st terms in the selected main University. During this term the student will attend a first language course and courses on advanced aspects of theoretical and practical Computer Science. The student will then move to the partner University for the 2nd and 3rd terms. In the partner University the student will attend a second language course, will attend specialization courses on Embedded Systems Informatics. At the end of the 3rd term, the student will identify and propose, under the support of a joint tutorship between the two Universities, a joint research thesis. He/she will come back to the main University for the 4th term, which is dedicated to the completion of the final project The dissertation will be defended at the main University and evaluated by a joint committee.
Note that the proposed structure for each curriculum is a framework that can be adapted to incorporate changes in course offering and execution timing in the different Universities

The student undertaking the specialization in Embedded Systems Informatics will be exposed to courses focusing on advanced topics in the areas of software technologies and to introductory and advanced courses on embedded systems, covering both foundational aspects and applications. Main acquired competencies on software include: advanced software engineering, formal methods and verification of software, analysis and testing of software. Main acquired competencies on embedded systems include models and tools for the design of embedded systems, hardware and software platform for the development of embedded systems, techniques for the analysis and the verification of control software, hardware-software co-design. At the end of the program, the student will have acquired the competencies necessary for working as system architect or as project manager in companies operating in the field of control software and electronic appliances, as well as the necessary qualifications to pursue a PhD in the field of software technologies.
Within this curriculum, students will be able to choose among advanced courses and project work related to on-going research in the two universities on Embedded Systems and the related fields. At present, this research includes issues in development processes for control software and ambient intelligence systems, validation and verification of embedded systems, embedded software design, automotive embedded systems, cognitive robotics, the synthesis of reactive programs, and others. Examples of possible projects on Embedded Systems are:

• Requirements driven verification of a Train Movement Control system
• Automated configuration of control software for space applications
• Efficient integration of mathematical solvers into Boolean solvers
• Safety-critical automotive control systems
• Control software for intelligent mobile service robots
• Symbolic synthesis of finite-state controllers for reactive systems