Real-Time Systems (RTS) are present in a large number of real-world applications. Examples
of RTSs are applications for control environments as: an aircraft flight-control system,
the signal processing system of a communications satellite, an altitute and orbit control
system, etc. Therefore, the correct functioning of a RTS is a system depends not only on the
logical correctness of its result; it also depends on the fact that results should be produced
within a well-defined time. For instance, a temperature control system of a nuclear power plant
would function correctly if it is able to meet two important requirements: (1) it should monitor
the temperature of the reactors and (2) it should make the right decisions depending on those
temperature values within a very well-defined time intervals. If a hard RTS is not able to meat
these requirements, it will not function correctly. The consequences of malfunctioning
(in terms of loss of human lives, economic costs to companies, or environmental damage) may so
catastrophic that they are by no means tolerable.
This is only a traditional example of a safety-critical RTS. However, nowadays, there is a large
number of companies and consortiums that demand engineers with a good background on the field
of RTS. For instance, the European Space Agency (ESA), the Airbus consortium, companies dedicated
to the design and fabrication of consumer electronic products, etc.
RTSs are becoming more and more complex whereas, at the same time, they control a broader range of
applications of modern life. Some important aspects of these systems, which increase their
development complexity) are: distribution and fault tolerance. Distribution is required to
control and communicate with remote components. Fault tolerance is required when the application
is critical.
The objectives of the course are to present the students a new professional profile on RTSs.
For this reason, an appealing and formative view on this field will be given. Also, the
students will see the applicability of the RT concepts to real projects that will be described
by important national and international companies working on the field of aerospace, consumer
electronics, and industry. Therefore, we will have invited talks from project leaders of
Philips Research Eindhoven and Deimos Space.
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