Embedded Linux, Rose-Hulman

Overview

Introduction
This Wiki is about a college-level embedded processor class being taught using the BeagleBoard. It's being taught by Professor Mark A. Yoder in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Rose is a small, private, undergraduate engineering school that focuses on undergraduate education.

A major part of the class is learning how to work with and leverage off of the open source community. The course requires a major project which will either significantly contribute to an existing open source project, or launch a new one.

If you teach a similar course, I'd like to hear from you. ECE497 Instructor Guide explains the various choices I made in what to cover in the course, which distribution to use, etc.

Here (Category:ECE497) is a list of all the pages I've posted on eLinux for this class. Take a look at it.

Here's the official description of the course.

Course Description
ECE 497 32-bit Embedded Linux 4R-0L-4C S Pre: Consent of instructor


 * Brief introduction to Linux on a 32-bit embedded processor.
 * Detailed study of what happens from power up to fully running X-Windows.
 * Adapting Linux to a given application including: boot time reduction, power management and root filesystem support.
 * Streaming media on an embedded processor.
 * Using a DSP co-processor to improve performance.

Design project. Previous Linux experience not required, but helpful. C programming, operating system and hardware experience required.

Calendar and Exercises
This is a dynamic course, so the calendar may change as we discover interesting new things. It will be updated as we go. You can see it here: ECE497 Calendar and Exercises

Textbook
We'll be using the text Embedded Linux Primer, by Christopher Hallinan, 2nd edition, published by Pearson Prentice Hall.

The text is not Beagle specific; rather, it pulls examples from many embedded processors. It has many listings which detail the outputs from various processors. One of your tasks will be to reproduce the listing for the BeagleBoard.

Grades
Grades in the class aren't based on the traditional homework and exams; rather, they are based on some daily exercises ECE497 Calendar and Exercises, a couple of minor projects and a major Beagle-based project and your portfolio. The projects will be done with teams of 2 or 3 people. We have people in the class with strong embedded backgrounds and others with strong Linux background. The goal is to have teams include complementary skills.

Your portfolio is a collection of what you, as an individual, have contributed to the community and the team.

The Calendar gives the due dates. I'll give a reward to being early and 10% per day penalty for being late. You must complete all the exercises to pass the course.

Weekly Status Memos
A Weekly Status Memo is due on Monday of each week. See ECE497_Weekly_Status_Memos for details.

D114 Lab
Solid sole footwear must be worn at all times while in the lab for any reason. Glove or finger footwear is not considered as closed toe or solid sole and thus is not permitted at anytime within the lab.

Additionally, closed toe, solid sole footwear must be worn within 4 ft. of the lab benches. No loose fitting clothing (e.g. ties, scarfs, long necklaces) are allowed within 4 ft. of the lab benches. Long hair must be tied such that it is not loose or hanging in such a way that it could potentially get caught in the moving equipment when within 4 ft. of the lab benches. No food or drinks are permitted within 4 feet of any lab bench. Food and drinks are allowed to be placed on the front table and tables in center of room. Anyone with drinks and/or food stuffs must remove or dispose of the material at the conclusion of their lab period(s). Food and/or drinks contained in backpacks and/or closed or sealed containers/packages may be kept on the floor during the lecture/lab period but MAY NOT be opened or consumed within 4 ft. of lab benches, food and drinks allowed on front table and tables in center of room.

No soldering, drilling, sawing, and/or non-circuit fabrication allowed. Electrical and wiring connections of components using “breadboards”, wire wrap, and/or chip sockets are permitted.

Lab usage permitted testing available between 8:00 AM and 5:10 PM Monday through Friday. Lab usage at other times must be approved in writing by the ECE department chair or ECE department faculty member.

At least two students must be present within the lab at anytime lab equipment is being used or testing is being conducted. Devices, circuits, systems under test may NOT be left unattended unless all test equipment has been turned off. Any material left unattended in the lab is done so at the individuals own risk. The ECE department is not responsible for material left unattended in the lab.

Taken from \\rose-hulman.edu\dfs\AcademicAffairs\ECE\lab-safety