Search result: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2020

Computer Science Bachelor Information
First Year Examinations
First Year Examination Block 1
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
401-0131-00LLinear Algebra Restricted registration - show details O7 credits4V + 2UA. Cannas da Silva, O. Sorkine Hornung
AbstractIntroduction to linear algebra (vector spaces, linear transformations, matrices), inner product, determinants, matrix decompositions (LU, QR, eigenvalue and singular value decomposition).
Objective- Understand and apply fundamental concepts of linear algebra
- Learn about applications of linear algebra
ContentLinear Algebra:
Linear systems of equations, vectors and matrices, norms and scalar products, LU decomposition, vector spaces and linear transformations, least squares problems, QR decomposition, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, singular value decomposition, applications.
Lecture notesExtracts from the lecture notes "Lineare Algebra" (by Gutknecht) in German, with English expressions for all technical terms.
LiteratureRecommendations on the course website
Prerequisites / NoticeThe relevant high school material is reviewed briefly at the beginning.
252-0025-01LDiscrete Mathematics Information Restricted registration - show details O7 credits4V + 2UU. Maurer
AbstractContent: Mathematical reasoning and proofs, abstraction. Sets, relations (e.g. equivalence and order relations), functions, (un-)countability, number theory, algebra (groups, rings, fields, polynomials, subalgebras, morphisms), logic (propositional and predicate logic, proof calculi).
ObjectiveThe primary goals of this course are (1) to introduce the most important concepts of discrete mathematics, (2) to understand and appreciate the role of abstraction and mathematical proofs, and (3) to discuss a number of applications, e.g. in cryptography, coding theory, and algorithm theory.
ContentSee course description.
Lecture notesavailable (in english)
252-0027-00LIntroduction to Programming Information Restricted registration - show details O7 credits4V + 2UT. Gross
AbstractIntroduction to fundamental concepts of modern programming and operational skills for developing high-quality programs, including large programs as in industry. The course introduces software engineering principles with an object-oriented approach based.
ObjectiveMany people can write programs. The "Introduction to Programming" course goes beyond that basic goal: it teaches the fundamental concepts and skills necessary to perform programming at a professional level. As a result of successfully completing the course, students master the fundamental control structures, data structures, reasoning patterns and programming language mechanisms characterizing modern programming, as well as the fundamental rules of producing high-quality software. They have the necessary programming background for later courses introducing programming skills in specialized application areas.
ContentBasics of object-oriented programming. Objects and classes. Pre- and postconditions, class invariants, design by contract. Fundamental control structures. Assignment and references. Fundamental data structures and algorithms. Recursion. Inheritance and interfaces, basic concepts of Software Engineering such as the software process, specification and documentation, debugging, reuse and quality assurance.
Lecture notesThe lecture slides are available for download on the course page.
LiteratureSee the course page for up-to-date information.
Prerequisites / NoticeThere are no special prerequisites. Students are expected to enroll in the other courses offered to first-year students of computer science.
252-0026-00LAlgorithms and Data Structures Information Restricted registration - show details O7 credits3V + 2U + 1AM. Püschel, D. Steurer
AbstractThe course provides the foundation of the design and analysis of algorithms. The material is introduced using classical algorithmic problems including graph problems. The necessary basic introduction to graph theory is provided as part of this course.
ObjectiveAn understanding of the design and analysis of fundamental algorithms and data structures. A basic understanding of graph theory and several basic graph algorithms.
ContentThis course is an introduction into the design and analysis of algorithms. On the one hand this includes classical algorithm design patterns including induction, divide-and-conquer and dynamic programming. We study these using classical example such as searching and sorting. On the other hand the course covers the interaction between algorithms and data structures including linked lists, search trees, heaps, and union-find structures. A particular focus are graph algorithms for shortest path and minimal spanning tree problems. We provide the necessary introduction into graph theory as part of this course.
Lecture notesA complete script in German is under development. A complete draft is already available on the course website.
LiteratureAbgesehen vom Skript und Vorlesungsunterlagen empfehlen wir die folgenden Bücher als zusätzliches Nachschlagewerk.

Th. Ottmann, P. Widmayer: Algorithmen und Datenstrukturen, Spektrum-Verlag, 5. Auflage, Heidelberg, Berlin, Oxford, 2011

Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein: An Introduction to Algorithms, 3rd edition, MIT Press, 2009
First Year Examination Block 2
Offered in the spring semester.
Repetition Fist Year Computer Science BSc
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
900-9016-00LRepetition Fist Year Informatik BSc Restricted registration - show details 0 creditsnot available
Abstract
Objective
Basic Courses
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
252-0057-00LTheoretical Computer Science Information O7 credits4V + 2UJ. Hromkovic, H.‑J. Böckenhauer
AbstractConcepts to cope with: a) what can be accomplished in a fully automated fashion (algorithmically solvable) b) How to measure the inherent difficulty of tasks (problems) c) What is randomness and how can it be useful? d) What is nondeterminism and what role does it play in CS? e) How to represent infinite objects by finite automata and grammars?
ObjectiveLearning the basic concepts of computer science along their historical development
ContentThis lecture gives an introduction to theoretical computer science, presenting the basic concepts and methods of computer science in its historical context. We present computer science as an interdisciplinary science which, on the one hand, investigates the border between the possible and the impossible and the quantitative laws of information processing, and, on the other hand, designs, analyzes, verifies, and implements computer systems.

The main topics of the lecture are:

- alphabets, words, languages, measuring the information content of words, representation of algorithmic tasks
- finite automata, regular and context-free grammars
- Turing machines and computability
- complexity theory and NP-completeness
- design of algorithms for hard problems
Lecture notesThe lecture is covered in detail by the textbook "Theoretical Computer Science".
LiteratureBasic literature:

1. J. Hromkovic: Theoretische Informatik. 5th edition, Springer Vieweg 2014.

2. J. Hromkovic: Theoretical Computer Science. Springer 2004.

Further reading:

3. M. Sipser: Introduction to the Theory of Computation, PWS Publ. Comp.1997
4. J.E. Hopcroft, R. Motwani, J.D. Ullman: Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation (3rd Edition), Addison-Wesley 2006.
5. I. Wegener: Theoretische Informatik. Teubner.

More exercises and examples in:

6. A. Asteroth, Ch. Baier: Theoretische Informatik
Prerequisites / NoticeDuring the semester, two non-obligatory test exams will be offered.
252-0061-00LSystems Programming and Computer Architecture Information Restricted registration - show details O7 credits4V + 2UT. Roscoe, A. Klimovic
AbstractIntroduction to systems programming. C and assembly language,
floating point arithmetic, basic translation of C into assembler,
compiler optimizations, manual optimizations. How hardware features
like superscalar architecture, exceptions and interrupts, caches,
virtual memory, multicore processors, devices, and memory systems
function and affect correctness, performance, and optimization.
ObjectiveThe course objectives are for students to:

1. Develop a deep understanding of, and intuition about, the execution
of all the layers (compiler, runtime, OS, etc.) between programs in
high-level languages and the underlying hardware: the impact of
compiler decisions, the role of the operating system, the effects
of hardware on code performance and scalability, etc.

2. Be able to write correct, efficient programs on modern hardware,
not only in C but high-level languages as well.

3. Understand Systems Programming as a complement to other disciplines
within Computer Science and other forms of software development.

This course does not cover how to design or build a processor or
computer.
ContentThis course provides an overview of "computers" as a
platform for the execution of (compiled) computer programs. This
course provides a programmer's view of how computer systems execute
programs, store information, and communicate. The course introduces
the major computer architecture structures that have direct influence
on the execution of programs (processors with registers, caches, other
levels of the memory hierarchy, supervisor/kernel mode, and I/O
structures) and covers implementation and representation issues only
to the extend that they are necessary to understand the structure and
operation of a computer system.

The course attempts to expose students to the practical issues that
affect performance, portability, security, robustness, and
extensibility. This course provides a foundation for subsequent
courses on operating systems, networks, compilers and many other
courses that require an understanding of the system-level
issues. Topics covered include: machine-level code and its generation
by optimizing compilers, address translation, input and output,
trap/event handlers, performance evaluation and optimization (with a
focus on the practical aspects of data collection and analysis).
Lecture notes- C programmnig
- Integers
- Pointers and dynamic memory allocation
- Basic computer architecture
- Compiling C control flow and data structures
- Code vulnerabilities
- Implementing memory allocation
- Linking
- Floating point
- Optimizing compilers
- Architecture and optimization
- Caches
- Exceptions
- Virtual memory
- Multicore
- Devices
LiteratureThe course is based in part on "Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective" (3rd Edition) by R. Bryant and D. O'Hallaron, with additional material.
Prerequisites / Notice252-0029-00L Parallel Programming
252-0028-00L Design of Digital Circuits
401-0213-16LAnalysis II Information O5 credits2V + 2UÖ. Imamoglu
AbstractDifferential and Integral calculus in many variables, vector analysis.
ObjectiveDifferential and Integral calculus in many variables, vector analysis.
ContentDifferential and Integral calculus in many variables, vector analysis.
LiteratureFür allgemeine Informationen, sehen Sie bitte die Webseite der Vorlesung: Link
401-0663-00LNumerical Methods for CSE Restricted registration - show details O8 credits2V + 2U + 3PR. Hiptmair
AbstractThe course gives an introduction into fundamental techniques and algorithms of numerical mathematics which play a central role in numerical simulations in science and technology. The course focuses on fundamental ideas and algorithmic aspects of numerical methods. The exercises involve actual implementation of numerical methods in C++.
Objective* Knowledge of the fundamental algorithms in numerical mathematics
* Knowledge of the essential terms in numerical mathematics and the
techniques used for the analysis of numerical algorithms
* Ability to choose the appropriate numerical method for concrete problems
* Ability to interpret numerical results
* Ability to implement numerical algorithms afficiently
Content* Computing with Matrices and Vectors
* Direct Methods for linear systems of equations
* Least Squares Techniques
* Data Interpolation and Fitting
* Filtering Algorithms
* Data Interpolation and Data Fitting in 1D
* Approximation of Functions in One Dimension
* Numerical Quadrature
* Iterative Methods for non-linear systems of equations
Lecture notesLecture materials (PDF documents and codes) will be made available to the participants through the course web page, whose address will be announced in the beginning of the course.
LiteratureU. ASCHER AND C. GREIF, A First Course in Numerical Methods, SIAM, Philadelphia, 2011.

A. QUARTERONI, R. SACCO, AND F. SALERI, Numerical mathematics, vol. 37 of Texts in Applied Mathematics, Springer, New York, 2000.

W. Dahmen, A. Reusken "Numerik für Ingenieure und Naturwissenschaftler", Springer 2006.

W. Gander, M.J. Gander, and F. Kwok "Scientific Computing", Springer 2014.

M. Hanke-Bourgeois "Grundlagen der Numerischen Mathematik und des wissenschaftlichen Rechnens", BG Teubner, 2002

P. Deuflhard and A. Hohmann, "Numerische Mathematik I", DeGruyter, 2002
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course will be accompanied by programming exercises in C++ relying on the template library EIGEN. Familiarity with C++, object oriented and generic programming is an advantage. Participants of the course are expected to learn C++ by themselves.
Core Courses
Major: Information and Data Processing
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
252-0206-00LVisual Computing Information O8 credits4V + 3UM. Pollefeys, S. Coros
AbstractThis course acquaints students with core knowledge in computer graphics, image processing, multimedia and computer vision. Topics include: Graphics pipeline, perception and camera models, transformation, shading, global illumination, texturing, sampling, filtering, image representations, image and video compression, edge detection and optical flow.
ObjectiveThis course provides an in-depth introduction to the core concepts of computer graphics, image processing, multimedia and computer vision. The course forms a basis for the specialization track Visual Computing of the CS master program at ETH.
ContentCourse topics will include: Graphics pipeline, perception and color models, camera models, transformations and projection, projections, lighting, shading, global illumination, texturing, sampling theorem, Fourier transforms, image representations, convolution, linear filtering, diffusion, nonlinear filtering, edge detection, optical flow, image and video compression.

In theoretical and practical homework assignments students will learn to apply and implement the presented concepts and algorithms.
Lecture notesCopies of the slides will be available for download. We will also provide a detailed list of references and textbooks.
LiteratureMarkus Gross: Computer Graphics, scriptum, 1994-2005
Major: Theoretical Computer Science
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
252-0209-00LAlgorithms, Probability, and Computing Information O8 credits4V + 2U + 1AB. Gärtner, M. Ghaffari, R. Kyng, D. Steurer
AbstractAdvanced design and analysis methods for algorithms and data structures: Random(ized) Search Trees, Point Location, Minimum Cut, Linear Programming, Randomized Algebraic Algorithms (matchings), Probabilistically Checkable Proofs (introduction).
ObjectiveStudying and understanding of fundamental advanced concepts in algorithms, data structures and complexity theory.
Lecture notesWill be handed out.
LiteratureIntroduction to Algorithms by T. H. Cormen, C. E. Leiserson, R. L. Rivest;
Randomized Algorithms by R. Motwani und P. Raghavan;
Computational Geometry - Algorithms and Applications by M. de Berg, M. van Kreveld, M. Overmars, O. Schwarzkopf.
Major: Systems and Software Engineering
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
252-0210-00LCompiler DesignO8 credits4V + 3UZ. Su
AbstractThis course uses compilers as examples to expose students to modern software development techniques. Tentative topics include: compiler organization; lexical analysis; top-down and bottom-up parsing; symbol tables; semantic analysis; code generation; local and global optimization; register allocation; automatic memory management.
ObjectiveLearn principles of compiler design; gain practical experience designing and implementing a medium-scale software system.
ContentThis course uses compilers as example to expose modern software development techniques. The course introduces the students to the fundamentals of compiler construction. Students will implement a simple yet complete compiler for an object-oriented programming language for a realistic target machine. Students will learn the use of appropriate tools. Throughout the course, students learn to apply their knowledge of theory (automata, grammars, stack machines, program transformation) and well-known programming techniques (module definitions, design patterns, frameworks, software reuse) in a software project.

A tentative list of topics: compiler organization; lexical analysis; top-down and bottom-up parsing; symbol tables; semantic analysis; code generation; local and global optimization; register allocation; automatic memory management; optional advanced topics if/when time permits.
LiteratureAho/Lam/Sethi/Ullmann, Compilers - Principles, Techniques, and Tools (2nd Edition)

Muchnick, Advanced Compiler Design and Implementation, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, 1997
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites:
Prior exposure to modern techniques for program construction, knowledge of at least one processor architecture at the assembly language level.
252-0217-00LComputer Systems Information O8 credits4V + 2U + 1AT. Roscoe, R. Wattenhofer
AbstractThis course is about real computer systems, and the principles on which they are designed and built. We cover both modern OSes and the large-scale distributed systems that power today's online services. We illustrate the ideas with real-world examples, but emphasize common theoretical results, practical tradeoffs, and design principles that apply across many different scales and technologies.
ObjectiveThe objective of the course is for students to understand the theoretical principles, practical considerations, performance tradeoffs, and engineering techniques on which the software underpinning almost all modern computer systems is based, ranging from single embedded systems-on-chip in mobile phones to large-scale geo-replicated groups of datacenters.

By the end of the course, students should be able to reason about highly complex, real, operational software systems, applying concepts such as hierarchy, modularity, consistency, durability, availability, fault-tolerance, and replication.
ContentThis course subsumes the topics of both "operating systems" and "distributed systems" into a single coherent picture (reflecting the reality that these disciplines are highly converged). The focus is system software: the foundations of modern computer systems from mobile phones to the large-scale geo-replicated data centers on which Internet companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft are based.

We will cover a range of topics, such as: scheduling, network protocol stacks, multiplexing and demultiplexing, operating system structure, inter-process communication, memory managment, file systems, naming, dataflow, data storage, persistence, and durability, computer systems performance, remove procedure call, consensus and agreement, fault tolerance, physical and logical clocks, virtualization, and blockchains.

The format of the course is a set of about 25 topics, each covered in a lecture. A script will be published online ahead of each lecture, and the latter will consist of an interactive elaboration of the material in the script. There is no book for the course, but we will refer to books and research papers throughout to provide additional background and explanation.
Prerequisites / NoticeWe will assume knowlege of the "Systems Programming" and "Computer Networks" courses (or equivalent), and their prerequisites, and build upon them.
Electives
Students may also choose courses from the Master's program in Computer Science. It is their responsibility to make sure that they meet the requirements and conditions for these courses.
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
252-0293-00LWireless Networking and Mobile Computing Information W4 credits2V + 1US. Mangold
AbstractThis course gives an overview about wireless standards and summarizes the state of art for Wi-Fi 802.11, Cellular 5G, and Internet-of-Things, including new topics such as contact tracing with Bluetooth, audio communication, cognitive radio, visible light communications. The course combines lectures with a set of assignments in which students are asked to work with a JAVA simulation tool.
ObjectiveThe objective of the course is to learn about the general principles of wireless communications, including physics, frequency spectrum regulation, and standards. Further, the most up-to-date standards and protocols used for wireless LAN IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi, Internet-of-Things, sensor networks, cellular networks, visible light communication, and cognitive radios, are analyzed and evaluated. Students develop their own add-on mobile computing algorithms to improve the behavior of the systems, using a Java-based event-driven simulator. We also hand out embedded systems that can be used for experiments for optical communication.
ContentNew: Starting 2020, we will address contact tracing, radio link budget, location distance measurements, and Bluetooth in more depth.

Wireless Communication, Wi-Fi, Contact Tracing, Bluetooth, Internet-of-Things, 5G, Standards, Regulation, Algorithms, Radio Spectrum, Cognitive Radio, Mesh Networks, Optical Communication, Visible Light Communication
Lecture notesThe course material will be made available by the lecturer.
Literature(1) The course webpage (look for Stefan Mangold's site)
(2) The Java 802 protocol emulator "JEmula802" from Link
(3) WALKE, B. AND MANGOLD, S. AND BERLEMANN, L. (2006) IEEE 802 Wireless Systems Protocols, Multi-Hop Mesh/Relaying, Performance and Spectrum Coexistence. New York U.S.A.: John Wiley & Sons. Nov 2006.
(4) BERLEMANN, L. AND MANGOLD, S. (2009) Cognitive Radio for Dynamic Spectrum Access . New York U.S.A.: John Wiley & Sons. Jan 2009.
(5) MANGOLD, S. ET.AL. (2003) Analysis of IEEE 802.11e for QoS Support in Wireless LANs. IEEE Wireless Communications, vol 10 (6), 40-50.
Prerequisites / NoticeStudents should have interest in wireless communication, and should be familiar with Java programming. Experience with GNU Octave or Matlab will help too (not required).
252-3110-00LHuman Computer Interaction Information W6 credits2V + 1U + 2AO. Hilliges, C. Holz
AbstractThe course provides an introduction to human-computer interaction, emphasizing the central role of the user in system design. Students will learn different methods for analyzing user experience and shown how these can inform the design of interfaces, systems and technologies. Furthermore, students will learn to use computational tools and models of human capabilities to create interactive systems.
ObjectiveThe goal of the course is that students learn how to design, prototype, build and evaluate interactive systems that gather and process information on users’ state, task and environment, and apply algorithms to adapt the interface to optimize for performance and usability.

- Students will be introduced to the factors that influence usability, user experience and perception of interactive systems, and methods to analyze and quantify those factors. This will include insights from user-centered design, design thinking and user experience design, with the goal for students to apply these in practice.

- Students will learn to quickly build prototypes with different fidelity to -evaluate and inform the design of interactive systems.

- Students will learn to use manual design to implement interactive systems informed by user models, human factors and perception.

- Students will learn to compare, choose and implement various algorithms to automatically generate and adapt user-facing interactive systems.

- Students will learn to evaluate the benefits and limitations of interactive systems qualitatively and quantitatively.
ContentThe course will introduce students to various methods of analyzing the user experience, showing how these can be used at different stages of system development from requirements analysis through to usability testing. Students will get experience of designing and carrying out user studies as well as analyzing results. The course will also cover the basic principles of interaction design.

Furthermore, the course will cover foundational models of human capabilities, such as motor, visual and cognitive processes. Insights into those factors will be used to inform the design of interactive systems. Building on those models, students will be introduced to computational tools and algorithms that are used to analyze, create and adapt interfaces, systems and devices.

In a practical project, students will build on the lectures and design an interactive system from the ground up. This will include needfinding, ideation, prototyping and finally implementing a small interactive system based on manual design and with the aid of the learned computational tools.
151-0107-20LHigh Performance Computing for Science and Engineering (HPCSE) I Information W4 credits4GP. Koumoutsakos, S. M. Martin
AbstractThis course gives an introduction into algorithms and numerical methods for parallel computing on shared and distributed memory architectures. The algorithms and methods are supported with problems that appear frequently in science and engineering.
ObjectiveWith manufacturing processes reaching its limits in terms of transistor density on today’s computing architectures, efficient utilization of computing resources must include parallel execution to maintain scaling. The use of computers in academia, industry and society is a fundamental tool for problem solving today while the “think parallel” mind-set of developers is still lagging behind.

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the fundamentals of parallel programming using shared and distributed memory programming models. The goal is on learning to apply these techniques with the help of examples frequently found in science and engineering and to deploy them on large scale high performance computing (HPC) architectures.
Content1. Hardware and Architecture: Moore’s Law, Instruction set architectures (MIPS, RISC, CISC), Instruction pipelines, Caches, Flynn’s taxonomy, Vector instructions (for Intel x86)

2. Shared memory parallelism: Threads, Memory models, Cache coherency, Mutual exclusion, Uniform and Non-Uniform memory access, Open Multi-Processing (OpenMP)

3. Distributed memory parallelism: Message Passing Interface (MPI), Point-to-Point and collective communication, Blocking and non-blocking methods, Parallel file I/O, Hybrid programming models

4. Performance and parallel efficiency analysis: Performance analysis of algorithms, Roofline model, Amdahl’s Law, Strong and weak scaling analysis

5. Applications: HPC Math libraries, Linear Algebra and matrix/vector operations, Singular value decomposition, Neural Networks and linear autoencoders, Solving partial differential equations (PDEs) using grid-based and particle methods
Lecture notesLink
Class notes, handouts
Literature• An Introduction to Parallel Programming, P. Pacheco, Morgan Kaufmann
• Introduction to High Performance Computing for Scientists and Engineers, G. Hager and G. Wellein, CRC Press
• Computer Organization and Design, D.H. Patterson and J.L. Hennessy, Morgan Kaufmann
• Vortex Methods, G.H. Cottet and P. Koumoutsakos, Cambridge University Press
• Lecture notes
Prerequisites / NoticeStudents should be familiar with a compiled programming language (C, C++ or Fortran). Exercises and exams will be designed using C++. The course will not teach basics of programming. Some familiarity using the command line is assumed. Students should also have a basic understanding of diffusion and advection processes, as well as their underlying partial differential equations.
227-0124-00LEmbedded Systems Information W6 credits4GL. Thiele
AbstractAn embedded system is some combination of computer hardware and software, either fixed in capability or programmable, that is designed for a specific function or for specific functions within a larger system. The course covers theoretical and practical aspects of embedded system design and includes a series of lab sessions.
ObjectiveUnderstanding specific requirements and problems arising in embedded system applications.

Understanding architectures and components, their hardware-software interfaces, the memory architecture, communication between components, embedded operating systems, real-time scheduling theory, shared resources, low-power and low-energy design as well as hardware architecture synthesis.

Using the formal models and methods in embedded system design in practical applications using the programming language C, the operating system FreeRTOS, a commercial embedded system platform and the associated design environment.
ContentAn embedded system is some combination of computer hardware and software, either fixed in capability or programmable, that is designed for a specific function or for specific functions within a larger system. For example, they are part of industrial machines, agricultural and process industry devices, automobiles, medical equipment, cameras, household appliances, airplanes, sensor networks, internet-of-things, as well as mobile devices.

The focus of this lecture is on the design of embedded systems using formal models and methods as well as computer-based synthesis methods. Besides, the lecture is complemented by laboratory sessions where students learn to program in C, to base their design on the embedded operating systems FreeRTOS, to use a commercial embedded system platform including sensors, and to edit/debug via an integrated development environment.

Specifically the following topics will be covered in the course: Embedded system architectures and components, hardware-software interfaces and memory architecture, software design methodology, communication, embedded operating systems, real-time scheduling, shared resources, low-power and low-energy design, hardware architecture synthesis.

More information is available at Link .
Lecture notesThe following information will be available: Lecture material, publications, exercise sheets and laboratory documentation at Link .
LiteratureP. Marwedel: Embedded System Design, Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-56045-8, 2018.

G.C. Buttazzo: Hard Real-Time Computing Systems. Springer Verlag, ISBN 978-1-4614-0676-1, 2011.

Edward A. Lee and Sanjit A. Seshia: Introduction to Embedded Systems, A Cyber-Physical Systems Approach, Second Edition, MIT Press, ISBN 978-0-262-53381-2, 2017.

M. Wolf: Computers as Components – Principles of Embedded System Design. Morgan Kaufman Publishers, ISBN 978-0-128-05387-4, 2016.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: Basic knowledge in computer architectures and programming.
227-0627-00LApplied Computer ArchitectureW6 credits4GA. Gunzinger
AbstractThis lecture gives an overview of the requirements and the architecture of parallel computer systems, performance, reliability and costs.
ObjectiveUnderstand the function, the design and the performance modeling of parallel computer systems.
ContentThe lecture "Applied Computer Architecture" gives technical and corporate insights in innovative Computer Systems/Architectures (CPU, GPU, FPGA, dedicated processors) and their real implementations and applications. Often the designs have to deal with technical limits.
Which computer architecture allows the control of the over 1000 magnets at the Swiss Light Source (SLS)?
Which architecture is behind the alarm center of the Swiss Railway (SBB)?
Which computer architectures are applied for driver assistance systems?
Which computer architecture is hidden behind a professional digital audio mixing desk?
How can data streams of about 30 TB/s, produced by a protone accelerator, be processed in real time?
Can the weather forecast also be processed with GPUs?
How can a good computer architecture be found?
Which are the driving factors in succesful computer architecture design?
Lecture notesScript and exercices sheets.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites:
Basics of computer architecture.
227-1037-00LIntroduction to Neuroinformatics Information W6 credits2V + 1UV. Mante, M. Cook, B. Grewe, G. Indiveri, D. Kiper, W. von der Behrens
AbstractThe course provides an introduction to the functional properties of neurons. Particularly the description of membrane electrical properties (action potentials, channels), neuronal anatomy, synaptic structures, and neuronal networks. Simple models of computation, learning, and behavior will be explained. Some artificial systems (robot, chip) are presented.
ObjectiveUnderstanding computation by neurons and neuronal circuits is one of the great challenges of science. Many different disciplines can contribute their tools and concepts to solving mysteries of neural computation. The goal of this introductory course is to introduce the monocultures of physics, maths, computer science, engineering, biology, psychology, and even philosophy and history, to discover the enchantments and challenges that we all face in taking on this major 21st century problem and how each discipline can contribute to discovering solutions.
ContentThis course considers the structure and function of biological neural networks at different levels. The function of neural networks lies fundamentally in their wiring and in the electro-chemical properties of nerve cell membranes. Thus, the biological structure of the nerve cell needs to be understood if biologically-realistic models are to be constructed. These simpler models are used to estimate the electrical current flow through dendritic cables and explore how a more complex geometry of neurons influences this current flow. The active properties of nerves are studied to understand both sensory transduction and the generation and transmission of nerve impulses along axons. The concept of local neuronal circuits arises in the context of the rules governing the formation of nerve connections and topographic projections within the nervous system. Communication between neurons in the network can be thought of as information flow across synapses, which can be modified by experience. We need an understanding of the action of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, so that the dynamics and logic of synapses can be interpreted. Finally, the neural architectures of feedforward and recurrent networks will be discussed in the context of co-ordination, control, and integration of sensory and motor information in neural networks.
402-0209-00LQuantum Physics for Non-PhysicistsW6 credits3V + 2UL. Pacheco Cañamero B. del Rio
AbstractThis course covers similar contents to Quantum Mechanics I, but through an information-theoretical approach, especially suited for students with backgrounds in computer science, mathematics or engineering. We start from the postulates of quantum theory and build up to the tools needed to study the behaviour of complex systems, from entangled spins to the hydrogen atom and nano heat engines.
ObjectiveThis course teaches the formalism and physics of quantum mechanics. Students are equipped with tools to analyse complex settings such as the hydrogen atom, thermal engines and scattering. It covers similar contents to QM1 but from an information-theoretical perspective.
Content1. Quantum formalism, from qubits to particles in space
- Dirac notation
- Postulates of quantum physics
- Discrete systems: qubits, the Bloch sphere
- Continuous variables: position and momentum, the wave function
- Multiple systems: tensor product, entanglement
- Application: internal degrees of freedom of photons and electrons

2. Time and dynamics for quantum systems
- Unitary evolution and the Schrödinger equation
- Hamiltonian evolution and functions of operators
- Commutation relations and symmetries
- Application: the double-slit experiment
3. Uncertainty and open systems
- Modelling uncertainty: the density matrix
- Example: thermal states
- Open systems, irreversible evolution and Lindblad operators
- Application: heat engines
4. Spin and oscillators
- Spin and rotation
- Orbital angular momentum
- Ladder systems and the harmonic oscillator

5. Several particles, bosons and fermions
- Relative coordinates
- Identical particles and symmetry groups
- Fermions and bosons
- Second quantization

6. Problems in 1D
- Dynamics of a free particle
- Potential wells and stationary waves
- Spin chains

7. Problems in 3D
- Central potentials
- The hydrogen atom

8. Perturbation theory
- Assumptions and derivation
- Application: scattering
9. Non-locality
- Bell's theorem
- Non-classicality of quantum theory (extra)
- Modular momentum (extra)

10. Foundations of quantum theory
- Paradoxes
- Quantum reference frames
- Deriving the postulates of quantum mechanics from first principles
Lecture notesLecture notes will be distributed through the semester.
LiteratureQuantum Processes Systems, and Information, by Benjamin Schumacher and
Michael Westmoreland, available at

Link
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is an alternative to Quantum Mechanics I aimed primarily at non-physicists, and in particular at students with a background in computer science, mathematics or engineering. Basic linear algebra and calculus knowledge is required (equivalent to first-year courses). Basic physics knowledge (equivalent to first-year courses) is recommended but not strictly necessary. Note that while we follow an information-theoretical approach, this is not a course on quantum information theory or quantum computing. It therefore complements those courses offered at ETH in both semesters.
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