Programa Master
Microelectronics Laboratory (LDIM 2)
The ultimate objective is the practical realization of a complete design of a relatively complex circuit using commercial CAD tools for full custom design, all of Cadence:
- Schematic editing. Analog simulation. Editing and synthesis paths: Virtuoso.
- Layout verification (DRC and LVS): Assura
- Parasitic extraction: QRC
The laboratory will be in pairs in the laboratory of Building B (B-043). Each pair is assigned a desk to choose between morning or afternoon. Each time slot is three hours.
Practical works:
- Week 1: Introduction to Cadence work environment. Design, simulation and characterization of an inverter schematic. Design, simulation and characterization of two cell diagram basic NAND, NOR of two inputs or similar.
- Week 2: Advanced characterization of circuits with the Analog Design Environment. Parameters. Calculator. Parametric simulations. Monte Carlo simulations. Corners simulations.
- Week 3: Editing paths, extraction and verification of operation. Inverter, NAND and NOR.
- Week 4: Sequential Circuits. Full custom design and characterization of recording media.
- Weeks 5 and 6: Design, simulation and characterization of a cell of average complexity (memory cell flip-flop, etc..).
- Weeks 7, 8, 9 and 10: Completing the final practice, design, simulation, characterization and delineation of a block design chosen as final practice.
Teaching methodology
The course will run for 10 weeks in laboratory sessions practical. During the first three weeks sessions will be preceded by a short talk introducing theoretical issues of the course and the practical demonstrations.
Practices to week 6 are guided, you can follow step by step practice notes at your disposal. At the end of each session, students will make a brief report to work.
The final practice developed between weeks 7 and 10 is free and is intended to complete the design (layout) and characterization of a circuit of moderate complexity. Be offered several topics, but also encourages students to delve into any design theme full custom analog, digital or mixed.
To justify the work done, the corresponding files will be delivered to paths and a document of 3 to 6 pages in IEEE Conference format (preferably in Latex) including at least the following points:
- Summary (Abstract): Concise summary of the work performed and results obtained.
- Introduction (Introduction): Introduction to the problems and how to solve the circuit has been previously decided in the scientific literature.
- Functional description of the design (Functional Description of the Design).
- Destaller implementation (Implementation Issues).
- Characterization (Characterization): including the explanation of the work environment, experiments and results of characterization. Optionally you can include a comparison with previous work.
- Conclusions (Conclusions).
- Bibliography
You can include all the figures that are deemed necessary to improve the explanations of the text. Optionally, the drafting of the report can be done in English (see section name in brackets). The work was presented orally to other colleagues at the end of the course. The exposure of each job will last 10 minutes approximate. In the talk should be involved two team members.
The technical quality and originality of the final practice account for 40%.
The quality of the oral presentation and the memory of the final practice contribute 20% of the grade.
The remaining 10% comes from the student's demonstrated skills in the use of the work environment along the course.
Microsystems and Nanoelectronics (MSIS+NANO 2)
Current electronic systems include, in increasing numbers, sensors, actuators and interfaces with the user which tend to be, in turn, real micro-and nanosystems (MS and NS). This is more relevant in portable systems where improved performance, the user interfaces and energy aspects are promoting the use of nanoelectronics technology even in the parts of uptake and storage of electrical energy. The smart phones are certainly a paradigm of such trends. Other examples of social relevance are occurring in the area of biomedicine. The commercial availability of so-called "lab-on-a-chip", true MS and NS that integrate aspects of nanosensors, MS and integrated intelligence and routinely used in hospitals analytical and sensory implant developments are promoting new advances in MS and NS.
From a content perspective, the educational objectives can be grouped into three main blocks:
- Understand and review an overview of micro and nanoelectronics (NE), from the point of view of current applications, this market, and the ongoing potential applications, with special emphasis on electronic systems.
- Study the principles of operation and manufacturing of Microsystems and Nanoelectronics in the areas listed above. In this context we introduce the basic principles of nanotechnology that are required.
- Study of the presence of MS, NS and NE in current electronic systems in four initial areas, smart mobile phone, communications, high-speed internet, biomedicine, and generation / energy storage. This will allow comparative knowledge of different types of micro-electro-mechanical, acoustic, optical, electro-optical and (bio) chemical, and submit the presence of NE in the processing circuitry and storage.
From the standpoint of aptitude, the objectives of this course are to develop the ability to reflect and relate contents, the search, preparation and presentation of information, and the integration of knowledge work.
This course consists of two interrelated parts. The first part is devoted to the study of the fundamentals nanoelectronic and functionality of the various types of micro / nano-electronic current. The second part deals with the identification and comparative analysis of micro / nano-and nanoelectronic elements currently on loa advanced electronic systems. The initial systems for the study refer to portable terminals, high-speed communications, energy capture and storage and biomedicine. In connection with this second part of the course, each student must make a personal studio and oral and written presentation on MS, NS and Now or NE, after the preofesor Guided definition in any of the current SE scopes have ineteres for the student ..
PART 1
1. Introduction to microsystems and background
2. Materials and manufacturing for microsystems
3. Physical microsystems: temperature, pressure, acoustic, inertial
4. Optical Microsystems: photodetectors and displays
5. Chemical and Biological Microsystems
6. Microsystems Market
7. Introduction to nanotechnology and nanoelectronics. Evolution and advanced devices in the ICT area.
8. Materials and structures for nanoelectronics and their properties in that scale.
9. Nanoelectronic devices and nanooptoelectrónicos
10. Other nanostructures for ICT and energy.
PART 2
Functional study and comparative analysis of the presence of MS, NS and NE in
• Smart Phones
• High-speed communications
• Biomedicine
• Collection and storage of energy
Teaching methodology
This subject will be taught through classes and activities outside of class (study and work and team). Students complete their training with a single character work to be presented to their peers as part of the course evaluable. In addition, some invited lectures will be taught by professors and researchers from other centers on relevant topics related to the subject. Also, students will be offered optional visits to other research centers.
Evaluation description, displaying the weight of each test.
The evaluation will consist of testing (50% of score), along with exposure of individual work by students, on a topic agreed in advance with the teachers, or other homework (40%). They also account for students' active participation in the sessions and discussion forums (10%).
Microelectrónics (MCRE 1)
The subject "Microelectronics" aims to train students of the Master in full-custom design of VLSI integrated circuits. This course provides a bridge between design and technology systems, processes and devices, considering the requirements of the circuits and systems that make use of these technologies.
This course aims to provide future designers vision systems covering hardware from system design aspects to the physical path, through their circuits and building blocks, mainly focused on CMOS technology, which is the most used today for circuit design application. It will also ensure a basic introduction to the structures and processes in the work necessary technology integrated circuit design.
Detailed objectives of the course are:
1. Achieve a thorough knowledge of the operation of MOS transistors.
2. Knowing the basics of the manufacturing process and the implications for the designer: the design rules.
3. Being able to design from schematic to layout any CMOS circuit.
4. Studying how to characterize CMOS designs in its main aspects: area, strength, capacity and delay.
5. Perform the design of CMOS logic gates following different architectures.
6. Design and analyze basic sequential circuits (t latch register)
7. Knowing different timing systems integrated circuits and associated implications.
8. Design subsystems (finite state machines, memories, data paths).
9. Learn VLSI design methods: since the completion of the base plane to complete the validation circuit.
10. Learn the basic principles of manufacturing test and how to take into account in the design.
1. Introduction to the design of ASICs (0.3 ECTS)
VLSI Design
CAD Tools
Representation of circuits and systems
2. NMOS and CMOS Logic:
Bar Charts
Switch logic
3. Transistors: operation
1. investors
Logic gates
4. Basic CMOS manufacturing processes. Design Rules
Silicon semiconductor technology
Basic CMOS Process
Design Rules
5. Circuit characterization
resistance
capacity
Switching characteristics. retardation
Excitation of large capacity
Power consumption (static and dynamic). Dimensioning of power tracks;
"Latchup"
6. Sequential Logic
Timing system
Records
Stack (FIFO)
7. Timing
Strict two-phase approach
Extensions to the basic timing
Generating a clock signal
Timing alternatives
Timed CMOS logic structures;
8. Subsystems design (1):
PLA,
Finite State Machine
9. Subsystems design (2):
Adders, shifters
Memory: RAM, ROM
10. CMOS design methods
Input / output chip
Structured Design Base Plan
Alternatives CMOS chip design (Networks predifundidas, standard cell library, full-custom, FPGAs, ...)
11. Test of Integrated Circuits. Design for test
Need test
Controllability, Observability and Fault Models
Design Strategies for test:
Techniques "ad-hoc"
structured techniques
Techniques for self-test
System Level Test
Teaching Methodology
The course is given in person, by combining the following methodologies:
- Lectures on theoretical and practical part. They will be in the classroom using transparencies and blackboard. At least 25% of classes are practical.
- Individual Exercises, delivered and corrected in class.
- Realization of a group project.
The evaluation of the course is done through three sources:
- A written examination (40%). In it the student, with or without the use of reference books or notes as appropriate, must solve problems, designs or aspects based questions developed in class.
- Delivery of practical work and exercises (50%).
- Participation in class (10%).
Power and Control (POTC 2)
The aim of the course is that students gain knowledge about power electronics and process control. Regarding power electronics would be treated aspects of power electronic devices, linear regulators and switching regulators. In relation to process control, teaching objectives include mathematical aspects, analysis in time and frequency, and design of compensators and controllers
Topic 1: power electronic components (4 hours)
• Power diodes
• Power Bipolar Transistor
• Power MOSFET Transistor
• Comparison of power transistors.
• Drivers
• Exercises
Topic 2: Voltage Linear Regulators (7 hours)
• Structure of a linear power supply.
• Drive parameters.
• Linear Regulators.
• Protection circuits.
• Integrated Regulators.
• practical circuits.
• Exercises
Thread 3: switched regulators (8 hours).
• Principle of operation. Comparison with linear regulators.
• Basic topologies of converters.
• Reducing Converter. Analysis of continuous mode operation. Waveforms.
• Up converter. Analysis of continuous mode operation. Waveforms.
• Converter or inverter. Analysis of continuous mode operation. Waveforms.
• Voltage Mode PWM Control.
• Exercises.
Lab: Implementing a switching regulator (3 hours).
Topic 4: Introduction to automatic process control and dynamic systems modeling (5 hours)
• Closed-loop control vs. open loop control
• Linear Systems. Invariant linear systems. Laplace Transform.
• Block Diagrams.
• Simulation with Octave or Matlab
• Exercises
Lab: characterization of a mechanical system (DC motor) and speed control open loop power transistors and pulse width modulation (PWM) (2 hours)
Topic 5: Analysis of Control Systems (6 hours)
• Timing and frequency response. Analysis and simulation of first and second order
• Control actions: on / off, proportional, integral, derivative
• Steady state error (steady-state)
• Loads and disturbances Analysis
• Stability analysis: root locus. Nyquist criterion. Phase margin and gain margin. Simulations.
• Exercises
Topic 6: Design of compensators and controllers (4 hours)
• Phase lead compensators
• Phase-lag compensators
• Adjust PID controller (Ziegler-Nichols)
• Exercises
Lab: Implementing a control system: control system of a DC motor using PWM, testing various control algorithms (3 hours)
Teaching Methodology
For the development of the course will be taught participatory lectures (with simulations in Octave / Matlab), discussion sessions and practical problem solving.
In parallel, several practical works will be proposed.
The evaluation focuses on two main aspects:
1. A practical mainly written exam, where students have to solve exercises and practical cases, similar to those seen in class.
2. Two practical works. These works will be focused on the implementation of a switching regulator and a control system of a DC motor.
The final grade will be: 70% written examination and 30% practical work.
Neurosensorial and Bioinstrumentation Engineering (INSB 2)
The main objective of the course is the study of the nervous system and sensory systems with a view to simulation and their integration into electronic systems, including some applications of sensor-neural engineering such as prostheses and multisensory interfaces. Bio-inspired systems will be studied, such as artificial systems that emulate or imitate some of the capabilities of living beings.
Moreover, some systems of biological monitoring will also be studied, with the primary aim of helping in the medical diagnosis of certain pathologies. Basically, it will be based on two of the most important systems, such as the heart and brain, though many of the techniques will be applied to other organs as well. The main skills are:
1. Explain the basic processes involved in biological sensory systems and engines.
2. Critically expose the existing technological alternatives to replace the motor or sensory capabilities of humans in the case of people with disabilities.
3. Analyze natural processes or structures that can be played in bio-inspired systems.
4. Apply some of the existing tools for the analysis of basic biological functions, especially those based on biomedical signals and images.
Program
I. Presentation and course objectives
II. The nervous system and the brain
III. The hearing system
III.1. Physiology and function
III.2 Sound perception and speech
III.3. Prostheses and implants
IV. The visual system
IV.1. Physiology and function
IV.2. Prostheses and implants
IV.3. Artificial vision
V. The somatosensory and motor system
V.1. Physiology and function.
V.2. Functional Electrical Stimulation
V.3. Bio-inspired systems
VI. Smell and taste system
VI.1. Physiology and function
VI.2 Smell and artificial taste
VII. Speech production and alternative / augmentative communication
VIII. Multisensory interfaces and and artificial reality
IX. Non-invasive biological monitoring I
IX.1. Cardiovascular activity
IX.2 Acquisition and signal processing and cardiac imaging
X. Non-invasive biological monitoring II
X.1. Brain activity
X.2 Acquisition and signal processing and brain imaging
Final work: draw up a written report by the students on an optional subject, together with its oral presentation in class
Teaching Methodology
• Evaluation
Class attendance is mandatory, minimum attendance 75% of the sessions.
• Continuous evaluation
Continuous assessment is performed, which may include delivery of brief personal work and individual and team work.
• Final evaluation
The final test is an examination of short questions without books or notes.
• Elaboration and presentation of work
Must be submitted in writing and orally present a paper on the topic of the subject.
The evaluation of the course will be based on the following parameters:
• Participation in forums and activities in class and in moodle (5%).
• Proposed work, individual work and group (20%).
• Final test (75%).
Note the importance of continuous monitoring of the subject, as well as take advantage of forums, hours of tutoring and classroom to see the student progress.
Optoelectronic Systems (OPTO 2)
The aim of the course is to develop the basic knowledge to understand the behavior of basic optoelectronic components that use semiconductors: light emitting diodes, laser diodes, photodetectors, and solar cell. To do this, it will start from the analysis of the origin of optical processes in semiconductors, its application in micro and nanostructures to come to understand the basic technology found in these devices and the description of these important figures. Finally, it will examine the application of these devices in present and social use applications such as environment sensors and bio-photonics, and their use in medical applications.
TOPIC
1. Elemental and Compound Semiconductors
2. Electronic properties of semiconductors
3. Optical processes in semiconductors
4. Homo-unions and hetero-junctions
5. Light Emitting Diodes (LED)
6. Laser Diodes (LD)
7. Photodetectors
8. Optical Integrated Circuits
9. Surgical treatments with laser
10. Bio-photonics: Biosensors based on Optical Systems
11. Environment and Safety: Detection of contaminants, Combustion, etc…
Evaluation system
Exercises to be handed in weekly by students (35% of the marks), and final exam (65% of the marks).
Electronic Systems Laboratory (LSE 2)
1. Apply the basic principles of operation of the supporting technologies or applications based on intelligent systems.
2. Explain some of the technologies, systems or tools currently available as their strengths and weaknesses in detail.
3. Design, implement and evaluate a system, circuit or device related to technologies and applications for intelligent environments.
4. The ability to work together, collaborating on all aspects of project development.
The credits distribution involved in the subject depends on the progress of work and the needs of the group during the same, giving a greater emphasis on those concepts that specific students each year are less prepared. The topics covered in the course are:
- Design of the system architecture and design of interfaces between modules
- Development of an automated testing infrastructure
- Teamwork: share (repository), communicate and control (measure)
- Development of sensors and actuators
- Debugging systems development
- Programming of Microcontrollers with no operating system.
- Programming controllers for Linux
- Communication protocol between systems based on microcontroller
- Development of electronic systems applications over real-time requirements.
Teaching Methodology
Apply the principles of PBL in two possible meanings: "Project Based Learning" and "Problems Based Learning". Skills are acquired through the development of a team project related to the technologies and applications of electronic systems and embedded systems which try to highlight the problems faced by designers of electronic systems before explaining the solutions have been developed to solve them. Thus, the student who found the problem and has been in first person, is better and more motivated the teacher's explanation. Class attendance is mandatory and the course is mainly practical, supplemented with some fixed master classes and other on demand, depending on the group's evolution. The project used as main platform Raspberry Pi, following the work done in the course Embedded Systems. Additionally other microcontrollers will be used to implement external modules (PIC, AVR, ...). To guide students in the realization of the project the figure of the Guardian, who is a teacher with extensive experience in the topics covered, which proposes specific tasks and performs consulting work to develop skills in communication and integration teams.
The project is divided into tasks assigned to team members in pairs at each iteration (between 1 and 2 weeks). The couples will be adjusted at each iteration so that there is interaction between all team members. The development of the course work required by students outside the classroom schedule, which may assist the laboratory in its opening hours.
The feedback on the development of the project and how work will be done in iterations. Students may request tutoring for more feedback on the development of the project details, such as code structuring or adequacy of certain modules.
The evaluation was divided into 3 groups:
- Evaluation by peers, as members of a working group to jointly develop a project (20%)
- Evaluation by teachers (40%)
- Evaluation of the project as a group (40%)
Again, try to play as much as possible the real working environment that will face the student, which will be judged by his colleagues, by their bosses and customers.
In each iteration the team must present the work done and decisions made in the course of the iteration. It will present a technical report describing the system. The evaluation of the iteration will consider the system developed, the quality of development and report.
The final iteration will have a special value and will be presented on the final exam. Complete system is presented and delivered a final report, which will integrate the reports that have been presented in each iteration.
The final grade for the course will be half enters the final score and the median obtained by the student in iterations. The final grade will be normalized according to the student who obtains the highest score in the development of the subject.
Embedded Systems (SEMP 1)
This course covers two aspects simultaneously: computing and restrictions. It is clear that computer systems have a major impact on our lives, and it is clear that any engineer or scientist should have a basic knowledge of its inner workings. But why should we worry about the restrictions?
Embedded systems, like any computer system, they have to perform a function. But we also have to meet very strict restrictions often:
- Time constraints: The ABS of a car has to activate the brakes in a very short time to avoid accidents.
- A reduction in memory requirements and size means lighter devices, more portable and cheaper.
- Mobile phones, portable media devices and wireless sensor networks often have very strong restrictions on power consumption.
- Finally, with so few resources, security becomes a very difficult challenge.
In addition, an embedded system has to work in the worst case scenario, should be designed to meet the restrictions even in the worst case.
In this course students will learn to program microprocessor-based embedded systems and hardware design extensions to run in the worst case, considering all the constraints for the design and implementation. We begin with the most basic concepts to soon move to more advanced techniques.
This course provides the theoretical content required for the course "Electronic Systems Laboratory," which is taught in the second semester. The development environment and tools presented in this course will also be used in the laboratory. And this laboratory practices are designed to complement the approach taken in this subject.
We believe in learning by doing. There is no better way to learn how to build an embedded system to building it. Therefore, the course is organized around several projects using the Raspberry-Pi, a computer system the size of a credit card and very cheap that plugs into your TV and a keyboard.
At the end of the course, the student:
- Efficiently use the tools most widely used development (development tools from the GNU project): GCC compiler, GNU make, binutils, profilers and debuggers.
- Efficiently use the Linux operating system, including real-time extensions based Xenomai, and be able to describe the inner workings.
- Be able to write well-structured programs in C, formally correct and efficient, considering hard real-time constraints, memory constraints, and consumption constraints of physical security restrictions.
- Be able to design and implement complete embedded systems based on the Raspberry-Pi, connecting other hardware components.
Program description with approximate distribution of class hours per subject:
1. Introduction to embedded systems and basic concepts. 4h (11%)
Definition of embedded system. Cyber-physical systems. Basics architecture, compilers, operating systems for embedded systems. Introduction to the Raspberry-Pi and Linux for embedded systems.
2. Microprocessors and platforms for embedded systems. Programming embedded systems. 10h (26%)
Microprocessors, microcontrollers and peripherals. Data Path and segmentation. Development Environment. Elements of the toolchain, error analysis. Initialization kernel and user space.
3. Design and analysis of programs. Concurrent and real time systems. 8h (21%)
Planning multi-tasking software. Real-time systems. Cyclic Executives. Planning priorities. Methods of Analysis of the execution time in worst case. Shares. Calculation of maximum blockage. Priority ceiling protocols.
4. Systems design techniques. Modeling (models of computation). 4h (11%)
Models of computation. Invariant. Equivalence and refined. Reliability. Accessibility Analysis. Model Checking. Quantitative analysis programs. Runtime analysis in worst case.
5. Low Power Design. Consumption optimization. 4h (11%)
Basics consumption in integrated circuits. Models of high-level consumption. Consumption reduction techniques in hardware. Consumption reduction techniques in software.
6. Design techniques to reduce memory usage. Memory Optimization. 4h (10%)
Design patterns to reduce memory consumption. Memory hierarchies. Technical architectural memory optimization. Scratchpad memories. Loop buffers.
7. Security in embedded systems. 4h (10%)
Introduction to security in embedded systems. Logical security and physical security. Auxiliary channel attacks. Countermeasures and design recommendations.
Teaching Methodology
Proposal simple exercises embedded systems-based Raspberry Pi to approach different issues, making explicit the difficulties and challenges.
Classes theoretical exposition of the topics by the teachers.
Personal work to solve the exercises, delivered by the portal of the course moodle.
Pooling the results of the exercises and practical aspects of design and optimization.
Continued use of the forums moodle portal of the subject as basic communication mechanism.
• Proposed exercises throughout the course 50%
• Final exam without books or notes 50%
Advances in Electronic Systems Engineering (Seminar)
This seminar is a source of contact with the latest developments and applications of electronic systems in both academia and the business world. It is intended that students in the seminar are the source of knowledge and inspiration for the future development of their careers. Be promoted particularly contact with companies facing business experience and learn about different business models and explore the demand for professionals in these companies. The business experience will be complemented by experiences from the academic world in recent research advances in high-impact projects.
Skills development:
• Knowledge of the latest developments in electronic circuits and systems in the context of both academic and business
• Ability to apply the latest technologies from academia innovation in electronic systems.
The program will consist of one session every two weeks during the academic year in which they will be covering the various business and academic experiences throughout the course. As an example is presented below type a talk held last term:
Pedro Echeverría BBVA High Performance Computation for Financial Simualtion
Abstract
Financial simulation is one of the hotspots for High Performance Computation (HPC). Traditionally, financial simulation has relied on software solutions solutions based on grids and clusters of state of the art microprocessors. However, in the last years computational requirements has increased much faster than the performance improvements obtained with new microporcessor families opening financial simuation to new techonolgies related to Hardware acceleration as FPGAs and GPGPUs.
Teaching Methodology
The teaching methodology will consist of talks from industry experts (1h) boosted by teachers of the subject. The participation and interaction between the speaker and the students in a discussion following the lecture exposure (20-30 min). Such participation will be assessed in the evaluation of the subject.
The evaluation of the seminar will be based on:
- Mandatory attendance at all lectures (only allowed two absences) and participation in seminars (20%).
- Presentation of a paper to flesh out one of the issues addressed in the talks (June) at the option of the student during a testing session (80%). The delivery of this work consist of a written document about 10-15 leaves as well as the exhibition of the same for 12 minutes followed by 5 minutes of questions from teachers. The choice of topic should contact the team of teachers during the month of April and will require the approval of the same.
Methodology, Quality and Personal Abilities (MCHP 2)
In this Master's Degree, Electronic Systems Engineering takes a systematic and overall approach, as opposed to the traditional one which is more oriented to components or circuits, but this approach is also necessary and is present in some of the subjects taught. The main objective of electronic systems engineering is to apply an interdisciplinary approach to studying and understanding the needs that arise and, by adopting a systemic paradigm, to design, implement, validate, optimize and maintain complex electronic systems in multidisciplinary settings. In this process of structured creation and development, the quality metrics for the creation of the results, and very often the need to rely on the methodologies of systems' science and other disciplines of engineering to design and deliver tangible products that represent the implementation of these systems should be taken into account.
An Electronic Systems Engineer must currently face a very high complexity and considerable diversity of components that compound the systems with which he works: hardware, software, people, etc. to which the large number of necessary knowledge and of information available must be added. Moreover, all these components interact with each other and must respond to the growing requirements, posed by a variety of stakeholders: employers, customers, regulators, technology providers, market, economic and financing aspects, etc.
The "Methodology, Quality and Personal Skills" course is the mainstay of the multifunctional and interdisciplinary training that is intended to be offered to participants, both those who choose professional development of an industrial nature, and those who are in their doctoral training stage. The adopted approach aims to bring the students to an integral training, not purely technical, based on their ability to enhance innovation, communication, leadership, finding
relevant information and documentation, and understanding of the market, developing their creative abilities and learning throughout term.
Given the ambitious objective, the scope of the course will focus on going through the fundamental aspects of some of these dimensions, starting a path which everyone must take throughout their career. The course consists of three main blocks:
• Approach towards system engineering projects: project financing, development methodology, quality assurance and environment, management of intellectual and industrial property.
• Approach to information and documentation: documentation sources, services and documentation centers, search and document retrieval on the Internet, writing and publication of research and development and innovation projects, support techniques to the oral presentation for the defense of research projects.
• Approach to personal and professional skills: methods for accessing a job, methods of communication and negotiation, leadership, conflict management, time management.relevant information and documentation, and understanding of the market, developing their creative abilities and learning throughout term.
Given the ambitious objective, the scope of the course will focus on going through the fundamental aspects of some of these dimensions, starting a path which everyone must take throughout their career. The course consists of three main blocks:
• Approach towards system engineering projects: project financing, development methodology, quality assurance and environment, management of intellectual and industrial property.
• Approach to information and documentation: documentation sources, services and documentation centers, search and document retrieval on the Internet, writing and publication of research and development and innovation projects, support techniques to the oral presentation for the defense of research projects.
• Approach to personal and professional skills: methods for accessing a job, methods of communication and negotiation, leadership, conflict management, time management.relevant information and documentation, and understanding of the market, developing their creative abilities and learning throughout term.
Given the ambitious objective, the scope of the course will focus on going through the fundamental aspects of some of these dimensions, starting a path which everyone must take throughout their career. The course consists of three main blocks:
• Approach towards system engineering projects: project financing, development methodology, quality assurance and environment, management of intellectual and industrial property.
• Approach to information and documentation: documentation sources, services and documentation centers, search and document retrieval on the Internet, writing and publication of research and development and innovation projects, support techniques to the oral presentation for the defense of research projects.
• Approach to personal and professional skills: methods for accessing a job, methods of communication and negotiation, leadership, conflict management, time management.
To who is it addressed?
To the (Systems) Engineer:
Any engineer, by definition, is called to conceive and design systems that solve society’s problems. To carry out this task, is not enough to know the technological aspects, though this is often almost the sole focus that is put into their training. Reality must take into account many other factors such as:
• In the development is vital to follow an appropriate methodology to ensure that the product is obtained with the functionality specified in the time and cost agreed, that is, with quality, meeting environmental requirements, etc.
• The project must be carried out under reasonable cost parameters and must contribute to the viability of the company that puts it on the market (financial aspects).
• The project results should be protected as regards the intellectual property of the creator and at the same time may be published for dissemination to society.
• Similarly, and perhaps at an earlier stage, it is necessary to have all the documentary information necessary for the development of work.
• Engineers must be able to assess the importance of the documentary sources and select those that are most interesting in order to publish projects. In addition, engineers must have the ability to produce documents and prepare presentations that enable them to disseminate the results of his work.
• Finally, these activities are carried out by people, who form the fundamental value of any organization and, in many cases, turn out to be framed in a business environment. It iss key, therefore, to know aspects related to personal and professional skills.
The course is aimed, therefore, at any engineer, whose activity will typically be carried out in collaboration with others within an organization, be it a company, a university or an R&D center. Mainly, however, it is intended for engineers interested in keeping informed and trained to maintain their competence, strive to advance in the useful knowledge of their profession and provide professional development opportunities for themselves and their colleagues. In this sense, the system engineer to who takes this course must have a clear interest in promoting R&D tasks and participate in them within their professional environment, including, of course, those engineers who currently carry out scientific research in the development framework of their doctoral thesis.
Educational Objectives of the course
The objective pursued is to provide a first contact with this large set of issues, key to the development of professional life and that are usually relegated in the engineers' training.
For the variety of topics to be covered, only an overview of each will be provided, placing a certain emphasis on some important point.
The bibliography and documentation provided should serve as a starting point for further individual work for training that should continue throughout professional life.
Students who have studied this subject will get sufficient training to be proficient in:
• Describe the phases of a development methodology and operation of a system, as well as project management.
• Select and apply appropriate methodology to any project.
• Remember the standards and quality assurance models and the tools available.
• Describe the environmental management system and its evolution.
• Describe tools for the investment analysis and strategies and funding mechanisms.
• Analyze investment alternatives for the development of a draft business.
• Describe the management tools of intellectual and industrial property, as well as the technological patent reports as important levers of innovation and competitiveness.
• Search and retrieve documental information for the development of any work of R&D&I.
• Assess the importance of documentary sources and select those that are most interesting in publishing the projects.
• Develop documents and prepare presentations to enable them to disseminate the results of their research projects.
Describe the aspects that deal with people and their professional development in business or organizations: competency development, knowledge management and talent management.
• Apply the basic tools in the negotiation and management of conflicts.
• Understand and apply the techniques that make effective a communication, at a personal and professional level.
• Implement a skills-based approach in curriculum design and prepare, submit and effectively manage a job application.
The overall objective of the course is to focus on the skills of the participant who must be able to incorporate not exclusively technological aspects, which are important in the field of engineering systems, both electronic and any other kind.
Also, indirectly, seek to aim for the subject of handling a range of topics not strictly technical and the sources of information related to them, so the engineers are in a position to continue their work of self-training or training with courses having identified the importance of these subjects and develop the ability of bibliographic research, individual work, report writing and team work.
Topic 0 – Introduction to the subject. Opening lecture: "Competitiveness and Career Success: Some challenges of the twenty-first Century".
Topic 1 - Methodology of project development: A brief description of the life cycle phases of a system and the methodologies and techniques that are usually applied to both the development and management of the project will be presented.
Topic 2 - Quality Assurance and Environment: There will be a description of the principles, tools and usual practices to implement a system of quality management and environment in an organization, oriented towards continuous improvement.
Topic 3 – Project funding: Beyond the technical, organizational, human or institutional aspects it is always necessary to take into account the importance of the financial aspects of project development. It seeks to highlight the basic tools for effective financial management, financial feasibility analysis of a business or project, and environmental conditions. On the other hand, it aims to explain the principle of financial intelligence and discuss techniques to develop and use it effectively.
Topic 4 - Management of Intellectual and Industrial Property (IIP): Obtaining new knowledge and its subsequent operation are among the goals of both research groups from universities and innovation activities of enterprises. This knowledge can be obtained in many different ways, however in any case or procedure, knowledge can be protected, managed and acquired. The management of intellectual and industrial property is a key aspect for which records, procedures and institutions are available at a state and world level that has to be known both by university's research group and the company's innovation department.
Topic 5: Methodology and scientific documentation: Whether in an industrial/business environment as an academic/university environment, where tasks and R&D&I projects are is raised and carried out, the search and retrieval of documentary information is essential for the development of any project. In a series of lessons, it is sought therefore to prepare students to assess the significance of the documentary sources, select those that are the most interesting in publishing their work and produce documents and prepare presentations that enable them to disseminate the results of their work.
Topic 6: Methodology to access a job: The first stages in the search for a job include the need to communicate to the company to which the candidate wishes to join, his personal and professional background, knowledge, preferences, talents, abilities, skills or attitudes.
The means by which a candidate typically transfers these issues to a company is usually a covering letter, a resume (or CV) and one or more personal interviews. Knowing how to use these means adequately, contributes decisively at the time of accessing a job.
Good writing and quality in content and structure of a covering letter or a resume, as well as the good development of an interview, at the time of trying to get a job, are vital since they are very common and initially the only way to give the company requesting the new professional profiles, a first impression of the candidates.
Knowing and applying these tools optimally constitutes the aim of this lesson, and allows benefits to students in finding employment to be provided.
Topic 7: Communication: Communication is a competition that integrates many skills and attitudes such as speaking, declaring, listening and many other capabilities that we have never associated with communication and whose mastery is essential both at a personal and professional level.
To value the importance of communication is worth a mere thought, from the professional point of view on how to intervene in practically in all areas of business management: negotiating, selling, writing reports, communicate the team, make presentations, etc.
This lesson aims to show, ponder and debate those elements that conform the concept of communication in a broad sense, both from a theoretical point of view and through carrying out practical experience.
It is important to understand the elements that affect communication, verbal and nonverbal, and know the basics that make it effective, trying to improve the current abilities of students in this means of communication.
Topic 8: Negotiation: We consider negotiating as the relationship between two or more people, leading to reaching an agreement on a topic that hold different positions, trying to get the maximum benefit for all. Also, as a result of negotiations, it aims to achieve the compliance and satisfaction of all parties involved.
Negotiation is part of everyday activities, both personal and professional. From this standpoint, there are many examples where bargaining is essential, as in the relationship with suppliers, customers, others in the company, Public Bodies, etc.
It is a class objective that students understand the negotiating process through the knowledge and mastery of the key elements involved in it.
In short, it seeks to highlight the different aspects that influence effective negotiation, trying to improve this competence of the student, through a theoretical and practical learning.
Topic 9: Leadership, conflict management, time management and planning: In this last issue a review will be made of personal skills and professional competencies a systems engineer who intends to lead projects and research work, development and innovation in their work environment should have. An oral presentation is made on a list of keys to success for a professional in the sector, such as competitiveness and leadership in the twenty-first century, the relationship of change and people, skills development, knowledge management, talent management, "I" management and leadership, conflict management, time management and the importance of proper planning.
