Advanced Armv8-M Features from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

The final course covers more advanced and optional features that might be configured in a Cortex-M system. These features could help with particular project requirements such as security and performance. Not all of these topics might be relevant for any given Cortex-M project, so feel free to pick and choose which topics, if any, apply to you.

Synchronization

This module describes the mechanism in the Armv8-M architecture to to share resources like peripherals between different threads and processors in an M-profile system.

Cache Management

This module is aimed to be a top-level module on caches for M-profile systems that covers fundamental cache terminology all the way through to configuring and utilising the cache for improved performance in M-profile systems involving more complex implementations like Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M55.

DSP Extension

The DSP Extension is an optional feature for Armv8-M Mainline implementations that allows allows DSP operations to be executed by a dedicated instructions.

Floating-point Extension

The Floating-point Extension is an optional feature for Armv8-M Mainline implementations that allows allows floating-point operations to be executed by a dedicated floating-point unit (FPU) hardware.

SysTick Timer Extension

This module is about the SysTick Timer, which is mandatory in Armv7-M and Armv8-M Mainline implementations, and optional in Armv6-M and Armv8-M Baseline implementations.

Security Extension (TrustZone for Arm8-M)

This module is about the optional Security Extension in Armv8-M Mainline implementations. The Security Extension is also an option for Armv8-M Baseline implementations.

PACBTI Extension

This module describes the Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) and Branch Target Identification (BTI) Extension introduced as a part of Armv8.1-M architecture.

M-profile Vector Extension (MVE)

This module is an essential foundation module for MVE training course. It introduces the story, architecture features, software and tools support for MVE.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Suitable for those with prior experience and an interest in advanced optimization

Covers niche topics that may only be relevant for complex projects

Taught by industry experts, ensuring relevancy and expertise

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Advanced Armv8-M Features with these activities:

Read 'Arm System Developer's Guide'

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Gain a foundational understanding of the Arm architecture and the Cortex-M system through the comprehensive guide.

View ARM System Developer's Guide: Designing and... on Amazon

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Read chapters 1-3 to understand the basics of the Arm architecture, Cortex-M processors, and embedded systems.
Review chapters 4-6 to dive deeper into Cortex-M peripherals, memory management, and debugging techniques.

Review Python for data manipulation

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Refresh your Python programming skills with a focus on data manipulation to prepare for upcoming course topics.

Browse courses on Python

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Review the Python syntax, including data types, variables, and control structures.
Practice reading and writing data from files using pandas and NumPy.
Practice data cleaning and preprocessing techniques, such as handling missing values and outliers.

Volunteer as a mentor for aspiring embedded system developers

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Share your knowledge and support the development of others by mentoring aspiring embedded system developers.

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Identify platforms or organizations that connect mentors with mentees in the field of embedded systems.
Offer your expertise and guidance to mentees, providing support and feedback on their projects or learning journey.

Seven other activities

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Synchronization Mechanism Exercises

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Strengthen your understanding of synchronization mechanisms through hands-on exercises to prevent race conditions and deadlocks.

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Create test cases simulating multi-threaded scenarios
Write code to implement synchronization primitives such as semaphores or mutexes

Attend industry events focused on embedded systems or Cortex-M

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Expand your network and learn from industry professionals by attending events related to embedded systems and Cortex-M.

Browse courses on Embedded Systems

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Identify and research upcoming conferences, workshops, or meetups focused on embedded systems or Cortex-M.
Attend the events and engage with speakers, attendees, and exhibitors to gain insights and make connections.

Follow tutorials on Armv8-M architecture

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Explore the intricacies of the Armv8-M architecture and Cortex-M systems through guided tutorials.

Browse courses on ARMv8-M Architecture

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Find and follow tutorials that cover the basics of the Armv8-M architecture, such as the Arm Developer website.
Explore tutorials that focus on specific Cortex-M features, such as the DSP extension or cache management.

Cache Management Techniques Tutorial

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Enhance your cache management skills by following guided tutorials that demonstrate techniques for efficient memory usage and improved performance.

Browse courses on Cache Management

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Explore online tutorials on cache management strategies
Implement cache-aware algorithms in your code

Solve practice problems on synchronization and cache management

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Reinforce your understanding of synchronization and cache management concepts through practice problems.

Browse courses on Synchronization

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Find and solve practice problems related to synchronization mechanisms in Armv8-M systems, such as spin locks and semaphores.
Practice solving problems that involve cache configuration and optimization techniques.

Contribute to open-source projects related to Cortex-M

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Gain practical experience and contribute to the community by participating in open-source projects related to Cortex-M.

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Identify open-source projects that focus on Cortex-M development or embedded systems.
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute your skills.
Contribute code, report bugs, or improve documentation to support the project.

Create a project demonstrating a specific Cortex-M feature

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Apply your knowledge by creating a project that showcases a specific feature or capability of the Cortex-M system.

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Choose a specific Cortex-M feature that aligns with your interests or project goals, such as security or performance optimization.
Design and implement a project that demonstrates the chosen feature in a practical application.
Document your project, including the implementation details and any challenges faced.

Career center

Learners who complete Advanced Armv8-M Features will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Embedded Software Engineer

Embedded Software Engineers design, develop, and implement software for embedded systems. These systems are typically found in devices such as cars, medical equipment, and industrial machinery. This course would be particularly helpful for Embedded Software Engineers who are working on systems that require advanced security features, such as those used in automotive and medical applications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Embedded Software Engineer

Firmware Engineer

Firmware Engineers design, develop, and test firmware for embedded systems. Firmware is the software that is stored on a device's hardware and controls its operation. This course would be particularly helpful for Firmware Engineers who are working on systems that require high performance, such as those used in gaming and telecommunications.

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Hardware Engineer

Hardware Engineers design, develop, and test hardware for embedded systems. Hardware includes the physical components of a system, such as the processor, memory, and peripherals. This course would be particularly helpful for Hardware Engineers who are working on systems that require advanced features, such as those used in aerospace and defense applications.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, develop, and test complex systems. These systems can include embedded systems, as well as other types of systems, such as software systems and mechanical systems. This course would be particularly helpful for Systems Engineers who are working on systems that require high reliability, such as those used in medical and transportation applications.

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Technical Architect

Technical Architects design and develop the architecture of complex systems. This architecture includes the hardware, software, and network components of the system. This course would be particularly helpful for Technical Architects who are working on systems that require high performance and security, such as those used in cloud computing and data analytics.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and test software applications. This course may be useful for Software Developers who are working on embedded systems, but it is not a perfect fit because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than software development.

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Computer Engineer

Computer Engineers design, develop, and test computer systems. This course may be useful for Computer Engineers who are working on embedded systems, but it is not a perfect fit because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than computer engineering in general.

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Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineers design, develop, and test electrical systems. This course may be useful for Electrical Engineers who are working on embedded systems, but it is not a perfect fit because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than electrical engineering in general.

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Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers design, develop, and test mechanical systems. This course is not a good fit for Mechanical Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than mechanical engineering.

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Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical Engineers design, develop, and test biomedical systems. This course is not a good fit for Biomedical Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than biomedical engineering.

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Agricultural Engineer

Agricultural Engineers design, develop, and test agricultural systems. This course is not a good fit for Agricultural Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than agricultural engineering.

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Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers design, develop, and test environmental systems. This course is not a good fit for Environmental Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than environmental engineering.

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Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers design, develop, and test chemical systems. This course is not a good fit for Chemical Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than chemical engineering.

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Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace Engineers design, develop, and test aerospace systems. This course is not a good fit for Aerospace Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than aerospace engineering.

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Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers design, develop, and test civil systems. This course is not a good fit for Civil Engineers because it focuses on hardware-specific features rather than civil engineering.

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