UK embedded software training firm Feabhas will host a pair of embedded Linux workshops at next month's Embedded Systems Show (ESS). Slated for Oct. 1-2 in Birmingham, UK, the event also features a “Build Your Own Embedded System” (BYOES) seminar using Linux and TI/DigiKey Beagle Boards.

(Click for larger view of the Beagle Board)

Embedded Systems Show 2008 is the 14th annual edition of the show. Billed as the largest embedded conference in the United Kingdom, ESS is hosted by TechInsights, which also produces the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) shows in the U.S., such as the upcoming Boston ESC on Oct. 26-30. That show is also hosting a similar BYOES program using the Beagle Board.

ESS 2008 features a vendor expo, and sessions on topics such as multi-core development, security, power consumption, and sensor networking. There are also embedded Linux workshops hosted by UK embedded software training firm Feabhas, which last month added a Linux graphics course to its offerings.

Other tutorials and panels include:

• Embedded Linux: a practical approach — This three-hour, hands-on Feabhas tutorial will show how to build a working embedded Linux system, using a PowerPC development board as the target. Topics include cross-development tools, kernel configuration and compilation, and root file systems. (Wednesday, Oct. 1, 9:45 AM and Thursday 1:45 PM)
• Introduction to multi-core programming: theory of parallelism & overview of implementation options — Stephen Blair-Chappell, technical consulting engineer, Intel (lecture on Wednesday, 10:45 AM plus hands-on class at 1:45 PM that day)
• Timing matters: software optimization techniques for real-time systems — Dr Guillem Bernat, CEO, Rapita Systems (Wednesday, 9:45)
• How secure is your embedded design? — Abi Nourai, European technical director, Open Kernel Labs (Thursday, 10:45)
• Ad hoc sensor networking; concepts, strategies, and systems — Dr Andrew Eliasz, founder, First Technology Transfer (Thursday, 1:45 pm)

The BYOES program with the Beagle Board will be held on the first day of the conference and is limited to the first 50 pre-registered (full conference) attendees to sign up. The Beagle Board is a collaborative effort between Texas Instruments, Numonyx, and MontaVista. The $150 (about 80 UK Pounds), 3-inch-square board is aimed at low-volume embedded developers, hobbyists, and students who want to evaluate ARM's Cortex-A8 and TI's OMAP35xx architecture. Digi-Key started distributing the Beagle in July.

There is no extra charge for the BYOES event, and participants can build and take home their own Beagle-based embedded system. Specific topics in the workshop include:

• Beagle Board 101
• Implementing a web-based user interface
• Turn the Beagle Board into a USB gadget (with suspend/resume)
• Use the OMAP DSP as a Linux co-processor
• Control a DC brushless motor with the Beagle Board
• Software Defined Radio (SDR) with Beagle
• Teaching software with Sugar and block diagrams
• Running Android on the Beagle Board

For those with a more destructive bent, the show also features live teardowns of the Estes Micro-Tiger RC Helicopter and the X-Box Steering Wheel. The Micro-Tiger is an indoor helicopter that uses Motion Automatic Sensing Controller (MASC) technology to steer the helicopter with “a tilt of the wrist.” The wireless Microsoft Xbox 360 Steering Wheel simulates the resistance and force of driving, says TechInsights.

Availability

Embedded Systems Show 2008 will be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England on October 1-2. Registration and other information may be found here.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.