A versatile demonstrator for distributed real-time systems: Using a model-railway in education

Abstract—Teaching computer science in the domain of safety critical systems needs to address multiple topics: embedded and distributed systems, real-time behavior and model-based system design. We present a model railway demonstrator that employs these paradigms in one application. The distributed railway controller nodes are connected using industry standard networks (CAN, Ethernet or TTP). The corresponding application software can be implemented manually in C/C++ or by using model-based development tools. This flexibility enables users to compare ad-vantages and drawbacks of various design patterns. Following an overview of the railway and its control system, experiences from educational courses as part of the DECOS training activities are discussed. In these courses university students were to implement controlling applications and simulations for the demonstrator using Matlab Simulink, Stateflow, and hardware specific add-ons. I