INF5450 – Evolutionary Computing and Evolvable Hardware

Course content

Evolutionary computation harnesses the power of natural evolution to turn computers into automatic optimisation and design tools. The three mechanisms that drive evolution forward are reproduction, mutation and the principle of survival of the fittest.

The course introduces the most commonly used algorithms. This is followed up by applying them to hardware design. This allows electronic circuits (analog or digital) to be designed with only specifying the wanted behavior rather than their exact architecture. The motivation for this method is that it could provide better design of systems for real-world applications, which traditional design methods cannot achieve.

Learning outcome

To give an introduction to artificial evolution and how it can be applied to hardware design.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

INF1400 – Digital technology (discontinued) or equivalent knowledge in digital design

Overlapping courses

5 credits overlap with INF-EHW

Teaching

2 hours of lectures per week. There may be obligatory task(s) to be handed in and passed to be admitted to take the exam.

Examination

Oral or 3 hour written examination at the end of the semester. Graded marks.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:

Other

Note that the first lecture is compulsory. The subject is regarded equal to INF-EHW when practicing exam regulations.

Course Auditor: Morten Hartmann

Facts about this course

Credits
5
Level
Master
Teaching
Every autumn

A certain number of students is required for the course to be taught ordinarily. Otherwise the course can be taken as selfstudy.

Examination
Every autumn
Teaching language
Norwegian (English on request)