Teacher

Enrico Fraccaroli

Referent

Enrico Fraccaroli

Credits

3

Language

English

Class attendance

Free Choice

Location

VERONA

Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Distinguish between CPS, CPPS, and traditional embedded systems;
- Describe the architecture and lifecycle of a digital twin;
- Model physical processes using an equation-based approach (and a hint about data-driven one);
- Formulate optimization problems that account for system dynamics;
- Evaluate the impact of architectural choices on real-time communication;
- Design distributed solutions combining edge computing, cloud, and AI techniques.

Prerequisites and basic notions

A background in embedded systems, control theory, or optimization is strongly recommended. Students should be comfortable with mathematical modeling (e.g., ODEs) and basic algorithmic thinking. Familiarity with machine learning and networking concepts is helpful but not strictly required.

Program

The course is structured around four main modules, each focusing on a key aspect of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) in Industry 4.0:

- Lecture 1: You will learn what cyber-physical systems and digital twins are. We’ll look at how to model real machines using a combination of physics and data.
- Lecture 2: We will study how machines behave during manufacturing and how to plan their actions to save time and energy. You’ll also see how to test these plans in a simulator.
- Lecture 3: You’ll explore how machines and services talk to each other over a network. We’ll see how communication delays happen and how to analyze their timing.
- Lecture 4: You will learn strategies for running smart applications partly on the device and partly in the cloud. We’ll also explore ways to make models faster and lighter for small devices.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Interactive lectures delivered remotely via Zoom.
Each session combines theoretical content, real-world case studies, and practical demonstrations using open-source tools.
An optional project activity is also offered to apply the acquired concepts.

Learning assessment procedures

No formal exam is scheduled. Active attendance and participation in class discussions serve as the sole method of evaluation.

Assessment

Learning will be assessed based on the student’s level of engagement during the lectures, ability to interact with the course material, and optionally, participation in exercises or mini-projects.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final evaluation will be based on active attendance and class participation. No numerical grade will be assigned.

Scheduled Lessons

Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

This initiative contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030. More information on sustainability