This course permits first steps in own scientific work on selected topics of computer engineering. Based upon a (typically self-assigned) publications on some suitable topic in this field, a short paper shall be written and presented during the semester. In addition, the course is also an excellent opportunity to get in touch with our research projects and establishes a solid basis for related diploma thesises and dissertations.

The organization of this course is very similar to writing a Master/PhD thesis, albeit with much less size and tighter supervision.

Possible topics (selection): Hybrid failure models, partially synchronous system models, self-stabilizing distributed algorithms; real-time scheduling, topology control and routing in dependable wireless networks; diverse limitations of the synchronous design paradigm, metastability and synchronizers, asynchronous design styles, delay models, testing and fault tolerance for asynchronous logic, self-healing circuits.

criteria for grading are

- quality of the elaborated solution, autonomy of work
- quality of the written report
- quality of the final presentation