Cyberphysical Systems and Internet of Things

Code:

M.IA036

Acronym:

SCIC

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Computer Science
OFICIAL	Informatics Engineering

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Informatics Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Artificial Intelligence

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M.IA	15	Syllabus	1	-	6	39	162
			2

Teaching language

English

Objectives

This curricular unit provides comprehensive coverage of cyberphysical systems (CPS) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, emphasizing theoretical foundations, practical implementation skills, and critical evaluation capabilities. 

The course integrates advanced technical knowledge with hands-on project experience to prepare students for research and industry roles in this rapidly evolving field.

The pedagogical approach ensures students develop both technical expertise and professional competencies essential for careers in cyber-physical systems and Internet of Things, while fostering innovation, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving capabilities.

Technical objectives
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of current trends, architectures, and computational models in CPS/IoT technologies.
- Master practical skills in CPS/IoT technology platforms, wireless connectivity protocols, and edge computing solutions.
- Acquire expertise in system integration methodologies, middleware platforms, and interoperability standards.

Analytical and Design objectives
- Cultivate critical thinking abilities to analyse trade-offs, evaluate design alternatives, and assess system performance characteristics.
- Develop design competencies for creating integrated CPS/IoT systems that address real-world challenges while considering quality requirements.
- Foster innovation capabilities to propose novel paradigms and solutions in emerging CPS and IoT applications.

Professional and Research objectives
- Build research competencies, including literature review, methodology application, and systematic documentation of findings.
- Enhance collaboration skills through multidisciplinary teamwork and effective communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Prepare for professional practice by understanding ethical implications, security considerations, and societal impact of CPS/IoT technologies.

Learning outcomes and competences

Learning outcomes are structured to progress from foundational knowledge to advanced analytical and creative capabilities. 
Upon successful completion of this curricular unit, students will be able to:

LO1: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of CPS and IoT fundamentals
- Identify and define key concepts, terminologies, and components within cyber-physical systems and IoT architectures.
- Explain the evolution, current trends, and future directions of CPS and IoT technologies.
- Describe typical use cases across various domains and differentiate their specific system requirements.

LO2: Comprehend architectural principles and computational models
- Explain different architectural patterns, reference models, and design methodologies used in CPS and IoT systems.
- Discuss the theoretical foundations and justify the selection of appropriate computational models for specific applications.
- Compare various middleware platforms, communication protocols, and interoperability standards.

LO3: Apply technical knowledge to system design challenges
- Implement IoT device connectivity using appropriate wireless technologies and communication protocols.
- Configure and deploy edge computing solutions and publish-subscribe communication models.
- Demonstrate proficiency in using contemporary development platforms and tools for CPS/IoT implementation.

LO4: Analyse system requirements and performance characteristics
- Analyse the trade-offs between different wireless connectivity options and their impact on system performance.
- Examine dependability, security, and privacy challenges and assess their implications for system design.
- Investigate and document existing CPS and IoT systems using systematic methodological approaches.

LO5: Evaluate and critique system design solutions
- Evaluate alternative design approaches for CPS and IoT systems based on quality requirements and constraints.
- Critique existing implementations and justify design decisions using evidence-based reasoning.
- Assess the broader impact of CPS and IoT technologies on large-scale system development and societal implications.

LO6: Design and create integrated CPS/IoT systems
- Design and develop complete CPS and IoT-based systems by integrating multiple hardware and software components.
- Create innovative solutions that address real-world challenges while considering interdisciplinary constraints.
- Synthesise knowledge from multiple domains to propose novel paradigms and approaches in CPS and IoT.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Module 1: CPS and IoT Foundations and Reference Models
Scope: Fundamental concepts, definitions, and use cases across various application domains.
Key Topics: Reference architectures, system requirements analysis, emerging trends and paradigms.
Learning Focus: Knowledge acquisition and conceptual understanding of the field.

Module 2: System Architecture and Computational Models
Scope: Advanced architectural patterns and computational frameworks for CPS design.
Key Topics: Networked embedded systems, models of computation, dependability principles, architectural views and patterns.
Learning Focus: Understanding design principles and architectural decision-making.

Module 3: Edge Devices and Connectivity Technologies
Scope: Hardware platforms, communication protocols, and end-to-end connectivity solutions.
Key Topics: Device constraints, wireless technologies, protocol performance analysis, edge computing paradigms.
Learning Focus: Technical implementation and protocol selection strategies.

Module 4: Middleware Platforms and Interoperability
Scope: Integration technologies and semantic interoperability frameworks.
Key Topics: Publish-subscribe communication models, platform comparison, semantic web technologies, data integration.
Learning Focus: System integration and platform evaluation methodologies.

Module 5: Dependability, Security, and Privacy
Scope: Quality attributes and risk management in CPS/IoT systems.
Key Topics: Security threats, privacy preservation techniques, fault tolerance, trust management.
Learning Focus: Critical evaluation of system vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.

Module 6: Novel Paradigms and Future Directions
Scope: Emerging technologies and research frontiers in CPS/IoT.
Key Topics: Artificial intelligence integration, edge computing applications, sustainability considerations, ethical implications.
Learning Focus: Innovation thinking and research orientation.

Mandatory literature

Song, Houbing,; Cyber-physical systems : foundations, principles and applications /. ISBN: 0128038012
Batalla, Jordi Mongay.; Beyond the Internet of Things : Everything Interconnected /. ISBN: 3-319-50756-7
Platzer , André; Logical foundations of cyber-physical systems. ISBN: 978-3-319-63588-0
Serpanos , Dimitrios; Internet-of-Things (IoT) systems : architectures, algorithms, methodologies. ISBN: 978-3-319-69715-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures: introduce and consolidate the core theoretical concepts and background knowledge related to CPS/IoT.

Guest Expert Sessions: industry practitioners and researchers presenting current challenges, real-world implementations, and emerging trends.

Interactive Seminars: discussions on complex topics and case study analysis to promote collaborative learning and peer discussion and scientific reasoning.

Project-Based Active Learning (full-semester project) design, implement, and evaluate complete CPS/IoT systems:
- Definition of an industry-relevant problem in the CPS/IoT domain.
- Identification of requirements and success criteria.
- Literature review and state-of-the-art analysis
PoC design, implementation, and experimental evaluation.
- Analysis and reflection on functional and non-functional quality aspects (including dependability, security, and performance criteria).

Students are encouraged to use real hardware when possible and to align the work with research on industry-relevant problems.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	30,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	15,00
Elaboração de projeto	54,00
Estudo autónomo	54,00
Frequência das aulas	39,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Terms of frequency: Students have to reach a minimum mark of 50% in the continuous assessment component; a minimum of 40% in each of the interim exams.

Calculation formula of final grade

Continuous Assessment (30%) + Project (70%)

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

It is the same as for ordinary students.