Module manager: Karim Djemame
Email: K.Djemame@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
COMP3211
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practices underlying the design and implementation of resilient distributed computing systems. It introduces students to the principles, architectures, and engineering challenges of Distributed Systems and Cyber‑Physical Systems (CPS), with a focus on how these domains converge in real‑world applications such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT, and large‑scale sensor networks. Students will explore system architectures, communication protocols, real‑time constraints, system reliability, and security considerations in interconnected physical–digital ecosystems. Through hands‑on labs and project‑based learning, the students will design, implement, and evaluate distributed CPS solutions that integrate sensing, computation, networking, and actuation.
To equip students with a deep understanding of the principles, design patterns, and practical techniques for building distributed systems that maintain high availability, fault tolerance, and consistency under varying conditions of failure and network unreliability. The module aims to develop the ability to analyse, design, and implement resilient distributed architectures using contemporary frameworks and protocols.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems. (C1)
select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems. (C4)
design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer need as appropriate. (C5)
apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems. (C6)
evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems and minimise adverse impacts. (C7)
identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct. (C8)
adopt a holistic and proportionate approach to the mitigation of security risks. (C10)
select and use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems and be able to comment on their limitations. (C12, C13)
Discuss the role of quality management systems and continuous improvement in the context of complex problems. (C14)
communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used. (C17)
reflect on their level of mastery of subject knowledge and skills and plan for personal development. (C18)
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Explain key concepts, architectures, and algorithms in distributed systems.
Describe the structure and operation of cyber‑physical systems, including sensing, actuation, and control.
Design and implement distributed components that communicate, coordinate, and operate within CPS constraints.
Develop CPS prototypes integrating hardware (e.g., sensors, microcontrollers) with distributed software services.
Apply distributed algorithms (e.g., leader election, consensus, time synchronisation) in CPS contexts.
Analyse how distributed computing paradigms (edge, cloud) support CPS scalability and performance.
Evaluate security and reliability requirements in distributed CPS environments.
Communicate technical ideas effectively through reports, presentations, and demonstrations.
Distributed Systems Architecture; Communication Protocols and Middleware; Service Oriented Architectures; Microservices; Serverless architectures
Timing and Synchronisation; Naming and distributed naming; Data replication and consistency models; Distributed databases and transaction management; Coordination; Fault tolerance; Resilience, security and privacy
Modelling and Specification of Cyber Physical Systems (CPS); continuous and discrete dynamics; hybrid systems; models of time and concurrency. CPS Platforms; sensors and actuators; embedded processors; memory and I/O; embedded and real-time operating systems; embedded networking and IoT
Cyber physical system design, analysis and applications; design space exploration; partitioning and mapping; model checking and reachability; analysis; WCET analysis; real-time analysis; dependability and security; energy efficiency; Industry 5.0, Smart Cities, Smart Vehicles.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practicals | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Lecture | 22 | 2 | 44 |
| Private study hours | 134 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 66 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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