ARM Community: Technical University Munich opens ARM-based Games Engineering Laboratory - ARM Community

The Technical University Munich (TUM) opened at the Garching campus a new laboratory dedicated for "Games Engineering" on ARM hardware. A large part of computer games are now developed for mobile devices such as Smartphones or Tablets. Students can explore today’s ARM technology at the Games Engineering Laboratory which is equipped with hardware from Texas Instruments and STMicroelectronics and software development tools from ARM.

In March 2012, ARM University Program Manager Joe Bungo visited TUM to deliver a technical guest lecture as well as meet with various faculty members about incorporating ARM into the curriculum. As a result of this visit and discussions with ARM silicon partners, the Games Engineering Laboratory was opened in November 2012 with an inauguration ceremony by Professor Dr. A. Bode, Professor Dr. H. Krcmar, Professor Dr. U. Baumgarten, Professor Dr. G. Klinker, Professor Dr. C. Trinitis, U. Behringer from Texas Instruments, myself from ARM, and Dr. R. Bommer representing the government.

Texas Instruments sponsored the popular Beagle Boards that use the TI OMAP3539 ARM Cortex-A8 processor running the Linux operating system. For software development the ARM Development Studio 5 (DS-5 Professional Edition) is used that features Streamline – a system performance analysis tool for optimizing the gaming application on the Linux operating system.

STMicroelectronics donated several STM32F4 Discovery Kits that are used to implement sensors and actors connected to the gaming machine. The ARM Cortex-M4 processor-based STM32F4 microcontroller device is programmed using the Keil MDK-ARM Microcontroller Development Kit that offers besides IDE, Compiler, and Debugger also an extensive range of middleware components.

In the first year, 296 students will be educated on software architecture as well as application and I/O interface techniques required to develop computer games. Games require today high performance combined with energy efficient implementation that fits on mobile computers – methods that are also increasingly relevant for industrial computing, for example to enable sensors, hubs, or servers for the Internet of Things (IoT). The Games Engineering Laboratory at the Technical University Munich offers therefore a compelling hands-on training and a wide range of application areas that provides students with in-depth knowledge around ARM technology.

We wish the Technical University Munich, the professors, and the students all the best for the future of the Games Engineering Laboratory.






Reinhard Keil, Director of MCU Tools, ARM, His responsibilities include the definition and strategy of tools for ARM Microcontrollers. He is founder of Keil Elektronik GmbH (the German root of Keil Software Inc.) and co-author of several key software products, such as Keil C51, Keil C166, and µVision. Reinhard continues to influence the microcontroller market and to advance the technology of the embedded space.