last update: 16 August 2002
CSC 230 Real-Time Computer Interfaces 3 cr.

This course deals with the technical aspects of using a computer to sense data from a real world environment and subsequently to control conditions in that environment.   The techniques of breadboarding and experimental electronic circuit construction will be used in the laboratory.   The construction and interfacing of robotic devices which sense and react to real-world conditions will be emphasized.   Three lecture hours per week plus laboratory work outside of class.

Prerequisites: CSC 202J, PHS 205.

Goals:
    The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the hardware and software necessary to do real-time computing. Specifically:
  • CG1:   to develop the ability to perform sensory breadboarding and achieve desired results;
  • CG2:   to develop the skills necessary to identify eligible operating systems and languages for real-time systems;
  • CG3:   to develop the ability to analyze and design real-time systems;
  • CG4:   to give students the ability to perform full verification of real-time systems.

Objectives:
    Upon successful completion of this course, students will have:
  • CO1:   demonstrated the ability to set up and construct a breadboarding environment for sensor testing and response generation;
  • CO2:   applied the standards necessary to evaluate real-time applicability of various operating systems and programming languages;
  • CO3:   demonstrated the ability to analyze and develop real-time applications based on written specifications;
  • CO4:   demonstrated the ability to completely test an application against written specifications.

Topics:
  • fundamentals of electronic circuits
  • techniques of breadboarding and experimental circuit construction
  • sensory devices and technology
  • motion control devices
  • serial and parallel signal transmission
  • mobile platforms
  • on-board computational devices
  • programming of micro-computing devices
  • state diagrams and state processing
  • Petrie loop control
Assignments:
      There will be approximately ten laboratory assignments to be completed outside of scheduled class hours.   The work includes limited hardware configuration, wiring, and equipment setup. The assignments are primarily of a programming nature.  The language will vary with the equipment available but may include an assembly language, FORTRAN, BASIC, C, and some proprietary languages.
  1. basic wiring and breadboarding
  2. sensors as input devices
  3. real-time processing techniques
  4. motion controlling
  5. motion sensing
  6. control computer programming
  7. interface construction and design
  8. multiple event handling, including error handling
  9. control optimization

Bibliography:
  • Jones, Steiger, and Flynn.   Mobile Robots, Inspiration to Implementation. Second Edition.   A. K. Peters, 1999.
  • McComb, Gordon.   The Robot Builder's Bonanza. Second Edition.   McGraw-Hill, 2000.
  • Martin, Fred G.   Robotic Explorations.   Prentice Hall, 2001.

Salem State Home • Computer Science Home • Faculty • Computer Studies Major • Flow Sheet
Computer Studies Minor • Courses • Course Sequence Diagram • Computer Laboratories