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From: esx038@cck.coventry.ac.uk ("W. J. G. Overington")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.transputer
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Message-ID: <11106.9007241503@cck.cov.ac.uk>
Date: 24 Jul 90 17:03:27 GMT
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To:   transputer@uk.ac.oxford.prg

>From: esx038@uk.ac.coventry.cck

24th July 1990

Embedded Systems

I have had several favourable responses to my suggestion of an
over-the-net learning project on embedded systems, with various
people each building much the same pieces of external kit at
their own sites and then getting the software all worked out
together over the net.

Accordingly, here are some further thoughts.

This is meant to all be very democratic and a consensus of
opinion type activity, so please put forward different ideas if
you wish.  I know very little about it yet and so I am in some
ways putting out suggestions in the hope that maybe something
better will emerge as a result.

I am thinking that it might be a good idea to use light sensitive
semiconductor devices as the main outside world sensing devices
for the system.  It occurs to me that they are easily obtainable,
inexpensive and are suitable for very slow changing of outside
stimulus to start off with in understanding how to get
interfacing going, yet are also suitable for very high speed
changing of outside world stimulus once we get used to using a
simple slow embedded system.

I wonder if most users will, in practice, be using a transputer
via a PC host machine.  If this is in fact the case I am then
wondering whether it might be a reasonable goal to think in terms
of some sort of transputer based light pen.

On another train of thought, I am thinking that a system with
several different sensors of different types (optoelectronic,
magnetic, strain gauge &c) all connected on different inmos links
and monitored using an ALT construct might be useful.

Another thought is that the system should actually drive some
sort of output device via an interface.  Any suggestions?  I am
looking for something that is reasonably inexpensive, does not
need huge power supplies, does not make any noise, and is safe
for a teaching laboratory.  I can only think of light emitting
diodes at present.

And finally, could people suggest ideas for a project name with
an appropriate acronym please.  Words such as embedded, learn,
net, transputer, link &c could feature!  The winner is the one
that people start using most!

Will Overington Department of Electrical, Electronic and Systems
Engineering, Coventry Polytechnic, Coventry CV1 5FB, England

file project0001