An Advanced Educational Microprocessor System

The use of a host-independent, 68030/68882 AEMS (Advanced Educational Microprocessor System) board as a classroom demonstration tool as well as a laboratory instrument is examined. To demonstrate the interaction of all of the portions of the AEMS, the buses and control signals were made readily available, inviting the easy connection of test equipment, such as logic analyzers and oscilloscopes, to the system. Other AEMS features provide additional educational opportunities: counting events, monitoring activities, and observing system activities. These features also allow students to configure many of the characteristics that affect system performance. In addition, students can easily include devices of their own to tailor experiments to an application or implementation technique. The AEMS system is described, and its incorporation into the curriculum is discussed.<>