A real time computer systems course for engineers

This paper describes a new lecture/laboratory course being developed at The University of Michigan to provide students with technical knowledge and experience in incorporating computing elements into engineering designs and control systems. The course, intended for students with minimal computer background (e.g. one higher level language course), seeks to expose students to: the significance of various computer architectures to real time operations; software considerations to real time applications; interrupts and device handling; A/D and D/A conversation techniques; computer to computer communication; and an introducation to digital process control. A laboratory, composed of three LSI-11 microcomputer systems and hardware necessary to connect these to external devices, provides students with hands-on experience in the application of these topics. Laboratory emphasis is on use of computers as elements in control systems.