James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

CC3501:03

Computer Interfacing and Control

Townsville

Prerequisites: CC2510 CC2511

39 lectures, 21 tutorials, 18 hours practicals. First semester.

Available to level 3 engineering and science students.

Common interfaces to computer controlled equipment including GPIB, SCSI and EIA232. Introduction to the physical layer characteristics of local area networks including IEEE 802.x and common industrial control networks, such as Fieldbus. The analysis and design of real-time multiprocessing systems, including topics such as scheduling, interprocess communication and deadlock.

Learning Objectives:

  1. differentiate between a range of common computer equipment interfaces and discuss their important benefits and limitations;
  2. discuss the important physical characteristics of common local area networks;
  3. differentiate between common interfaces for sensors and actuators, and discuss how to connect them to existing or planned computerised industrial control and monitoring systems;
  4. discuss the specification, design and analysis of real-time systems.

Assessment by examination (50%-70%); on-course assessment (30%-50%).