Peripheral hardware and a hands-on multitasking lab

Two teaching approaches are described. The first uses a set of 15 small, prebuilt hardware assemblies for microprocessor laboratories. The second, a multitasking laboratory-oriented course, lets undergraduate students carry out embedded-control projects, using a low-cost system of microcomputer boards that they wire to rebuilt peripheral boards. The hardware modules conveniently allow laboratory activities that focus on embedded hardware applications. The multitasking course goes even further into real-time systems, as well as teaching group project ideas. The programming languages used, the course sequence, and the laboratory equipment are described.<
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