A Low-Power Microprocessor System for Deep-Sea Free Vehicle Applications

A microprocessor system is being developed for control of a deep-ocean free vehicle. The RCA COSMAC microprocessor was selected for its architecture and CMOS support circuits. A CPU card, using CMOS UV PROM, can operate alone or in conjunction with support cards such as I/O and mass storage. I/O is accomplished either by interrupt and status techniques or with CPU strobing. The development system consists of an HP 9845 desk top computer connected to a development card-cage by an RS232 link. The development cage contains a PROM programmer, circuits under test, and other testing aids. This system, using a BASIC editor and assembler, facilitates rapid programming and hardware checkout. Flexibility in troubleshooting is provided by combined use of signature analysis and monitor diagnostic firmware.