details
for additional information.
Among the Southern Polytechnic Computer Science Department's many areas of concentration is the study of real-time systems. Real-time systems are those that monitor and control physical devices; such devices may be as simple as a microwave oven or as complex as a nuclear power plant or a space shuttle. Due to the time sensitive nature of these physical devices, the computer system controlling them must adhere to rigid timing constraints enjoined by the devices themselves. Because of this characteristic, such systems are said to be "real-time" in nature.
Southern Polytechnic students gain "hands-on" exposure to the
design of real-time systems through the use of a real-time
laboratory. Among the various teaching tools employed, the
most used one is a computer controlled model railway,
popularly referred to as simply the "Southern Polytechnic
Digital Railway." Through the use of this railway, students
are provided the opportunity to develop real-time software for
the computers that monitor and control the various trains as
well as related accessory devices such as turnouts. Go to
details for additional information.
The developer of the digital railway is
Professor Ron Schroeder , a
specialist in real-time systems and long-time train enthusiast.
