CS: Computing systems

Microprocessor

Tiny, single purpose computers that do one thing well.

• Usually embedded inside some other device

• Low-power devices

• Dedicated input and output device

• Small and low cost

• Central chip has everything embedded on it.

Open source hardware

Anyone can see the design specification of a physical object; it can be created, viewed, modified and distributed by anyone.

Open source software

The source code is available for development by anyone without having to purchase it. They can study, copy, modify and distribute new versions of it.

Arduino boards

Equipped with separate sets of digital and analogue input/output pins connected to the CPU on the Arduino

Digital signals

Discrete binary values

Analogue signals

Continuous, infinite range of values

Interface

Where two computer systems coordinate

What language are Arduino programs written in?

Arduino C, a small subset of C++, in the Arduino IDE

USB

A serial data transmission protocol

IDE examples

Pycharm, IDLE, Arduino IDE

Port

• Software ports: codes for where something like an operating system decides how to deal with incoming traffic

• Hardware ports: the physical connection between two devices eg. cable plugged into computer

Driver

A small program which tells an operating system how to respond to a particular hardware that’s attached to the system

Bootloader

Small program that’s almost never erased; stored in ROM; contains instructions for computer to start up

What causes a motor to turn or stop turning?

The signal sent to the motor from a microprocessor. This can supply or withhold a DC current. When the motor is powered by the DC current, a magnetic field is created within the stator, attracting and repelling magnets on the rotor, causing it to rotate.

What group of output devices are motors a part of?

Actuators

DC current

Direct current, which only flows in one direction, often used by electronic systems

Stepper motor

A brushless DC electric motor.

• Full 360 degree rotation is divided into a number of equal steps.

• The motor can be sent signals to turn a specific number of steps

• This allows the stepper motor to be controlled with more precision than other DC motors, since the exact position that the motor will be in after moving any number of steps can be accurately calculated.

Stepper motor applications

• Security cameras

• DVD players

• Car side mirror tilt

• CNC machinese