CCLI/Type1: VUE: A Versatile Unix Emulator of Embedded Systems for Software Oriented Students

Auburn University, Auburn AL

Investigators

Abstract

Computer Science (31) We are surrounded by embedded systems that use software to control devices in cars, appliances and cell phones. There is a worldwide shortage of engineers with core skills for designing embedded systems. Computer science students rarely have an opportunity to design meaningful software for embedded systems. Investigators are developing a Versatile Unix Emulator (VUE) to address this need. It is used to emulate four software architectures: round robin, round robin with interrupts, function queue scheduler and real-time operating system software. VUE creates an application with three groups of processes: 1) virtual input devices, 2) virtual output devices, and 3) control processes. An instructor creates a laboratory exercise by specifying input, output devices and a scenario of events. Students develop software to control the process of the embedded systems and must consider design trade-offs such as energy consumption and responsiveness. VUE generates a rich and repeatable set of events that stress test student designs. The automated random events create repeatable experiments to evaluate software quality. Expected outcomes include the emulator and a collection of laboratory exercises. VUE is being piloted at Auburn University and Tuskegee University. Workshops are provided to train faculty how to adopt the materials.