A LOCAL NETWORK FOR LABORATORY AUTOMATION AND DATA COLLECTION.

Abstract

This dissertation describes LABNET, a loosely-coupled network of small computers for laboratory automation and data collection. The network comprises two parts: RAPNET, the local-network operating-system-like software, and Real-time MICRODARE, an interactive language for programming automation and data-collection tasks. RAPNET provides the framework upon which application-level programs like MICRODARE execute. In addition to the usual file services and other miscellaneous system services normally supplied by a single-CPU operating system, RAPNET provides link-level message facilities, program control, and a virtual channel system. There is a means for coordinated application-level program intercommunication, the pseudo-link; pseudo-links are the means by which programs running in different CPUs or in the same CPU may be connected. To the application-level program, a pseudo-link looks just like a file or device. Real-time MICRODARE supplies an interactive programming capability which uses the facilities of RAPNET to enable a programmer to do distributed program systems for automation, simulation, and data collection. MICRODARE consists of an interactive BASIC-like job-control language, and a compiled fast-task language. The job-control language permits time and event dependent scheduling of automation and data-collection program segments. The fast-task language does simulation, signal-processing, data-collection, and control tasks at close-to-assembly-language speeds.