TASKMASTER is an experimental microcontroller node of a real-time control
oriented network which was proposed by James H. Herzog and Tinggui Zhang to
demonstrate the feasibility of a task oriented control structure in performing distributed
control actions. This study is a continuation of research involving the TASKMASTER
network.
A high performance microcontroller the 32-bit Motorola MC68332 has been
used in this study to implement a node of the TASKMASTER network. Use of the
MC68332 with its powerful peripheral subsystems offers significant scope for
improvement of the overall performance of the network in addition to strengthening its
control processing capabilities. An 8-bit microcontroller the Intel 8052 has also been
used to implement a node of the network.
A high-level language C has been used for coding of the operating system of the
network which previously has been coded in assembly. In addition to being more
readable, use of a high-level language offers other significant advantages such as
portability, smaller code development time and code debugging time and the ability to
compare different microcontrollers on a common basis. A performance analysis and
comparison between the two microcontrollers used and the language used in coding
them was also performed using performance measures designed as part of this study
