{"id":{"repo_id":"cape-town","oai_identifier":"oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/16761"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cape-town/oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/16761","repository":{"repo_id":"cape-town","name":"University of Cape Town","base_url":"https://open.uct.ac.za/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Organization of industrial control computers","abstract":"The efficient use of industrial control computers is recognized as an organizational problem akin to the traffic-switching problem in communications. A systematic approach to this problem is proposed, based on theory developed for the handling of telephone traffic. The application of the approach indicates that it is necessary to re-evaluate traditional hardware/software relationships. A change in these relationships is desirable, since multi-programmed computers spend too much time in handling their own organization. This situation is compounded in time-critical industrial process-control applications. It is proposed that the solution lies in the use of a flexible hardware operating system, working in close relationship with a conventional minicomputer. The unit proposed to implement this function, termed a microcontroller, makes use of the new bipolar microprocessor elements and provides a high-speed, flexible control unit, adaptable to user requirements. To retain a high degree of flexibility the microcontroller is microprogrammable. In essence, the unit executes the principal functions of a real-time operating system, acts as a pre-processor for all incoming requests, and ensures a high rate of task-switching. This system is applied to a series of configurations, each selected to demonstrate, quantitatively, the value of the technique in real applications. Comparisons are made between real-time control configurations based on the software-implemented approach and the identical configurations based on this system. The proposed strategy is shown to result in a better and more economical industrial controller. The wider implication for any aspect of organization is that \"bigger\" is not necessarily \"better\". Successful management implies effective use of facilities, rather than a proliferating structure.","abstract_html":"The efficient use of industrial control computers is recognized as an organizational problem akin to the traffic-switching problem in communications. A systematic approach to this problem is proposed, based on theory developed for the handling of telephone traffic. The application of the approach indicates that it is necessary to re-evaluate traditional hardware/software relationships. A change in these relationships is desirable, since multi-programmed computers spend too much time in handling their own organization. This situation is compounded in time-critical industrial process-control applications. It is proposed that the solution lies in the use of a flexible hardware operating system, working in close relationship with a conventional minicomputer. The unit proposed to implement this function, termed a microcontroller, makes use of the new bipolar microprocessor elements and provides a high-speed, flexible control unit, adaptable to user requirements. To retain a high degree of flexibility the microcontroller is microprogrammable. In essence, the unit executes the principal functions of a real-time operating system, acts as a pre-processor for all incoming requests, and ensures a high rate of task-switching. This system is applied to a series of configurations, each selected to demonstrate, quantitatively, the value of the technique in real applications. Comparisons are made between real-time control configurations based on the software-implemented approach and the identical configurations based on this system. The proposed strategy is shown to result in a better and more economical industrial controller. The wider implication for any aspect of organization is that "bigger" is not necessarily "better". Successful management implies effective use of facilities, rather than a proliferating structure.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Rodd, Michael Godfrey"],"institution":"Department of Electrical Engineering","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Enslin, NC de V","MacGregor, Ken"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1976,"date_issued":"1976","date_published":"1976","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:44Z","subjects":[],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16761","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Enslin, NC de V","MacGregor, Ken"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Rodd, Michael Godfrey"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2016-02-05T07:07:56Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-02-05T07:07:56Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["1976"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.department","label":"Dc Publisher Department","values":["Department of Electrical Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:publisher.institution","label":"Dc Publisher Institution","values":["University of Cape Town"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Doctoral Thesis"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationlevel","label":"Dc Type Qualificationlevel","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"dc:type.qualificationname","label":"Dc Type Qualificationname","values":["PhD"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["eng"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16761"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The efficient use of industrial control computers is recognized as an organizational problem akin to the traffic-switching problem in communications. A systematic approach to this problem is proposed, based on theory developed for the handling of telephone traffic. The application of the approach indicates that it is necessary to re-evaluate traditional hardware/software relationships. A change in these relationships is desirable, since multi-programmed computers spend too much time in handling their own organization. This situation is compounded in time-critical industrial process-control applications. It is proposed that the solution lies in the use of a flexible hardware operating system, working in close relationship with a conventional minicomputer. The unit proposed to implement this function, termed a microcontroller, makes use of the new bipolar microprocessor elements and provides a high-speed, flexible control unit, adaptable to user requirements. To retain a high degree of flexibility the microcontroller is microprogrammable. In essence, the unit executes the principal functions of a real-time operating system, acts as a pre-processor for all incoming requests, and ensures a high rate of task-switching. This system is applied to a series of configurations, each selected to demonstrate, quantitatively, the value of the technique in real applications. Comparisons are made between real-time control configurations based on the software-implemented approach and the identical configurations based on this system. The proposed strategy is shown to result in a better and more economical industrial controller. The wider implication for any aspect of organization is that \"bigger\" is not necessarily \"better\". Successful management implies effective use of facilities, rather than a proliferating structure."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Organization of industrial control computers"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Enslin, NC de V","MacGregor, Ken"],"dc:creator":["Rodd, Michael Godfrey"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2016-02-05T07:07:56Z"],"dc:date.available":["2016-02-05T07:07:56Z"],"dc:date.issued":["1976"],"dc:description.abstract":["The efficient use of industrial control computers is recognized as an organizational problem akin to the traffic-switching problem in communications. A systematic approach to this problem is proposed, based on theory developed for the handling of telephone traffic. The application of the approach indicates that it is necessary to re-evaluate traditional hardware/software relationships. A change in these relationships is desirable, since multi-programmed computers spend too much time in handling their own organization. This situation is compounded in time-critical industrial process-control applications. It is proposed that the solution lies in the use of a flexible hardware operating system, working in close relationship with a conventional minicomputer. The unit proposed to implement this function, termed a microcontroller, makes use of the new bipolar microprocessor elements and provides a high-speed, flexible control unit, adaptable to user requirements. To retain a high degree of flexibility the microcontroller is microprogrammable. In essence, the unit executes the principal functions of a real-time operating system, acts as a pre-processor for all incoming requests, and ensures a high rate of task-switching. This system is applied to a series of configurations, each selected to demonstrate, quantitatively, the value of the technique in real applications. Comparisons are made between real-time control configurations based on the software-implemented approach and the identical configurations based on this system. The proposed strategy is shown to result in a better and more economical industrial controller. The wider implication for any aspect of organization is that \"bigger\" is not necessarily \"better\". Successful management implies effective use of facilities, rather than a proliferating structure."],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/11427/16761"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher.department":["Department of Electrical Engineering"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Cape Town"],"dc:title":["Organization of industrial control computers"],"dc:type":["Doctoral Thesis"],"dc:type.qualificationlevel":["Doctoral"],"dc:type.qualificationname":["PhD"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:22:44Z"}