A Didactic Simulator for Teaching Computer Architecture and the Internet of Things

Abstract

The teaching of Computer Architecture and the Internet of Things presents convergences at various points. However, there is still a lack of development in teaching tools that enable the integrated presentation of both subjects to students. In this article, we describe the characteristics and development of a processor simulation tool that aims to integrate these two areas of teaching. The tool essentially consists of a simulator for the didactic processor Sapiens. The simulator runs on the NodeMCU, a low-cost IoT development platform based on the ESP8266 SoC, which has WiFi. Programs, previously compiled and encoded in Intel HEX format, can be remotely loaded from any computer using a web browser. A graphical interface for the simulator was developed in HTML and JavaScript, allowing students to monitor the state of the registers and memory of the simulated processor. Additions were made to the Sapiens instruction set to allow control and reading of the NodeMCU's pin values directly from the program running in the simulator. This makes it possible to develop Sapiens assembly language programs to interact with physical devices, actuators, and sensors connected to the NodeMCU. This approach aims to increase student interest and facilitate understanding of the basic concepts of processor operation and the Internet of Things.