Universal Machine Control How Hardware Emulation Leads to Prototype Development

摘要

Hardware emulation is an effective phase of the prototyping process. The purpose of this project was to build a robust hardware platform to run the rule sets for old pinball machines. Using the PinMAME program, the design emulates the hardware for almost 500 pinball machines and runs the rule sets. The electronic gaming industry has never been more popular than it is today. Modern consoles are making the gaming experience more realistic. This begs the question: Why did we design and build a universal pinball machine controller? The simple answer is that while the conversion of discrete electronics into embedded systems may have a wide range of applicability, there will always be a market for vintage systems. Beautiful casings and hardware from 1970s electronics now languish in limbo because many components are unavailable. There is a large commercial opportunity in aesthetic gaming.