Computer Engineering (CE)

Assignment on Computer Organization, Logic Gates, Modern CE

Applications (Total: 100%)
Q1 – (LT1: Computer Organization) [30%]

(a) Clearly describe the key components of CPU and their basic functions. (12%)
(b) Clearly explain how the hierarchical organization of the abstraction model may
facilitate the execution of a user program on any computer system. (8%)
(c) Clearly explain the pitfalls of the stored-program computers. Also, suggest at least two
possible ways to remedy the pitfalls. (10%)

Answer:
Q1a) CPU consists of Arithmetic Logic Unit, Control Unit and registers. Arithmetic Logic
Unit performs arithmetic and logical operations, which is the calculation
operations, and it provides a connection between primary memory and secondary
storage, where data transfer passes through the ALU. Control unit summons,
decodes and execute functions, and also responsible for moving data and issuing
control signals that controls the hardware. Registers are small amounts of high
speed memory that are used to store small amounts of data needed during
processing, including results of calculations, current instruction and address of next
instruction to be executed.
Q1b) Hierarchical organization of abstraction model means that by breaking down the
computer system into hardware architecture, operating system and application
software, the abstraction model filters less important details in architecture and
focus attention on details with greater importance. This helps execute programs
quicker and have a clean and well-defined interface.
Q1c) Since both data and instruction are stored in the same place and accessed in the same
way, memory unit affects the performance and speed of the computer processing.
Also, the CPU will be idle for the time when memory is processed. Hence, separate
memory storage for instruction and data will allow both to be fetched in parallel,
increasing processing speed. Speculative execution can also be performed, where
the processor executes tasks likely to be needed first so information can be prepared
beforehand.
Q2 – (LT2: Logic Gates) [40%]
(a) Clearly state the name of the logic gate (e.g. XOR-gate) for the following truth table
with J and K as inputs, and O as the output.

J K O
0 0 1
1 0 1
0 1 1
1 1 0

(10%)

(b) Clearly draw the schematics to show how to implement an OR-gate with the logic
gate in a) only. [hint: you may either manually draw the schematics by hand, and
then use your mobile phone to take a picture (PNG/JPG); OR using any drawing
tool such as the one in MS Word for inclusion in the space beneath “Answers”]

(20%)
(c) Clearly specify the Boolean expression (e.g. Y = A + B + BC…) for the output y of
the following schematics (or logic-circuit) diagram.

(10%)
Answers:
Q2a) NAND gate
Q2b)

Q2c) 𝑌 = 𝐴𝐶 + 𝐵𝐶̅ + 𝐴̅𝐵𝐶

Q3 – (LT3: Modern CE Applications) [30%]

The Deep Blue was a famous chess-playing AI program run on an IBM supercomputer. It
was the first program to win the world champion (a human being) in 1997. For detail,
kindly refer to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Blue_(chess_computer)

Based on the above information, and also our discussion in LT-3,

(a) Clearly explain whether the chess games played by the “Deep Blue” program and
the world champion is a Turing test or not. If not, describe how the Turing test may
be extended to the domain of chess games.
(20%)

(b) In addition, clearly explain how the Turing test can be extended to the domain of
robotics. (10%)

Answers:
Q3a) Deep Blue program is a Turing test. Although the world champion already knew he
was playing a machine beforehand, hence does not fulfill the only rule of the Turing test,
he thought the machine playing was a human being, hence passing the Turing test of not
able to distinguish between human being and machine. This is because chess is a game that
has spatiotemporal characteristics and is played using logic, programmers are able to
implement programs and solutions to the game onto the machine like human beings, hence
able to think like humans.
Q3b) If a robot is able to execute tasks so that a human is unable to distinguish the robot
between human beings and machines, it passes the Turing test. This means that the
test provides a guideline for robotic engineers to create robots that is able to
demonstrate human intelligence, creating robots that acts like normal humans as
the desired result.

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