From what I understand:

You need to implement both hardware & software. 

Simulate the hardware & build the controller to complement the hardware.

Your code will play both as Hardware(Simulator) as well as the control module handling the hardware.

Concentrate on the software. You need to research what the different functions the hardware is capable of so that you can specify the methods and function calls and attributes that the rest of the system would use to send commands to your unit.

for example you may need commands to open and close the sample input openings:

void CMIN_port_1_open(boolean setValue) { ... }

void CMIN_port_1_close(boolean setValue) { ... }

boolean CMIN_getStatus_port_1_cover() { ...  }

void CMIN_select_analysis_function(int chooseFunction) { ... }

You need to write an API of the specific commands the Rover Control Team will need to use to control your unit, to activate it and retrieve science data from it. You will then be writing a Class that can be instantiated (extends runnable). That object instance will have to respond to those function and method calls and return results that are similar to what the actual hardware would be producing.

Edit:

No hardware. They did not actually build a PIPboy, there was never an actual PortalGun, and we are not going to have real hardware modules. All of these exist as software simulations.

That sounds completely correct.

alright coool,

now got the point,

thanks richard,