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Control system design is typically taught through control diagrams. These diagrams succinctly define all of the necessary information needed to identify and control a system, but it can be hard to gain an intuitive understanding of a control system through examination of the diagrams alone. Hands on experimentation, with laboratory components such as an inverted pendulum and servo table, can provide students with experience to complement knowledge gained through lectures and homework. Unfortunately, laboratory equipment is large and expensive, and universities more than ever must find ways to reduce capital expenditures.
David Bowden, MSMSE’19, under the direction of Dr. James A. Mynderse, developed a small, low-cost take home kit, which uses model-based design (MBD) throughout to create a hardware-in-loop (HIL) tester for an inverted pendulum. The kit gives students a tool to develop, simulate, and test a controller prior to connecting to the inverted pendulum in the classroom. Providing development kits to each student in the classroom can reduce allow fewer inverted pendulums to be shared among more students and improve student learning.
David published his work at the 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. He completed his thesis and graduated with an MS in Mechatronic Systems Engineering in Summer 2019.
Use Your Cell Phone as a Document Camera in Zoom
From Computer
Log in and start your Zoom session with participants
From Phone
To use your cell phone as a makeshift document camera
