Hands-on Haptics: Critical Infrastructure for Mechanical Engineering Curriculum Enhancement

工程机械 (56) 该适应和实施项目正在通过在机械工程建模动态系统课程中调整触觉板（一种允许用户通过触觉与虚拟环境进行交互的设备）的使用来提高实验室练习的有效性。该项目正在使用斯坦福大学开发的成功的触觉桨实验室系列，目前在约翰霍普金斯大学的本科课程中使用。该项目是：（1）提高课程和实验内容的衔接性，加深学生对系统动力学概念的概念理解； (2) 证明触觉虚拟学习提高了学生将概念知识应用于现实系统的能力，(3) 以经济有效的方式提高对关键系统动力学主题的理解。学生正在研究如何将触觉桨用作具有已知参数的真实机电系统，以及如何使用触觉桨作为工具，通过 LabView、Matlab 模拟和系统接口与虚拟机械系统进行交互。该项目展示了如何将这些材料应用于大多数本科机械工程课程中的必修课程。 与同事（包括为大量西班牙裔学生提供服务的休斯顿大学邻近机构的教员）的合作，正在展示该实验室系列在向代表性不足的学生班级教授系统建模和系统动力学概念方面的有效性。传播计划包括介绍一种方法，演示如何适应和改进触觉桨实验室系列。 这些多感官实验室与课程概念密切相关。对学生学习的评估以及对休斯顿大学和莱斯大学未来学生的外展活动的有效性贯穿于整个项目。

Engineering-Mechanical (56) This Adaptation and Implementation project is improving the effectiveness of laboratory exercises by adapting the use of a haptic paddle (a device that allows users to interact via a sense of touch with virtual environments) in a mechanical engineering modeling dynamic systems course. The project is using the successful Haptic Paddle Laboratory series developed at Stanford University and currently used in undergraduate courses at John Hopkins University. This project is: (1) Improving cohesiveness of course and lab content to deepen student conceptual understanding of system dynamics concepts; (2) Demonstrating that haptic virtual learning increases student's ability to apply conceptual knowledge to real-world systems, and (3) Improving understanding of critical system dynamics topics in a cost-effective way.Students are investigating how the haptic paddle can serve as a real electromechanical system with known parameters and how to use the haptic paddle as a tool to interact with virtual mechanical systems using LabView, Matlab simulations, and system interfacing. The project is demonstrating how the materials can be applied to a required course that is present in most undergraduate mechanical engineering curricula. Collaboration with colleagues, including faculty at a neighboring institution at the University of Houston that serves a substantial number of Hispanic students, is demonstrating the effectiveness of the lab series in teaching system modeling and system dynamics concepts to underrepresented classes of students. The dissemination plan includes presentation of a method that demonstrates how to adapt and improve the Haptic Paddle Laboratory series. These multi-sensory labs are closely tied to course concepts. Assessment of student learning, and the effectiveness of the outreach activities to the University of Houston and prospective Rice students are embedded throughout the project.