Integration of the Data Acquisition and Control Software LabVIEW Throughout the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum at University of the Pacific

视觉强化和实践经验的增加促进了学习。此外，研究发现，在一些本科课程中重复使用软件包和使用最先进的商业软件有利于加强学习。鉴于这些原理，本课题在整个机械工程课程中集成使用数据采集与控制软件LabVIEW。LabVIEW是最复杂的数据采集和控制程序之一，在工业中被大量使用。在六个独立的课程中实施七个精心策划的实验，确保学生在每年的课程中都使用LabVIEW。实验从大一和大二的介绍性实验室开始。大三和大四的实验更复杂，包括控制和数据采集。此外，实验的软件和硬件可以提供给仪器、控制课程的最终项目，以及毕业设计项目。在其他几门课程中计划使用该项目的设备进行演示，并在k12学生的演示中进行演示，以提高他们对工程的兴趣。本课题需要LabVIEW软件、各种数据采集硬件和额外的计算机。七个实验中的每一个都强调了LabVIEW通过其图形编程环境和数据流可视化功能提供的可视化和动手能力。美国国家仪器公司（LabVIEW的生产商）已经承诺与该大学合作，在他们的行业期刊和他们网页的大学部分上发布这个项目的结果。＊

Increased visual reinforcement and hands-on experiences promote learning. In addition, it has been found that repetitive use of a software package in a number of undergraduate courses and use of state-of-the-art commercial software is beneficial for enhanced learning. In view of these principles, this project integrates the use of the data acquisition and control software LabVIEW throughout the mechanical engineering curriculum. LabVIEW is one of the most sophisticated data acquisition and control programs available and is heavily used in industry. Implementation of seven carefully planned experiments into six separate courses ensures that students are using LabVIEW during each year of the curriculum. The experiments begin with introductory laboratories in the freshman and sophomore years. Junior- and senior-year experiments are more complex and include control as well as data acquisition. Furthermore, the software and hardware for the experiments can be made available for final projects in courses in instrumentation, controls, and the capstone senior design project. Demonstrations that use the project's equipment are planned in several other courses as well as in presentations given to K 12 students to promote interest in engineering. For this project, LabVIEW software, various data acquisition hardware and additional computers are required. Each of the seven experiments stresses the visualization and hands-on capabilities made available by LabVIEW through its graphical programming environment and data flow visualization capabilities. National Instruments (producer of LabVIEW) has committed to work with the university to publish results of this project both in their trade journal and in the university portion of their Web pages. *