Web-Assisted Experimentation: Enhancing Controls Education

本研究旨在改善本科控制工程教育。学生们经常在学习控制方面遇到困难，因为它通常是他们必须以复杂的方式使用复变量的性质和线性代数基础的第一门学科。为了将这些数学概念与物理系统的行为联系起来，实验或现实模拟是必不可少的。提议的“助手”不仅为学生提供学生可以控制的物理系统的动画，而且还提供实际实验室设备的在线指导和文档，从而使本科生水平的控制实验更容易。这些助手将使学生能够更快地应用所教授的控制系统设计和分析知识。一个电机速度控制实验室的这些助手的原型可以在WWW上看到http://www.me.cmu.edu/faculty1/messner/classes/24-246/labs/。这些教育辅助工具的主要创新是它们在WWW上的实现。它们是以前由Pls开发的非常成功的MATLAB控制教程的扩展。基于网络的助手将结合解释性文本，物理系统的动画逼真模拟，图形和实际实验设备的照片。助手将包含运行模拟和进行实验的程序的详细说明，并将集成有关理论和控制系统设计的附加信息，例如MATLAB控制教程。

The objective of this project is to improve undergraduate controls engineering education. Students frequently have difficulties in learning controls, because it is often the first subject in which they must use the properties of complex variables and the fundamentals of linear algebra in a sophisticated manner. To associate these mathematical concepts with the behavior of physical systems, experimentation or realistic simulations are essential. The proposed "assistants" will make experimentation in undergraduate-level controls easier by providing students not only with animations of physical systems which the student can control, but also with on-line instruction and documentation for actual laboratory equipment. The assistants will enable students to more quickly apply control system design and analysis knowledge presented to them. A prototype of these assistants for a motor speed control laboratory can be viewed on the WWW at http://www.me.cmu.edu/faculty1/messner/classes/24-246/labs/. The main innovation of these education aids is their implementation on the WWW. They are an extension of the highly successful Controls Tutorials for MATLAB developed previously by the Pls. The Web-based assistants will combine explanatory text, animated realistic simulations of physical systems, graphics and photographs of actual experimental apparatus. The assistants will contain detailed instructions on procedures for running simulations and conducting experiments, and will be integrated with additional information on theory and control system design, such as the Control Tutorials for MATLAB.