Integrated engineering workstations in electrical engineering laboratories

The authors provide a description of integrated engineering workstations (IEWs) used in undergraduate electrical engineering laboratories. The IEWs are used for the design, analysis, and testing of engineering systems. Examples of laboratory experiments and software programs are presented. Two CAED (computer-aided engineering and design) software packages are described, BUCOP and BUDSP, which have enhanced the educational process at Bucknell on many different levels. The undergraduate developers of the packages have learned how to design and verify software systems. BUCOP and BUDSP have also stimulated the curiosity and creativity of students in the design of linear control systems and digital filters. Students now have a better understanding of realistic complex control and signal processing systems and are more aware of CAED capabilities.