Capstone term project for control systems curriculum

In teaching an undergraduate controls course, several concepts are introduced. Students often perceive these materials as unrelated, thus of little application. There is a need to unify these concepts into larger problems. Examples could be presented in class, however, this would create a passive roll for the student. To encompass a larger number of concepts and involve the students, the capstone term project was incorporated into the course. It requires a large amount of design effort, appropriate use of class concepts and the use of a simulation language. This satisfies ABET design requirements and adds to students credentials by requiring a simulator such as MATLAB to successfully complete the project. Sophistication of the project encourages collaboration and team effort among the students, serious design consultation with the instructor, and other elements of a working engineering environment. Project reports for credit are individual submissions