A CAI tool design for vehicle design course teaching

Computer aided instruction (CAI) technology has been proved that it can strongly support teaching in improving class quality, students´ studying efficiency and effectiveness. In terms of the requirement of general vehicle design course, this paper proposes a way to this kinds of course teaching by offering a practical teaching tool, which is based on supporting multi-engineering modeling and simulation. It is designed to supporting Modelica modeling, which in an object-oriented modeling language and is suitable for a dynamic system modeling and simulation. In the teaching tool implementation, it is realized by integrating MWorks modeling system, a modeling system based on Modelica developed by CAD Center of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CCHUST), China. The methods of teaching material preparation, teaching tool architecture design and implementation are discussed as well. The practice proves that the proposed method is feasible and can be extended to the other mechanical engineering courses teaching with the similar simulation requirement.