Inexpensive Experiments for Undergraduate Control System Laboratories

Given a standard set of instruments, it is possible to construct a variety of rewarding experiments for an undergraduate course in control systems. These experiments are inexpensive and simple to produce in moderate quantities. We use these systems to introduce concepts in system identification, system performance and controller design. Each system is built around a microcomputer and data acquisition and control unit that, with a student-written program, serve as the system´s controller. The systems that we have developed include the following: 1) a simulated home heating system, 2) an electrically heated rod, 3) a liquid level control system and 4) a simulated dual spin satellite. Each of these systems is suitable for a variety of short experiments or longer project-type studies. The hardware, educational objectives and typical assignments are discussed for each experiment and the laboratory in general.