Learning and Understanding System Stability Using Illustrative Dynamic Texture Examples

System stability is a basic concept in courses on dynamic system analysis and control for undergraduate students with computer science backgrounds. Typically, this was taught using a simple simulation example of an inverted pendulum. Unfortunately, many difficult issues arise in the learning and understanding of the concepts of stability, instability, and marginal stability. Instead, the authors use an example from dynamic texture, a topic with which undergraduate students with computer science backgrounds are both familiar and comfortable. This example provides the opportunity for students with no access to mechanical or electronic equipment to learn system stability. In addition, the designed project also allows students to improve their knowledge in several fields, such as discrete-time dynamic system analysis, parameter identification of state-space models, and MATLAB programming. The assessment by students reveals that this project is interesting and useful for their studies.