Tradeoffs implementing digital control systems for electrical engineering course projects

This paper discusses the tradeoffs of using two different approaches for designing and implementing digital control systems for electrical engineering course projects. The usage of an off-the-shelf microcontroller unit (MCU) is explored and contrasted to the more traditional approach based on personal computers (PCs), data acquisition cards (DaqCs), and programs like RTW, LabView, and Matlab/Simulink. We discuss how an MCU-based approach was developed and tested in the design and implementation of a two-loop digital feedback control system for a Ball-and-Beam mechanical system. Results show that by using an MCU it is possible to achieve a performance comparable to that of using PC´s and data acquisition cards with the added advantage of exposing students to an experience closer to the actual way most digital control systems are implemented in practice.