A Hands-On Approach in Teaching Dynamic Systems Modeling and Control

Most engineering products nowadays are multi-part integrated systems that are produced by teams of engineers. These systems are characterized by their complexity and diversity of components that range between being fully mechanical to being fully electrical components. A vital aspect in successfully building and running of these systems is the proper modeling and control of their dynamics. As mechanical engineering students graduate and face this reality, a hands-on preparation to deal with similar systems during college experience becomes very rewarding. The important elements of applying knowledge in dynamic systems modeling and control are practiced during the laboratory session in college. At the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) School of Engineering (SOE) the integration of electrical, mechanical and software systems is instructed and practiced in a required course (EGR 345) entitled "Dynamic systems Modeling and Control." This course includes a theoretical part where principles of system dynamics, system components, and system control are emphasized. The course capitalizes on students' previous knowledge of the simple isolated systems and modifies their strategies and approach to look and treat engineering systems as complete integrated entities. In addition, the course includes a significant lab component and a major project through which the student gains vital hands-on experience. In this paper, the philosophy and major components of the course are discussed. The focus is on presenting a sequence of lab experiments that serve the application of principles of dynamic systems modeling and control, as well as the final project. These experiments are characterized by its comprehensiveness and cost effectiveness. Moreover, an innovative method of making the lab equipment available to the students, and mostly owned by them, will also be summarized. As this approach minimizes the financial burden of the lab equipment, it also gives the students an element of ownership and comfort dealing with equipment they own and use. As a matter of fact, it ultimately leads to the utilization of these pieces of equipment in an innovative way to produce an engineering electromechanical system that will perform the tasks required by their final project description. A discussion on the pros and cons in the outcomes of this approach and some modification plans for the next course offering will be provided at the end of the paper.