A Discovery Based Systems Laboratory Using Lab View And Matlab

The development of a discovery based learning laboratory for Systems is described. Sophomore Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering students are introduced to concepts such as linearity, time invariance, frequency response, transient response, delay, and filtering by analyzing "black boxes" containing unknown electrical systems. LabVIEW is used to control programmable function generators which provide inputs to the systems and to gather output data from oscilloscopes. This testing environment can be automated to allow students to perform a wider range of tests than would be possible with manually controlled equipment. MATLAB is used to analyze the data and perform some simple system identification. Example systems given to students as "black boxes" range from simple filters to unusual non-linear and time-variant systems. A goal of this laboratory is to develop in students an intuitive and analytical understanding of the role that system properties play in design and characterization.