Undergraduate Experiments in Data Handling and Linear Systems

The purpose of this paper is to present two related undergraduate laboratory projects which involve basic data-handling procedures (e.g., sampling, quantization, etc.) in an elementary, though nontrivial fashion. These procedures are used in the course of lab studies in linear system identification and correlation detection. The portions of the experiments which require techniques usually reserved for large-scale data-handling have been designed so as to require relatively small amounts of data. As a result it is possible for the student to do some calculation by hand before going to the digital computer, thus greatly aiding the learning process. The experiments also provide a realistic frame of reference for reinforcement of such classroom topics as convolution, frequency response, impulse response, auto-and crosscorrelation, and others.