A design-based digital controls laboratory course

The format, contents, and teaching strategy of an undergraduate laboratory course in digital control systems at Saginaw Valley State University is described. The innovative approach used in this course involves: a) utilization of a digital signal processor for implementing the designed digital controllers; b) consolidation of theoretical concepts taught in the lecture through implementation of controllers with real systems; and c) computer simulation techniques are used mainly to speed design work, yet their shortcomings are recognized through consistent comparison of simulation results with those obtained by actual measurements.<
>