Mechanical engineering lab courses using virtual instrument computer software

✍ Scribed by D. M. McStravick; J. L. Kelly

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 222 KB
• Volume: 10
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0895-7533
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2728(1998)10:2<83::aid-lra9>3.0.co;2-t

✦ Synopsis

Computer-based virtual instrument (VI)

software is used on six experiments in two upperlevel mechanical engineering laboratory courses at Rice University. The students interface with the experiment through VIs on a computer screen running under LabVIEW software. The software performs data acquisition, data storage, and graphic presentation, and in some cases, it controls system parameters. In one case, the experiment can even be run automatically. In almost all cases, the LabVIEW programs were developed as student projects, and in most cases, the experimental setups were done by the students, which provided them with very educational senior-design projects.

Using these computer-based systems provides accurate data acquisition, reduced time to complete the lab, more opportunity for student observation, and time for lecture and discussion of the basic principles involved. The students relate well to these VIrun labs, and these VI systems have proved a reliable, beneficial teaching aid for the mechanical engineering department.