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Copter-propeller-project

With the emergence of the MATLAB/Simulink graphical programming environment, modeling and simulation of various plants and controllers can be accomplished quite easily by students who might not have extensive training in digital control and numerical methods. However, practical implementation of such controllers remains elusive for most undergraduate students. Therefore, the objective of this project is to develop a simple physical plant that can be used seamlessly with the MATLAB/Simulink simulation environment to allow students to implement and test real-time controllers using implemented in code. The project described here provides some practical experience for students, using an inexpensive and portable setup that can be taken home. The experiment is designed following the principles of variational theory of learning developed by Marton and coworkers [1], [2] and the approach of guided discovery/interactive-engagement labs characteristic of several well-known labs, such as the Modeling Workshop Project [3], Socratic Dialogue Inducing Labs [4], Real Time Physics [5], and Tools for Scientific Thinking [6]. The portability and low cost of the setup allows the students to conduct experiments over two semesters and use the device to complete a semester project. In addition to significantly reducing the cost of offering an experimental component, the experimental set up built by the students provides an opportunity to demonstrate concepts from system identification, digital control and nonlinear feedback control.

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