Mechanical engineering lab courses using virtual instrument computer software

Abstract

Computer-based virtual instrument (VI) software is used on six experiments in two upper-level 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 VI-run labs, and these VI systems have proved a reliable, beneficial teaching aid for the mechanical engineering department. © 1998 National Instruments. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Lab Robotics and Automation 10: 83–87, 1998