Design and analysis of feedback controllers for a DC buck-boost converter

In Murdoch University, students majoring in Electrical Power Engineering have the opportunity to learn about the basics of power electronic systems. ENG349 Power Electronic Converters and Systems is a unit where students are exposed to a range of industrial electronics. The power pole board provided by the University of Minnesota is used for laboratory teaching on how DC converters operate [1, 2]. This thesis topic gives an opportunity for Electrical Power students to further expand their basic knowledge on power electronics. Additionally, Instrumentation and Control System Engineering students will have a better understanding of dynamic control systems, which are essential in designing and analysing feedback control on DC converters. Industrial computer systems students are able to design and implement external hardware to enhance power board components. Renewable Energy students will be interested in how DC converters are applied to renewable energy systems. This thesis provides project expansion for all types of electrical engineering majors taught at Murdoch University. The main focus of this thesis is to design and analyse different feedback controllers for the converter system. The literature review and steps into designing feedback controllers are adapted from Ned Mohan’s approach in designing feedback controllers for DC converters [3]. The results presented are based on the author’s knowledge learnt from Electrical Power and Instrumentation and Control Systems Engineering. Computer simulations from Pspice and MATLAB are used for testing the feedback responses of implementing different feedback compensators. The most difficult task in this thesis is to produce accurate results from the power pole board, especially with the peak current controller circuit. Although the simulated results are successful, it is hard to compare these to the experimental results due to the ways of how the power board components are connected. This thesis will further explain the process in exploring these feedback controllers

A Web-Based Distributed Virtual Educational Laboratory

Evolution and cost of measurement equipment, continuous training, and distance learning make it difficult to provide a complete set of updated workbenches to every student. For a preliminary familiarization and experimentation with instrumentation and measurement procedures, the use of virtual equipment is often considered more than sufficient from the didactic point of view, while the hands-on approach with real instrumentation and measurement systems still remains necessary to complete and refine the student's practical expertise. Creation and distribution of workbenches in networked computer laboratories therefore becomes attractive and convenient. This paper describes specification and design of a geographically distributed system based on commercially standard components

Electronics and control technology

Until recently, there was no requirement to learn electronics and control technology in the New Zealand school curriculum. Apart from isolated pockets of teaching based on the enthusiasm of individual teachers, there is very little direct learning of electronics in New Zealand primary or secondary schools. The learning of electronics is located in tertiary vocational training programmes. Thus, few school students learn about electronics and few school teachers have experience in teaching it. Lack of experience with electronics (other than using its products) has contributed to a commonly held view of electronics as out of the control and intellectual grasp of the average person; the domain of the engineer, programmer and enthusiast with his or her special aptitude. This need not be true, but teachers' and parents' lack of experience with electronics is in danger of denying young learners access to the mainstream of modern technology

SLR - Análisis del Aprendizaje Basado en Juegos Serios en las Prácticas de los Estudios de Ingeniería

Este trabajo se trata de un Análisis Sistemático de la Literatura del uso de los juegos serios en los estudios de ingeniería.15 página