Time delay estimation in signal processing applications: an overview

An extensive though scattered literature exists on the estimation of time delays in signal processing applications. However, it is possible to identify themes that are common to many of the available techniques. The intention of this paper is to provide a framework against which the literature may be viewed. In addition, original work on gradient based time delay estimation is described

Using student presentations for learning and assessment: some experiences

This contribution reports on, reflects on and evaluates the author’s experiences, over a number of academic years, of using formal student presentations as a means of learning and assessment in a taught postgraduate programme in engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology. Students were asked to prepare PowerPoint presentations on individual engineering topics; relevant references in books and technical papers were provided as assistance. Peer assessment of the presentations was employed, following a structured guideline agreed with the students. The contribution discusses the peer assessment experience in detail, including formal student feedback on the process. Some analysis work suggests that there is no significant difference in the peer-assessed grades recorded, compared to the grades recorded for the same assignment by the author

Experiences with virtual learning environments in control engineering education

The twin pressures of the need for students to learn a wider variety of concepts, ideally in a self-learning mode, and the reduction in class contact time has led to the use of increased levels of information technology in control engineering education. This paper reports on, reflects on, and evaluates the author’s use of virtual laboratories (computer based laboratories available on the internet) in control engineering modules at DIT Kevin St. The use of the virtual laboratories helps in the ongoing evolution of the teaching approach from a traditional didactic lecture and laboratory course to a more learner-centred approach. The author’s experience is that student motivation, student self-learning and the enhancement of theoretical understanding and practical ability is significantly increased with the appropriate use of these laboratories, at both undergraduate and postgraduate level

Reaction Time Measurement application: Road Safety

Poster displaying details of Reaction time measurement application in road safety.https://arrow.tudublin.ie/civpostbk/1047/thumbnail.jp

Using Virtual Laboratories in Control Engineering Education

The twin pressures of the need for students to learn a wider variety of concepts, ideally in a self-learning mode, and the reduction in class contact time has led to the use of increased levels of information technology in control engineering education. This paper reports on, reflects on, and evaluates the author’s use of virtual laboratories (computer based laboratories available on the internet) in control engineering modules at DIT Kevin St. The use of the virtual laboratories helps in the ongoing evolution of the teaching approach from a traditional didactic lecture and laboratory course to a more learner-centred approach. The author’s experience is that student motivation, student self-learning and the enhancement of theoretical understanding and practical ability are significantly increased with the appropriate use of these laboratories, at both undergraduate and postgraduate leve

The Conceptual Understanding Of Basic Electricity Concepts By Junior Engineering Students: An Update

The paper reports, analyses and reflects on the results of a multiple-choice diagnostic test to assess student understanding of basic electricity concepts (developed for U.S. high school and college students [1]) taken by nine cohorts of first year engineering students (n=1286) at the authors university, from 2014 to date. The diagnostic test was taken prior to instruction by all student cohorts, and post-instruction by some student cohorts. This paper updates a previous contribution by the author which described the application of the test to seven cohorts of junior engineering students (n=203) from 2008 to 2013. The manner in which this work has influenced instructional methods is outlined

Synthesising life-sciences and control engineering: an outline survey and a practical example

There is an increasing interest in life science related areas in the electrical and control engineering community [1]. One manifestation of this interest is the development of interdisciplinary programmes, such as the B.Sc. in Medical Physics and Bioengineering, offered by the Dublin Institute of Technology from September 2005. A significant amount of research work in control engineering has focused on aspects of human physiological system, for example blood glucose regulation [2], cardiovascular modelling and control [3], and limb control [4]. There is an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary research; in recognition of this, the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) has starting publishing, from June 2004, a new journal entitled IEE Proceedings on Systems Biology [5], which aims to study intra- and inter-cellular dynamics, using systems and signals oriented approaches. The contribution provides an outline survey, of the synergistic work between life sciences and control engineering, which has been performed. In addition, the author details the specific example of control engineering concepts applied to the human eye

Experiences of Assessment Using Multiple Choice Questions On Advanced Modules Taken By Level 8 and Level 9 Engineering Students

This contribution evaluates the use of multiple-choice questions, in both formative and summative assessment modes, on advanced modules taken by Level 8 and Level 9 engineering students, over the past two academic years. Assessment data, and student experiences with the assessment methods, are reported and analysed

Experiences of Teaching, Learning and Assessment of Student Research Skills on a Level 9 Taught Programme in Engineering

This contribution reports on the teaching, learning and assessment of a Research Methods module on a Level 9 taught programme in engineering at DIT. The module was run in the 2008-9 and 2009-10 academic years. The module is a generic one, whose aim is to facilitate students in developing a comprehensive proposal for their engineering research project. A team approach was taken to module instruction. Students were assessed (at different stages during the module) by evaluation of a written research proposal planner document, a reflective PowerPoint presentation and a final written research project proposal. The contribution reflects on the module experience, including the lessons learned and the proposed further development of the module

Performance and robustness issues in the compensation of FOLPD processes with PI and PID controllers

This paper will discuss the compensation of first order lag plus time delay (FOLPD) processes using PI and PID controllers whose parameters are specified using appropriate tuning rules. The gain margin, phase margin and maximum sensitivity of the compensated system as the ratio of time delay to time constant of the process varies, are used as ways of judging the performance and robustness of the system