Educational hardware for feedback systems

Abstract

This thesis explores a variety of educational feedback systems with an emphasis on developing them for in-class demonstrations and in-depth student projects. The nature of feedback systems means there is never a shortage of demonstrations or assignments that can truly capture the students' imagination and enthusiasm for class material. Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case that the feedback systems with the most potential for greatness are also unreliable, inaccurate, and inconsistent. This thesis attempts to narrow the gap by exploring, analyzing, and building a variety of exciting feedback systems. A comparison of general-purpose and high-performance operational amplifiers is created. Hardware for a web-based laboratory on canonical second-order systems is implemented. Cheap magnetic levitation kits for in-term projects are made even cheaper. And finally, the inverted pendulum - a decades-old Course VI heirloom and featured demonstration - is restored to its past glory.