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Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…
On embedding NI Software/Hardware into taught curriculum: NI-Days, Beirut, Friday 6th May2016
Agenda…
1. The background and requirementshow I “found” NI and what we used it for…
2. The projects and the dilemma!from MSc to MEng…
3. The solutiontraining through use-by-exposure…
4. The specific projectswhat we get them to do…
5. Conclusionsthe what next…
Steve WattsDeputy Head, Electrical & Electronic Engineering Discipline,School of Engineering, Cardiff University,Queens Buildings, Newport RoadCardiff, CF24 3AA
mailto::[email protected]: +44 29 2087 5914F: +44 29 2087 4716
NB: None of this presentation is in any particular chronological order…it’s a story!
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…1.0 The background…
• Have been using NI software and hardware for 10+ years.
• Found NI tools, with a purpose in 2007, following a few years of an industry student stipend paid MSc in Data & Information Fusion (EADS, DSTL, BT, General Dynamics)…
• There was a need to acquire (multiple) camera data and on-board process the data for various applications…eg. project titles:
• Feature Level Fusion of Ariel Imagery for the Detection of Landmines• Detection of Vehicle Exhaust Plumes using Visible and Infrared Wavelengths• A Review of Methodologies for Classification of any Target in any Situation• …
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…1.1 The requirements…
• Process digital image data through algorithms for edge/feature detection, etc…require fast data capture, routing and decision making…
Choice was either ASIC or FPGA…
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…1.2 The operation…
• Used MatLab with Altera FPGA… • Algorithms were implemented in MatLabcode –> so *.m files.
• What was needed was a software flow that these *.m files could be “dragged & dropped”.
• Solution was to embed the *.m files into
LabView……use the hardware-in-the-loop capabilities of NI software and hardware to:1. Capture the physical signal data (bespoke/high-end cameras)2. Transport the data to the processor (NI hardware)3. Process it – run the algorithms (PC running LabView)4. Make the right decision at the right time and present it to the right people so the right action could
be implemented…
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…2.0 The MSc is “dead” – long-live the MEng (group project)…
• The (stipend paid) MSc ran out of funding in 2007/08! Had purchased by then much National Instruments RF-Wireless and Digital Pattern Generator products!
Digital Pattern Generators/Analyser (PCI-6542) and 2.4GHz RF-wireless products
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…2.1 The MEng UAV group projects…
• Has run 2009 through end of 2016. Other duties now removes me from this module ( )…made such things as:
1. Autonomous electric car2. Computer aided racing car (Formula Student)3. Formula 1 gearbox health-monitoring and testing rig4. Electric dynamometer5. Submersible vehicle (submarine)6. Carbon chassis autonomous aeroplanes7. Hexa-copter8. Hovercraft…
…and, having done all this by 2015 then…in 2015/16 there was only once place left to go
Earth Orbit Space(of course!)
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…2.2 The dilemma…
Things look all well and good – but, here’s the dilemma and it’s a biggy for sure!!!!
• The Final Year MEng students had little or no experience on using NI platforms and tools (from the outset)!!!!!
What to do?• Train students in earlier years on NI platforms, tools, software
and hardware…
How? What are the choices?1. Full-time NI training (@ Newbury or on-site @ Cardiff)2. Labview Academy @ Cardiff (as per Leeds University model)3. Use-by-exposure @ Cardiff whilst developing an NI culture…
In reality method #1 can never be achieved by taught students…they are after all reading a full-time degree in…
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…3.0 The solution (as per slide 2.2, method #2 – Labview Academy )…
Use the Use-by-Exposure method of training our taught students on NI platforms and tools…
For a number of years we tried to emulate theLeeds University LabView Academy model –with varying success – it’s a means to an endthough as it has developed the culture of usingNI…ironically now this a thriving success beingwell over-subscribed. NI student interns run NIworkshops in-house during the academic year –you might recognise one of these students,currently in the scientific news…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S60M0eb3WQ
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…3.1 The solution (as per slide 2.2, method #3 – Use-by-exposure)…
We needed a strategy to embed NI platforms & tools into the early years of our undergrad
curriculum:
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3(BEng)
Year 4(MEng)
Method #2: UG students (NI interns) run LabView Academy sessions…
Method #3: UG students have NI use-by-exposure sessions…
myDAQ(Virtualbench?)
myDAQ(Virtualbench?)
myRIO
myDAQmyRIO
ELVIS+topboards
USRP
myDAQsbRIOmyRIO
USRP-RIO
…this has taken a number of years to achieve! It wasn't easy!
( Always using NI LabView software )
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.0 The specific projects…year 1 (1/4)
myDAQ(Virtualbench?)
Year 1
Use myDAQ within experiments related to taught curriculum modules…
Lab. Number Lab. Title
7 Transistor Characteristics
8 Transistor Applications
Lab. Number Lab. Title
1 Basic Measurement – bench equipment
2 National Instruments – LabView
3 Simulation of DC/AC Circuits
4 EA1 – OpAmp: Filtered Amplifier
5 EA2 – OpAmp: Summing Amplifier
6 EA3 – Diodes: DCIV measurements
First semester… Second semester…
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.1 Year 1 outputs (2015/16)…year 1 (2/4)
VDC
VVD
+
-
100
AI
+
-
7. AUTOMATED TEST EQUIPMENT
7.1 REQUIREMENTS
In the real world nobody tests all components made on a production run, a sample/batch
testing approach is taken, 10% is a usual figure. If a production run produces 106
components then 10% is 104 components – clearly an Automated Test Equipment (ATE)
approach is required (and maybe a 1% batch test figure also!).
7.2.1 COURSEWORK
Your task for this assessment is to construct an ATE facility for a small signal silicon
diode (1N4108 in this instance), built around the National Instruments (NI) LabView
software and the NI myDAQ device. The reason for using a small signal diode here is
the current source capability of the NI myDAQ, being in the order of 10-3
amps. A
current limiting resistor is still required, and the test circuit is still as shown in Figure 2.
7.2.2 ASSESSMENT
The marks available for this exercise are given to: a good logical Block Diagram, acting
out an appropriate test algorithm; a controllable Front Panel showing clearly the test
result, with labelled axis, units and numbers; and, a minimum and tidy wired physical
circuit under test (the diode).
Figure 2 Diode Characterisation Circuit
1. Diode DCIV Characterisation 2. DAC (Summing OpAmp)
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.2 Year 1 outputs (2015/16)…year 1 (3/4)
Cardiff School of Engineering Electrical & Electronic Discipline
Transistor DC-IV Characteristics 1. EXPERIMENT AIMS
1. To experimentally investigate the DC-IV characteristics of a Bipolar Junction
Transistor (BJT).
Figure 3. BJT DC-IV measurement circuit.
6.2 COURSEWORK
Your task for this assessment is to construct an ATE facility for a small signal silicon
transistor (the BC107 BJT in this instance), built around the National Instruments (NI)
LabView software and the NI myDAQ device. The reason for using a small signal
transistor here is the current source capability of the NI myDAQ, being in the order 10-3
amps. A current resistor (Fig.3 resistor, R) is still required, and the test circuit is still as
shown in Figure 3.
Your task is to automate the transistor DCIV characteristics measurement system, for the
BC107 transistor and using the NI myDAQ/LabView tools.
Figure 4. NI myDAQ edge connector screw terminals
(http://www.ni.com/white-paper/11213/en/)
The task is then as depicted pictorially in Fig.5.
Figure 5. System setup for the ATE measurements
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.3 Year 1 outputs (2015/16)…year 1 (4/4)
Figure 4. NI myDAQ edge connector screw terminals
(http://www.ni.com/white-paper/11213/en/)
The task is then as depicted pictorially in Fig.5.
Figure 5. System setup for the ATE measurements
Assessment is via a video of 120 sec. and a technical brief document[Video URL = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyj8GWLy3rI&feature=youtu.be]
From: Daniel Mitchell Sent: 10 March 2016 19:59 To: Stephen Watts Subject: EN1072 video Hi Steve just a quick one, For the video we have to make for the EN1072 lab assignment, is it okay if the video is longer than 60 seconds? Ours is currently looking like it might be around two minutes. And if you’d like you can watch our current video here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyj8GWLy3rI&feature=youtu.be Thanks, Dan Mitchell (1st year EEE)
It DoesWork!!!
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.4 The specific projects…year 2 (2016/2017)
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.5 The specific projects…year 3
Use equipment within experiments related to taught curriculum modules…and of course BEng Projects.
Year 3(BEng)
myDAQmyRIO
ELVIS+topboards
USRP
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…4.6 The specific projects…year 4
Year 4(MEng)
myDAQsbRIOmyRIO
USRP-RIO
We have the UAV 30 credit design module…we also have a 30 credit EEE Research module…this being a medical application of the USRP-RIO…we’re making a VNA!
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…5.0 Conclusions…
Agenda…
5. Conclusionsthe what next…
• Year 1 is the “virgin” new method of our Use-by-Exposure, in this the 2015/2016 academic year – looking to build on good progress made by students so far…
• Year 2 is a blank sheet of paper…we need to develop the “new look” year 2 structure then work on the content!
• Year 3 is again a “virgin” new method of our Use-by-Exposure, in this the 2015/2016 academic year – looking to expand upon good progress made by students so far, specifically on projects and laboratory taught content…
• Year 4 is fit for purpose – we just need to wait a year or two for the earlier years students to filter up through the system, with of course their experience and skills gained following their progress within the Use-by-Exposure strategy in earlier years…wish me luck on this one!
Learning Through Use-by-Exposure…Thank you for your attention…
I hope you have enjoyed the presentation!
Please…
Any Questions?
