Using Virtual Experiments in Teaching Control Theory

A common criticism for theoretical and mathematically intense courses, including control theory, is that many of the concepts taught are abstract with limited practical relevance. An effective way to address this criticism is to increase the hands-on and experiential learning component, including laboratory activities. The paper proposes the use of virtual laboratories as a method for increasing student engagement and experiential learning in control theory courses. The experiments are designed to mimic as close as possible the behavior of different real dynamical systems such as a car suspension. This can be achieved using LabVIEW software and the 3D virtual reality tools.