Low Cost Simulation Lab for Teaching Control Theory Concepts

Physical lab experiments, provide concrete experience to students, are considered an integral part of engineering education.In April 2020, Canadian universities were under quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the need for social distancing and other uncertainties caused by the virus, instructors needed to convert their courses and labs in preparation for online delivery in September 2020.The author is responsible for a Control Theory course in Level 3 of an Engineering Technology Program at McMaster University. There are six face-to-face labs in this course. The conversion and implementation of one of these physical labs into a simulation lab for online delivery is the focus of this study. The drawbacks and benefits of using Excel simulations for teaching control theory concepts are also discussed.