Unleashing Creativity and Innovation through Project-Based Learning Using NI LabVIEW and LabVIEW PDA Module

Author(s):
Pee Suat Hoon - Singapore Polytechnic

Industry:
University/Education

Products:
LabVIEW PDA Module, LabVIEW

The Challenge:
Promoting student creativity and innovation in engineering education.

The Solution:
Having students conceive, design, implement, and operate (CDIO) instrumentation and control systems using the National Instruments LabVIEW program and hardware for data acquisition, signal measurements, and wireless data communication.

Implementing Project-Based Learning
Traditional engineering education tends to focus on teaching students to solve and analyze clearly defined problems. As a result, many engineers end up as superb problem solvers but lack the disposition and necessary skills to formulate and uncover problems. Realizing this gap, we implemented a project-based learning (PBL) project in which students were required to look for problems to solve using thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition, we hoped to stimulate students to become more creative, innovative, and enterprising.

Two important factors determined the success of this PBL implementation: steps to effectively carry out the projects and the choice of hardware. After studying many papers and journals on how PBLs were implemented, we decided to adopt the CDIO steps. CDIO not only provides the structure for carrying out PBL, it also offers guidelines on workspace designs and assessment methods. The curriculum required this project to include sensor and control theories. As a result, we selected National Instruments products as the undisputed choice.

Key Steps : Conceive, Design, Implement, and Operate

Students worked through the CDIO steps as they progressed from problem identification to the development of solution.

• Conceive: The project commenced once students identified a challenging problem. Therefore, students started the project by generating many possibilities before zooming to the final problem. During this phase, students worked in groups of three and carried out numerous discussion sessions.  Many students also referred to Web pages and magazines for inspiration.
• Design: After developing the overall design, students identified the required sensors and actuators with some help from supervisors. Students used the NI Measurement and Automation Explorer to examine the characteristics of the required parts. Students then used this data in the NI LabVIEW program. At the same time, other group members also explored LabVIEW functions such as the wireless data communication that they would use in their program.
• Implement: During this stage, students carried out LabVIEW programming and hardware fabrication. Students also developed the LabVIEW program, generated executable files, and downloaded them into the PDA. This was an exciting stage as it was simply exhilarating when students saw their project working for the first time. However, was also frustrating when the projects failed to work.
• Operate: We fine-tuned the projects in terms of hardware performance and programs while students tried to operate them.

Students Develop Highly Creative and Innovative Projects over Short time

We divided the class of twenty students into six to seven groups. Many of the students enjoyed working with LabVIEW, as it was easy to use even for those who have no preknowledge of programming. Many students started their program development after a very short training. Also, LabVIEW comes with extensive documentation and a large number of preconfigured VIs that students can use. Thus, instead of spending time to learn the software, many students spent most of their time designing and developing their projects.

Students used the key features of LabVIEW, including the data acquisition and wireless data communication functions. Portability provided by the NI LabVIEW PDA Module was helpful especially when the system need to be carried around. All the students conceived, designed, implemented, and operated their prototypes in a short span of six weeks with the help of National Instruments enabling tools.

As of 2004, a total of sixty students from three cohorts had completed their PBL projects. They developed many interesting projects using the LabVIEW PDA Module and data acquisition.

A group of students designed a SMART window that opens and shuts on its own, triggered by rain and motion sensors when movement is detected within the household. Soon, drivers will not have to arch their backs and reach out precariously over the window ledge to clean that irritating grime off the glass panel because the same window has a motorised wiper that kicks into action on rainy days.

Using the NI LabVIEW Pocket PC Module, some other students built interesting devices that could help enhance lives, such as a carbon monoxide detection system that winds down car windows and sends SMS alerts to the drivers when they are in danger of inhaling too much toxic gas. In addition, the students designed sensors that can detect the movement of infants, which will activate a toy to entertain them while at the same time informing their parents using the wireless connection when the movement becomes too violent.

Also, supermarket shoppers may endure a totally new experience using a LabVIEW PDA-equipped shopping cart. Some students had designed a cart mounted with a PDA running the LabVIEW program connected to sensors at the front and back. Based on the status of the sensors, the motors will turn on and off to follow the shopper. Thus, shoppers may browse through the grocery shelves without having to push the cart around.

Educational Outcomes Using NI Products
Besides gaining knowledge in their core subjects, students were exposed to information and communication, thinking and problem solving, and interpersonal and self-directional skills. These skills are very critical as they help students to acquire new knowledge, connect new information to existing knowledge, develop habits of learning, and work with others. From the projects developed, it is clear that the objectives we set for students to be more creative, innovative, and enterprising have been fulfilled using NI products and CDIO.

For more information, contact:

Pee Suat Hoon

Senior Lecturer

Singapore Polytechnic

E-mail: peesh@sp.edu.sg

 

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