Davis, C. E., & Mai, A. (2014, June), Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT  Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana. 10.18260/1-2--23082

\bibitem{asee_peer_23082}
  Davis, C. E., \& Mai, A. (2014, June), \emph{Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT}
  Paper presented at 2014 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana.
  10.18260/1-2--23082

Chad Eric Davis P.E. and Anh Mai.  "Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT".  2014 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014, June.  ASEE Conferences, 2014.  https://peer.asee.org/23082 Internet.  23 Apr, 2024

\bibitem{asee_peer_23082}
  Chad Eric Davis P.E. and Anh Mai.
  "Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT".
  \emph{2014 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2014, June}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2014.
  https://peer.asee.org/23082 Internet.  23 Apr, 2024

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_23082
author = "Chad Eric Davis P.E. and Anh Mai"
title = "Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT"
booktitle = "2014 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition"
year = "2014"
month = "June"
address = "Indianapolis, Indiana"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/23082}
number = {10.18260/1-2--23082}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Synchronized Robots: A PID Control Project with the Lego Mindstorm                             NXTThe typical introduction to controls course is heavy in theory and light in practicalapplication. In order to have some hands-on element in the course, simulations are oftenused to apply the theory. However, simulations cannot replace a practical controlsapplication that involves improving an actual system’s performance. With simulations,learning is limited because students are usually provided an oversimplified model andonly asked to make slight modifications to provided or existing code. Simulation doesn’twork well for a system that has a model that is unknown or difficult to attain, which isusually what the students will face in industry. There are many reasons why it is difficultto create a control system for student projects. First, it is time consuming and expensiveto create and maintain them. Second, once you create a control system you have thedifficulty in managing the time for all students to work on it or you create numerousidentical control systems at a great expense. Another idea is requiring students to buildtheir own system. The problem with this approach is that so much time is dedicated tomechanical and electrical design that important control theory concepts are left out ordeemphasized. A solution to this problem is providing the students with a LegoMindstorm NXT kit, which allows them to quickly design their system so they can focuson the application of control theory. These kits are cheap and can be used for otherfunctions such as freshman orientation courses and outreach events when not being usedfor controls.In the Introductory Controls course at our university students were given a LegoMindstorm NXT kit and some brief training in LabVIEW. The students implementedPID control algorithms to produce synchronized robots that tracked each other’smovement. Implementing PID control in LabVIEW without any built in functions allowsstudents to discover how PID control works in a visual way. With this method, thelikelihood of retaining the knowledge would appear to be much greater than modifying abuilt in function while doing simulations. This paper will show how this projectincreased the student’s understanding of PID control. Pre-project and post-project examsare used to provide statistical evidence of learning. Student’s perceived value of theproject is also explored. Additionally, details of the project are provided so otheruniversities can replicate it.
AU  - Chad Eric Davis P.E.
AU  - Anh Mai
CY  - Indianapolis, Indiana
DA  - 2014/06/15
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Synchronized Robot: A PID Control Project with the LEGO Mindstorm NXT
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/23082
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--23082
ER  -