Proceedings of 2009 4th International Conference on Computer Science & Education

Computer simulation for undergraduate engineering

education
Zhou Huanyin, Liu Jinsheng, Wei yangjie Xia Hong, Qian Min
East China Institute of Technology, Jiangxi Province East China Institute of Technology
Shenyang Institute of Automation, Liaoning Province Fuzhou China
z_huanyin3@163.com Jinsheng22@sina.com

Abstract—Computer simulation has been popularly used in communication system simulation were given. This research
education for a few decades while its effects on engineering concludes that computer simulation is a powerful tool for
curriculum do not achieve so much success as on other simulation in teaching and experiment in communication
curriculum. In this paper, firstly, we explore some issues majoring; Similarly, the application of computer simulation in
associated with the use of computer simulation teaching methods Principle of Electric Circuit, Functional Experiment, Methods
in engineering undergraduate education. Then some reformed of Mathematical Physics, Optics, Automatic Control Theory
approaches on computer simulation design are given in detail, in and chemical engineering, can also be found in the
which apparatus are shown up by three-dimensional pictures, the corresponding references [11,5,8,9, 3].
processes of engineering projects are built up by KingACT
software; and algorithms are compared by MATLAB programs. Computer simulation, as a rising outcome of the computer
In these approaches there are two questions mostly being science, can increase the teaching efficiency as well as
considered: what the characteristics of engineering curricula are students’ ability of putting theories into practice remarkably
and how to increase the students’ interesting to curriculum. [7]. MATLAB is a high-performance language for technical
Micro-computer Control Technology, which is one of the computing. It integrates computation, visualization, and
automation engineering professional subjects, is experimented. programming in an easy-to-use environment where problems
The results show that these new proposed methods is feasible and and solutions are expressed in familiar mathematical notation
effective in real classes since they could increase both the learning [12]. KingACT is usually used by engineers in some plants
interest in specialized course and the performance in hands-on
since it embodies a great deal of simulated industrial apparatus
ability of undergraduate students after one term teaching
reformation.
and projects [4]. Moreover it can be understood easily because
of its visualized pictures and friendly user interface. Our
Index Terms—computer simulation, engineering curricula, teaching reforms take full advantage of these two kinds of
engineering undergraduate education, Micro-computer Control software to enhance both students’ study interest and teaching
Technology level. We initially analysis characteristics of engineering
curriculum, then four important items on building computer
I. INTRODUCTION simulation are discussed, and last we draw a conclusion
In some didactical surveys, we find that most students through a student’s survey to effectively test these methods.
dislike their specialized courses, because they are so boring that II. CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGINEERING CURRICULA
can not absorb their interest. Furthermore, as for some engineer
students, many electrical components are strange; great deals of Engineering curriculum are abstract objects to some
mathematic formulas are unintelligible; and some theories can undergraduates because they are closely associated with
not be understood. Considering these criticisms we draw some working, practice, a lot of apparatus and project systems which
conclusions on teaching and take some methods to help these are not been seen in our living while broadly applied by
students overcome these puzzles. Computer simulation is firstly industries. However, the teaching level decides the relationship
considered to absorb students’ interest because it can improve between theory and practice. For example: Micro-computer
the level of visualization. control technology is one of the most important compulsory
courses in the automation engineer major. This course is the
In recent years, computer simulation has been gradually combination of theories and projects associated with many
used in education. For example, In a recent study of the apparatus such as gears, valves, pipelines and etc. Nevertheless,
physical education [10], based on the characteristics and these elements can not be shown in classes because of limited
functions of computer simulation technology, the authors class time. At the same time, students can not visit plant
introduced the application of computer simulation to physical systems.
education (PE) teaching, analyzed a typical case, and discussed
about how to apply computer simulation technology to PE To take over these problems computer simulating is needed.
teaching. Moreover, engineering majoring is one of the most Computer simulation, whose applications are very different
extensive subjects that computer simulation is used to assist from PowerPoint, is one of useful tools in education. Computer
education. In 2007, simulation method of communication simulation not only can describe the processes of projects by
system was introduced [2], and several teaching examples of movies but also can show the differences of variable
algorithms. Moreover it can visually exhibit some apparatus

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 Proceedings of 2009 4th International Conference on Computer Science & Education

which can not be explained only by mouth. Even very highly to figure 2 while it predicts that the software spur students
complex systems, including advanced control mechanisms can interest to engineering knowledge.
also be simulated. Besides, plant simulation can produce a
friendly user interface, which makes it easy for students to
master quickly. Menn (1993) evaluated the impact of different
instructional media on student retention of subject matter [6]. It
was found that students remember only 10% of what they read;
20% of what they hear; 30%, if they see visuals related to what
they are hearing; 50%, if they watch someone do something
while explaining it; but almost 90%, if they do the job
themselves even if only as a simulation. In other words,
computer simulation that is properly designed and implemented
could revolutionize education.
III. COMPUTER SIMULATION METHODS
Figure 2: Chemical reaction control workshop
The following issues should be considered for simulation
users. Firstly, the three-dimensional pictures about a system
should be exhibited in class and their some applications in
plants should be explained in classes. Secondly, plant systems
should be built up based on realities and algorithms should be
compared according to their relationships. To absorb students’
attention, we construct a student -and-teacher cooperative
environment out of classes.
A. Simulation Three-dimensional Elements
Some cubic elements are laid out so that students can know
them by the Gnostics which can help people deeply understand
new things. For example, Figure 1 is some valves which were
showed in some classes and the teacher detailed their Figure 3: one constant temperature control system by
applications and generally use in plant. Students could master students
these elements and distinguished them from many valves in C. Comparing Algorithms by Computer Simulation
laboratory. Moreover, most students were interested their
As is well known that engineering curriculum provides
experiences by their learned apparatus.
students many algorithms and theoretical methods which need
mathematic background and complex graph analysis, and
troublesome mathematical operations sometimes make lectures
tedious and boring. Contrasted teaching can resolve these
problems. Some theories have strongly relation so they can be
better understood by compared simulation graphs than without
contrast. The following is some response lines simulated by
MATLAB. Let’s see a simple example of a two orders system
Figure1: Pneumatic valve； Electric Control Valve whose transfer function is as following. Its step responses with
zero-order holder and one-order holder are compared by figure
B. Constructing Plants Systems Based on KingACT 4 and figure 5 respectively. Different algorithms, such as PID
KingACT, which has a beautiful user interface for (proportion, integral, differential), PI and PD which are
representing production lines, is a good tool in education. This respectively described by red, greed and yellow lines in figure
software has been chiefly used in plants while it is little 6, are compared. Students can easily accept these different
considered to apply to education. Teachers and students can algorithms and distinguish their difference in a system. For
easily master the design process of KingACT program. example, we can conclude that integral controller can banish
Engineering curricula have some projects, such as constant error, differential controller can accelerate response speed, they
temperature control system, chemical reaction control system can cooperate with each other to eliminate error and quick
and etc, which can be designed by KingACT. One Micro- respond, and etc.
computer control technology class saw a chemical reaction
control workshop (Figure 2) which depicted a whole scenario
by living equipments and processes. When students saw the
vivid working process, they are so exciting that they want study
this software. Then as a teacher I am, I offered them some
information and suggested them design a constant temperature
control system. Figure 3 is one constant temperature control
system by some students. This project is some ugly compared

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 Proceedings of 2009 4th International Conference on Computer Science & Education

success in projects and excited to discuss about how to use

algorithms for relative projects. Figure 3 is one project which is
built up by some students using these two kinds of software at
the same time, its curves are achieved by fuzzy PID controller.
This environment can improve students’ capability of
integrating theories with practices. After classes, students were
usually laid out some small interesting projects in open lab.
IV. EVALUATION OF STUDENT LEARNING
These reformed methods on computer simulation were
evaluated via a survey designed to assess the students’ attitudes
by executing them on Microsoft Control Technology. 83
students take part in the survey after one semester. From the
survey, we found that 89% of the students could master
theories and the number proved by curriculum test; 90% of
students could acquaint the course apparatus and know their
applications by experiment test; 75% of students could
Figure 4: step response with zero-order holder understand project systems; 90% of students could design some
project systems with some other students and 71% of students
could complete one project by himself. The following three
terms are invested by tables. Figure 7 illustrates the percentage
response on the survey.

Figure 5: step response with one-order holder Figure 7: Percentage response on a survey scale
CONCLUSION
Computer simulation has been popularly used in education
as a way to motivate students in their learning and help teachers
to improve their teaching level. This paper has discussed four
teaching reforms for engineering undergraduate students. The
result shows that these methods can positively spur students’
study interest in engineering curriculum and develop students’
hands-on skills.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT (HEADING 5)
This paper is supported by Jiangxi province educational
fund whose code is JXJG-08-8-20 and East China Institute of
Technology’s school educational fund whose code is
DHJG0817.

Figure 6: different algorithms curves in one graph REFERENCES

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 Proceedings of 2009 4th International Conference on Computer Science & Education

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