Programming-based laboratory assignments for undergraduate students of power engineering fields

Abstract

Studying only theoretical part of working principles of electrical devices, being used in automation, control and power engineering, is not enough for students to fully comprehend the topic. Moreover, in order to keep up with innovative technologies, computer systems and smart solutions, being installed in almost all the sectors of power industry, undergraduate students studying at power engineering fields should learn how to select appropriate electrical components according to their parameter, mount electrical circuits using those components and program microprocessors of automated systems. In this regards, the paper presents Arduino-based assignments, related to the elements of electrical and power engineering, which can be introduced to the laboratory sessions of courses such as automation and control. The proposed laboratory assignments are prepared in easy-to-hard order and they aim at learning the working principles of elements of automation, connecting those components to the microcontroller and programming the microprocessors considering the parameters of each element. In doing so, both pedagogical aspects of project-based teaching and computer-related demands of modern engineering job markets were taken into account.