Tinker, Learn, and Do Engineering With NI myDAQ

by Professor Barry Parton | Dalhousie University

These hands-on experiments cover a wide range of topics including analog and digital circuits, sensors and signal processing. The experiments are designed from a full-system perspective, integrating software and hardware solutions for a complete learning experience . Students will find these project-based labs not only entertaining in style but also comprehensive in content. The experiments highlight the many useful features of myDAQ while developing the students problem solving abilities. Once students have tried these experiments, they may find themselves tinkering and creating their own unique electrical systems.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will reinforce their understanding of analog and digital systems.
Students will develop confidence in their analytical skills when working on projects with mulitple systems.
Students will improve data acquistion skills by using many different sensors throughout the lab.

COURSE ALIGNMENT

Level	University
Topic	Electronics and Measurements
Style	Project-based learning
Prerequisite Skills	Introductory circuits and electronics

Included Course Labs

DC MEASUREMENTS (R,V,I)

Resistors are the most common component found in all electrical and electronic circuits. This lab demonstrates how to use myDAQ to measure resistance R, current I, and voltage V.

AC MEASUREMENTS - CAPACITORS AND INDUCTORS

The second most common component after resistors in electronic circuits is the capacitor. This lab explores the magnitude, frequency, and phase of capacitors and demonstrates how to visualize and measure these parameters.

TOUCHLESS ELECTRONIC LOCK

There are many kinds of electronic locks using keypads, finger prints, retina scans, or voice recognition, but the lab will create one using hand motions. Using an IR distance sensor, students will measure the distance from the sensor to a hand.

PHOTOGATE FUN

Surging through the heart of microprocessors are digital pulses, single pulses, bursts of pulses, and wave trains of pulses. This lab uses myDAQ to measure pulse counts, count/second, or the pulse length. An infrared photogate will be built and used to measure the speed and acceleration of a small toy race car hurtling down a track.

DIGITAL IO - BITS, NYBBLES, AND BYTES

We live in a digital world where music, pictures, and control algorithms are all stored as digital bits. This lab shows how to use myDAQ to communicate with inputs and outputs. Students will begin with simple IO tasks and then lead up to successive approximation technique, a common algorithm used in most ADC chips.

SIMON SAYS - 16 PUSH BUTTON MATRIX KEYBOARD

This lab shows how to use the myDAQ 8-bit port to read 16 switches arranged in a 4 x 4 matrix. A LabVIEW program converts the switch pressed into a byte containing the row and column address. This byte is then converted into a 4-bit binary encoded nybble, which in turn is converted into a single ‘LED’ indicator in the same position as the switch. Thus students are able to create the classic game of Simon Says.

LET'S MAKE A LITTLE NOISE

This Lab uses the analog output of myDAQ to generate an audio signal from a LabVIEW keyboard of one or two octaves. In the following exercise, students will build an external audio amplifier to drive an 8 ohm speaker. Then students inspect Fourier transform to analyze the relationship between discontinuities in a waveform and the quality of music.

BEER BOTTLE SYMPHONY

In college, a group of students and professors get together to build a beer bottle symphony. Beer bottles of various sizes and shapes are used to generate the notes of a scale. This lab uses myDAQ with a microphone to tune a bottle partially filled with water to a specific note. Using LabVIEW and an amplification circuit students, will explore and manipulate sound signals.

KARAOKE CIRCUITS

This lab uses myDAQ and components to build a karaoke circuit. Students will remove the vocals from their favorite songs first using op amps and then using LabVIEW. This lab highlights the power of software defined systems compared to analog circuit methods.

OPTICAL THEREMIN

The Theremin was the first electronic musical instrument. It had two antennae which were part of resonant RLC oscillators. Students will use myDAQ and two optical sensors to build an Optical Theremin with its own unique sound.

Requirements

myDAQ

Combines a comprehensive set of plug-and-play computer-based lab instruments with portability for hands-on student learning in or outside the lab. Learn more

LabVIEW

LabVIEW is systems engineering software for applications that require test, measurement, and control with rapid access to hardware and data insights. Learn more

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

Required Software

Download Academic Software, Learn About Software Licensing

LabVIEW (Requires license)
NI ELVISmx
NI DAQmx

Required Hardware

Purchase Engineering Education Products

myDAQ View Specifications