Use of Spreadsheets in Control Engineering Education

Abstract

Spreadsheets constitute a powerful modeling tool and an easy computer programming language. Spreadsheets, ubiquity, their low cost, their flexible programmable environment, as well as their plotting capabilities, make them attractive as an educational tool. Their capability is illustrated bellow through several examples ranging from classical control theory to more advanced topics such as optimal control or state-observer. Some of these examples are developed as classroom activities, whereas others are designed as interactive learning modules for illustrating specific control topics. Our approach focuses exclusively on the standar use of spreadsheets; that is, no macros no macro languaje support are used. Pedagogical issues related to the use of spreadsheets in the classroom are also discussed.