Real time simulation: A novel approach in engineering education

Today, with the advent of computers and various easily accessible software packages, computer aided teaching tools have become an essential part of both classroom lectures and laboratory experiments in any kind of education curriculum. Real Time Simulation tools, as a part of Electrical Machine Drives laboratory experiments, enhance lab experience by providing students with the opportunity to judge the performance of Electrical Machines in real time situations. This interactive learning environment, consisting of simulations, demonstrations and exercises, can fulfill the role of a bridge from passive learning to active engagement and thus stimulate deeper thinking; grounding a problem based-learning environment. The applications are also very important for relating theory to practice, so that the students can develop engineering judgment and understand how process behavior can be captured using real time simulations. Due to advancement of the software tools like MATLAB/SEVIULINK with its Real Time Workshop(RTW) and Real Time Windows Target (RTWT), real time simulators are used extensively in many engineering fields, such as industry, education and research institutions. As a consequence, inclusion of the real time simulation applications in academic curriculum provides great learning value to the students. A case is made to present overview of the Real Time Simulations of Electrical Machines Drives possibility of including these techniques in modern engineering educational curriculum. This paper will review the various real time simulation techniques such as Real Time Laboratory (RT Lab), Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) and Hardware in the Loop (HIL), which can be used in a modern engineering education.