@proceedings {06169823803, title = {Virtual lab for system identification of an electromechanical system}, volume = {74 DSC}, number = {1 PART A}, year = {2005}, note = {

Virtual instrument (vi);Identification laboratory;Virtual Lab (VL);

}, pages = {705 - 712}, address = {Orlando, FL, United States}, abstract = {

A stand-alone virtual instrument (vi) has been developed to augment an experimental system identification laboratory exercise in a required mechanical engineering course on system dynamics. The Virtual Lab (VL) was used productively as a post-lab exercise in conjunction with an existing laboratory experiment for system identification. The VL can be formatted as a standalone file, which the students can download and access at their convenience, without the need for LabVIEW software. The virtual lab presented in this paper used the experimental identification of a transfer function for an xy recorder developed at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. In the original Rose-Hulman experiment, students view a video of the acquisition of frequency response data for an X-Y recorder. Then, students complete a detailed optimization procedure using Microsoft Excel in order to determine system parameters for two transfer function models. This paper describes using the Virtual Lab to extend the original lab exercise into an interactive mode. The students complete the Microsoft Excel part of the exercise, but then repeat the optimization using brute force via the LabVIEW based VL developed by the authors, rather than using the optimization toolbox in Excel. With the VL, students can see in real-time the effects of each unknown parameter on the frequency response plot, thus providing additional insight into the relationships between these parameters and the behavior of the electromechanical system. This feature is notably absent in the Microsoft Excel portion of the exercise. Although this exercise uses simple dynamic models, the combination of Excel and LabVIEW approaches provide an insightful introduction to experimental system identification. In this paper, details of the VL are presented, including the functionality of the VL and methodologies for disseminating the VL as a stand-alone piece of software. Finally some assessment results for the original (Excel version) and VL methods of presenting the laboratory exercise are discussed. Copyright {\textcopyright} 2005 by ASME.

}, keywords = {Computer software, Data acquisition, Mathematical models, Mechanical engineering, Real time systems, Students}, attachments = {https://mahilab.rice.edu/sites/default/files/publications/omalley2005asme.pdf}, author = {O{\textquoteright}Malley, M.K. and David M. McStravick} } @proceedings {04278244649, title = {Comparison of human haptic size discrimination performance in simulated environments with varying levels of force and stiffness}, year = {2004}, note = {

Size discrimination experiments;Machine quality;Haptic devices;

}, pages = {169 - 175}, address = {Chicago, IL, United States}, abstract = {

The performance levels of human subjects in size discrimination experiments in virtual environments with varying levels of stiffness and force saturation are presented. The virtual environments are displayed with a Phantom desktop three degree-of-freedom haptic interface. Performance was measured at below maximum machine performance levels for two machine parameters: maximum endpoint force and maximum virtual surface stiffness. The tabulated scores for the size discrimination in the sub-optimal virtual environments, except for those of the lowest stiffness, 100 N/m, were found to be comparable to that in the highest-quality virtual environment. This supports previous claims that haptic interface hardware may be able to convey, for this perceptual task, sufficient perceptual information to the user with relatively low levels of machine quality in terms of these parameters, as long as certain minimum levels, 1.0 N force and 220 N/m stiffness, are met.

}, keywords = {Computer simulation, Computer software, Degrees of freedom (mechanics), Feedback, Haptic interfaces, Human engineering, Stiffness}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/HAPTIC.2004.1287193}, attachments = {https://mahilab.rice.edu/sites/default/files/publications/upperman2004haptics.pdf}, author = {Gina Upperman and Suzuki, Atsushi and O{\textquoteright}Malley, M.K.} } @proceedings {01416683554, title = {Force saturation, system bandwidth, information transfer, and surface quality in haptic interfaces}, volume = {2}, year = {2001}, note = {

Information transfer;

}, pages = {1382 - 1387}, address = {Seoul}, abstract = {

This paper presents a two-part study of the effects of maximum endpoint force and system bandwidth on haptic perception. First, size identification experiments were performed to determine the effects of system quality, in terms of these two system parameters, on the ability of a human to identify square cross-section ridges by size in a simulated environment. Then, discrimination experiments were performed to determine relationships between haptic interface machine parameters and simulation quality in terms of perceived surface hardness. Results indicate that haptic interface hardware may be able to convey sufficient perceptual information to the user with relatively low levels of force feedback and system bandwidth, yet subjects can perceive improvements in simulated surface quality as levels are further increased.

}, keywords = {Bandwidth, Computer simulation, Computer software, Feedback, Hardness, Manipulators}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/ROBOT.2001.932803}, attachments = {https://mahilab.rice.edu/sites/default/files/publications/omalley2001ieee.pdf}, author = {Marcia Kilchenman and Michael Goldfarb} }