Pocket-Sized Portable Labs: Control Engineering Practice Made Easy in Covid-19 Pandemic Times.

Area of Science:

• Control Engineering
• Engineering Education

Background:

• The SARS-CoV2 pandemic highlighted the need for remote and accessible educational tools.
• Traditional control engineering labs can be resource-intensive and geographically limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pocket-sized portable laboratories as complementary tools in control engineering education.
• To motivate pre-university students towards control engineering by showcasing accessible practical experiments.
• To present the outcomes of the IFAC-funded project 'Pocket-Sized Portable Labs: Control Engineering Practice Made Easy'.

Main Methods:

• Development and deployment of pocket-sized portable laboratories for control engineering experiments.
• Project execution in Portugal from January to June 2021.
• Demonstration of simple, practical experiments to pre-university students and lecturers.

Main Results:

• Pocket-sized laboratories were found to be effective complementary equipment for control engineering education.
• The project successfully demonstrated the feasibility of conducting practical experiments using portable labs.
• Positive engagement observed among pre-university students regarding control engineering concepts.

Conclusions:

• Portable, pocket-sized laboratories are a valuable and accessible resource for control engineering practice and education.
• These tools can effectively bridge the gap in practical learning, especially in challenging circumstances like a pandemic.
• The project provides a scalable model for enhancing student interest and enrollment in control engineering programs.