Course Title: Introduction to Graphical Programming for Data Acquisition

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Graphical Programming for Data Acquisition

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PHYS2110

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Dr Johan Du Plessis

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2144

Course Coordinator Email: johan.duplessis@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Experimental scientists have to acquire, process and interpret data. A suite of three courses has been designed to address these general tasks. In this first course the student is introduced to graphical programming concepts as found in the industry standard LabView package. The emphasis is on becoming acquainted with the graphical style of programming as opposed to the text based programming characteristic of the common platforms. Several basic user interfaces will be developed that will later be incorporated into more complex programs. The focus will be on developing scientific programming techniques to acquire and process data.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the end of the course the student will be able to

Analyse a particular situation and then design a graphical user interface or virtual instrument (VI) using LabView to

  • address the interface card to measure analog and digital signals in the laboratory,
  • process the measured signals using appropriate available mathematical routines
  • display these signals meaningfully in the user interface
  • interpret the processed data in terms of a physical model
  • store the raw and processed data/results
  • provide adequate and useful documentation regarding the VI
  • be able to report their work in a clear and precise way through formal reports and oral presentations;
  • analyse and discuss their own and peer work in a seminar environment in order to promote critical thinking.



Overview of Learning Activities

Students will gain experience in this course by means of:

  • attending lectures
  • taking part in self-paced lectures
  • undertaking problems and exercises in the laboratory;
  • active participation in group project work;
  • participation in seminar discussion.


Overview of Learning Resources

The Distributed Learning system (DLS) will be used to supply lecture notes and laboratory manuals. Prescribed texts and references will be available through the RMIT Bookshop or Library. Students will also use laboratory equipment and computer software within the School during project and assignment work.


Overview of Assessment

There will be progressive assessments throughout the semester, comprising laboratory project assessment and group project presentations, as well as a final examination. The assessment will address all the capabilities listed above.