This project will foster illustration, interpretation, and integration of theoretical concepts in communication, signal processing, and control systems through the use of a modern computer laboratory. Undergraduate students will be exposed early to a state-of-the-art networked computing system, the X- Window environment, and several high-level computational tools. The hands-on laboratory experiments in an introductory lab course will develop in the sophomore students the ability to simulate waveforms, noise, simple filters, and basic linear systems. To enhance the pivotal course in signal and system theory, the junior level students will experiment with the numerical simulation of a broad variety of signals and systems. In the laboratory courses associated with the senior level courses, students will experiment with the simulation and design of realistic communication, control, and signal processing systems. In addition, the laboratory will be an important resource for senior design projects. This laboratory will provide students with better insight into the fundamental concepts of communication and control. At the same time, it will better prepare students for both modern industry and graduate school. Equipment to be purchased includes: 26 X- Window terminals, additional processors, memory and disk drive for the existing Sparc-class server, and networking hardware. The ease of use of this equipment by undergraduate students will be achieved by developing an optimized X-Window graphical user interface, course materials, class projects, an electronic library of problems and solutions, and by providing the students with an introduction to modern computing and simulation software within the first laboratory course.
