Inverted Pendulum Laboratory Equipment for 6.302

The aim of this project is to develop inverted pendulum laboratory equipment for use as a hands-on laboratory assignment in 6.302 (Feedback Systems). The inverted pendulum system is ideal for teaching classical feedback control because it incorporates a wide variety of concepts and analytical techniques taught in 6.302. In the past, course staff have used the inverted pendulum both as a lecture demonstration and as a discussion topic for feedback concepts as they are introduced throughout the semester. The addition of the proposed lab will give the students the satisfaction of balancing the inverted pendulum with a control scheme of their own devising, an experience that they can apply to a broad class of problems.