The Department of Electronic Engineering at Royal Holloway, University of London, sought to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its undergraduate laboratory experience. By integrating the Digilent Analog Discovery Studio (ADS) into their curriculum, they aimed to provide students with a flexible, efficient, and cost-effective platform for hands-on learning.
Royal Holloway – University of London
Royal Holloway is a prestigious institution renowned for its cutting-edge research and high-quality education. The Department of Electronic Engineering strives to equip students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to excel in the field of electronics.
The Challenge
The department faced challenges with traditional laboratory setups, which often involved a variety of standalone instruments. These instruments were time-consuming to configure and operate, and their limited availability restricted student access, hindering experimentation.
The Digilent Solution
To address these challenges, the department selected the Digilent Analog Discovery Studio. The ADS offers a comprehensive suite of instrumentation, including oscilloscopes, waveform generators, logic analyzers, and more, all integrated into a single, compact device. The department ordered 25 ADS units from Farnell in 2023.
Key Benefits
- Enhanced Learning Experience: The intuitive Waveforms software empowers students to easily set up experiments, capture data, and analyze results. The interactive nature of the software enhances the learning experience by providing real-time feedback and visualization of signals. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper understanding of electronic concepts and principles.
- Increased Efficiency: The all-in-one design of the ADS eliminates the need for multiple instruments, streamlining the laboratory workflow and maximizing student productivity.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The Digilent Analog Discovery Studio offers a comprehensive suite of instrumentation at a fraction of the cost of traditional benchtop equipment. While a traditional setup of oscilloscopes, waveform generators, and other instruments can cost thousands of dollars per workstation, the ADS provides a cost-effective solution, allowing institutions to equip more students with state-of-the-art tools.
- Flexibility: The Analog Discovery Studio is a highly flexible tool that can be used for a wide range of applications, making it suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate education. Its compact design and portability enable students to take it home for further experimentation and learning.
Customer Testimonial
“The Digilent Analog Discovery Studio enables our students to rapidly prototype their weekly lab experiments and test them with easy-to-use tools. They can use the ‘Waveforms’ software to stimulate their circuits and document the results with relative ease compared to using discrete lab equipment.”
– Dr. Steve Alty, Head of Department, Department of Electronic Engineering, Royal Holloway, University of London.
By adopting the Digilent Analog Discovery Studio, the Department of Electronic Engineering at Royal Holloway has optimized its laboratory experience, providing students with a powerful tool to accelerate their learning and prepare them for a successful career in electronics engineering.
Additional Resources:
Analog Discovery Studio – Digilent Reference
Electronics Explorer Board to Analog Discovery Studio Migration Guide
Analog Discovery 2 to Analog Discovery Studio Migration Guide
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