Class projects with graphic user interfaces in Matlab

Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have facilitated the work of engineers in using software packages. Simulation of various engineering models becomes much easier when modifying a variable in a GUI rather than running the program from a command prompt. Typically GUIs have been implemented in languages such as C/C⁺⁺ and/or JAVA. In line with this trend, these languages have been part of the Electrical Engineering (EE) curriculum at Eastern Washington University (EWU). However, the growth of Matlab in the recent years also makes it imperative for it to be embedded in different classes throughout the curriculum. Matlab is currently not only used as a mathematical manipulation tool, but also for the design and simulation of various dynamic systems. Similarly, hardware description languages (HDL) are ubiquitous in the design and simulation of integrated circuits. When combined, HDL and Matlab make a powerful team for designing, simulating, and implementing digital circuits into field programmable gate arrays (FPGA). This industry trend is the driving force behind the EE curriculum revision at Eastern. While a C/C⁺⁺ class is still offered, JAVA programming is no longer a mandatory course. To balance this issue, the use of Matlab and HDL has been increased significantly. One consequence of this change was that the students' ability to design GUI interfaces became severely diminished. Fortunately, Matlab also provides the capability to program GUI interfaces. This paper presents a set of digital signal processing (DSP) student class projects that include the design of GUI interfaces for simulation and testing of systems entirely through the use of Matlab. The paper also presents a preview of follow-up lab developments which will include the implementation of complete systems into a DSP board using Matlab. In addition, there are classes under development in which the projects will require downloading Matlab algorithms into FPGAs. This paper's overarching goal is to demonstrate that EE curricula do not need the teaching of many different high-level programming languages if Matlab is taught vertically throughout the curriculum.