Enhancing mechanism and machine science learning by creating virtual labs with ADAMS

Abstract

This work presents a virtual lab created by using the multibody dynamics simulation software ADAMS©, which has been developed to enhance the students experience when learning Mechanism and Machine Science fundamentals. When dealing with spatial kinematics and dynamics, there are some concepts which are usually difficult to visualize for the students. In this way, the use of a simulation software can help to overcome this problem. A set of exercises has been proposed in which the students have to build some models with ADAMS© and then solve some problems related to the theory. This proposal shows to be more attractive for the students, who learn the basics of an engineering tool that is commonly used in the industry and are able to visualize and consolidate the concepts taught at theory classes more easily. But there are also some drawbacks regarding the difficulties that appear when developing these exercises from the teaching point of view. The complexity of the program can complicate the creation of the models in a way that the students can not build them correctly and get the results expected. So, the exercises must be designed properly in order to make them robust enough to avoid these difficulties.