Acquiring torque and rotational speed data from a stationary bicycle for undergraduate teaching

A laboratory module was recently developed for an introductory experimental course for sophomore mechanical and aerospace engineering students. The goal of this laboratory is to provide the students with an understanding of digital data acquisition systems for measuring torque and angular velocity in real time. The laboratory comprises of a stationary exercise bicycle, adapted to house a torquemeter on its front axle, an optical tachometer, the data acquisition system and software which converts a computer into a virtual instrument. A group of two or three students is rotated through the laboratory as part of a larger number of laboratory modules. The students access the experiment via the virtual instrument. The experiment requires a student to ride the bicycle. The data acquired are then subsequently analyzed by the students who are required to write individual laboratory reports.