Open educational platform for problem-based learning in engineering

application of digital control in a thyristor rectifier

Résumé

Engineering programs often face didactic limitations due to the high acquisition cost of laboratory equipment, which restricts the availability of hands-on activities. Consequently, practical experimentation may be limited, weakening the connection between theory and practice and potentially affecting student engagement. Furthermore, there is a notable scarcity of open educational resources that effectively integrate theory and practice in a clear and accessible manner. In response to this scenario, this study proposes and technically validates a low-cost, open-source educational platform designed to support practical, interdisciplinary teaching in power electronics, digital control, electronic circuits, and embedded systems programming. The platform is compatible with widely used academic microcontrollers, enabling the implementation of closed-loop control algorithms. In addition, the platform is positioned for use within a problem-based learning (PBL) framework as an instructional orientation. Accordingly, a replicable workflow guideline is provided, and student feedback from a student perception questionnaire is reported to characterize the learning experience. Simulation and laboratory results are obtained to validate the proposed solution in a representative application, demonstrating its feasibility for reproducible, hands-on control experiments while maintaining an open, accessible approach to replication and further development.