Appendix B – Example Applications
This appendix contains a number of problems that were given as application assignments or final projects in an intermediate MATLAB programming course for engineering students. For each problem, there is a problem statement or assignment document and a solution, as a script or live script. You are encouraged to code the problem from scratch and refer to the solution only for guidance when needed. Consider creating a graphical user interface in App Designer as well. The assignment documents may contain submission requirements specific to the particular course in which they were assigned – you may ignore those instructions.
Most of these topics involve time-dependent simulations, implemented by a simple Euler method. Another interesting challenge would be to write an alternative solution using ode45 or ode23.
- Simulating a Temperature Controller
assignment document: Application 3_ Branching & Looping_2021.pdf
solution: temperature_measurement.m temp_test.m PID.m
2. Simulation of an Automobile Cruise Control
assignment document: cruise control.pdf
solution: auto_with_cruise.mlx PID.m
3. Simulating a Trip Around the Moon
assignment document: Final_Project_lunar_2020.pdf
solution: FinalProject2020_moon.m
4. Integrated Pest Management Simulation
assignment document: Integrated Pest Management.pdf
solution: IPM.mlx
5. Traffic Model by Cellular Automata
assignment document: Traffic Model.pdf
solution: traffic_intersection_light.m
6. Open-loop Simulation of a Stirred-Tank Chemical Reactor
assignment document: chem reactor.pdf
solution: chem_reactor.mlx
7. Autonomous Steering Simulation
assignment document: autonomous steering.pdf
solution: steering.mlx
8. Two- and Three-Compartment Models of Pharmacokinetics
assignment document: Application 6 – Simulation – 2-compartment model.pdf
solutions: two_compartment.m, three_compartment.m
9. Active Vehicle Suspension System Simulation
assignment document: active suspension.pdf
solution: active_suspension.mlx
10. Simulation of a Rising Air Bubble
assignment document: Bubble Simulation.pdf
solution: air_bubble_Newtonian_RevA.m
11. SIR Model of Infectious Disease
assignment document: Application 6_ SIR.pdf
solution: SIR_model.m
12. Simulating a High-Altitude Balloon Flight
assignment document: Final Project Sp 2021.pdf
solution: balloon_sim.m
These two assignments deal with a classic computer science problem, the Tower of Hanoi. In #13, you are asked to write a program to allow a human player to play the game. Some simple graphics code is provided. In #14, you are asked (more in the spirit of a computer science course) to devise a recursive program to enable the computer to solve the game automatically. You are provided with an app containing the game code and are only asked to write the callback function for the Solve button. Explanatory videos are provided to guide you in the right direction.
13. Tower of Hanoi Game
assignment document: Application 6_ Cell & Struct Arrays 2020.pdf
supporting file: display_tower.m
explanatory video: https://mediasite.osu.edu/Mediasite/Play/31f1198d45c14bf0b44d4e891b7d56921d
solution: application6_2020.m move.m
14. Tower of Hanoi Solver
assignment document: EWA05A.pdf
template app: Hanoi_GUI_template.mlapp
explanatory videos: GMT20241018-110116_Recording_1920x1020.mp4 GMT20241018-113446_Recording_1920x1020.mp4
solution: Hanoi_GUI.mlapp
