Two course projects were designed to familiarize the students with virtual instrumentation, data acquisition, Modbus communication, and simple closed-loop control. LabVIEW was extensively used in the laboratory sessions, which better prepared students for the course projects. The pedagogical challenge is to enhance students' learning of digital communication using LabVIEW. This paper discusses the design and implementation of laboratories and course projects using LabVIEW in an instrumentation course. Moreover, this practical activity can be carried out at any time from anywhere to efficiently support automatic control study. In fact, the chosen paradigm truly enable the `learning by doing' approach. The possible real- time control and monitoring of ongoing operations, either locally on the host computer or remotely via the Internet, is a key feature from an educational point of view. Control algorithms written in G (the graphical programming language of LabVIEW), in C or as S-functions (MATLAB scripts describing SIMULINK dynamical models) can be validated on laboratory-scale processes. Finally, by combining LabVIEW and DAQ boards to form an integrated framework for fast prototyping of real-time control solutions. Then, by motivating the use of personal computers as a versatile alternative to more traditional implementation equipment. This goal is achieved first by way of an introduction to the basic principles underlying real-time control. This paper presents the approach taken to give engineering students the necessary competencies and facilities to implement real-time control solutions.

Labview modbus server