2.671: Measurement and Instrumentation

Measurement and Instrumentation is a capstone class at MIT that teaches experimental techniques for observation and measurement of physical variables such as force, strain, temperature, flow rate, and acceleration. The class emphasizes principles of transduction, measurement circuitry, MEMS sensors, Fourier transforms, linear and nonlinear function fitting, uncertainty analysis, probability density functions and statistics, system identification, electrical impedance analysis and transfer functions, computer-aided experimentation, and technical reporting.

The course features a self-directed term-long assignment to give the students an opportunity to make measurements on something of personal interest to them, referred to as Go Forth and Measure. 

Thoughout my junior year, I frequently reviseted topics in Control Theory and Signal Processing. I had learned lumped parameter models of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems; actuators and sensors; linear systems theory; laplace transform; transfer functions, time response and frequency response, poles and zeros; block diagrams; solutions via analytical and numerical techniques; stability. Musical instruments seemed the perfect physical application that draws upon these topics. My project was inspired by fond memories of my mother's music box collection, and is titled Changing Overtone Structures in Resonant Tines. In addition to providing the opportunity to revisit concepts in Mechanics and Materials and Dynamics and Control, I had the opportunity to discover the origin of one of my favorite musical inventions.