Learning About Sensors: Building Skills in Instrumentation and Data Acquisition for Electrical Engineering Students

In the Electrical Engineering Faculty of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, students specializing in "Instrumentation and Data Acquisition" acquire critical skills in sensor integration, measurement techniques, signal processing, and system design. This specialization emphasizes hands-on learning with modern equipment and programming platforms, preparing students for industrial and research applications. Sensors are foundational in modern engineering, enabling intelligent data acquisition and control across various domains. This paper provides a comprehensive educational framework that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications, focusing on ultrasonic sensors and their implementation in intelligent systems. Through projects such as obstacle avoidance robots and radar-based detection systems, students gain expertise in sensor calibration, data acquisition and image processing using tools like Arduino, NI-MyDAQ, and LabVIEW. The framework fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, enabling students to bridge the gap between hardware and software. By simulating and implementing intelligent systems, students develop the skills necessary to innovate and excel in modern engineering fields, particularly in areas such as robotics, road safety and automation.