First Place

Quadcopter Dynamic Modeling and Simulation Using MATLAB and Simulink

David Hartman and MEM Senior Design Team 37 – Drexel University

This entry shows how the power of MATLAB and Simulink can be used to design a control system and model the flight dynamics for a quad-copter system. Model-based design is used to create, tune and verify system parameters for the attitude and location controller before implementing it onto the hardware. We loved the animation interface created in MATLAB to help visualize the quad-copter’s flight dynamics!

Second Place

Passive and Active Balancing of Li ion battery cells

Ephrem Chemali and Lucas McCurlie – McMaster University

This duo formulated balancing techniques to improve the life-span and overall performance of batteries using MATLAB and Simulink. To get a realistic view of the performance of the balancer, the MapleSim Connector package was used in conjunction with Simulink in their designs. They then use the powerful combination of code generation and real time processor-in-loop in Simulink to test and verify their system design. Get ready to get charged up!