Physical modeling in academia: the rotary pendulum with low-cost hardware

Are you looking for a dynamics and controls example for teaching or research?
Check out the getting started video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWLdbItrh48
This bundle demonstrates two different modeling approaches for physical systems: a traditional approach using textual programming (with MATLAB and Simulink) and through MathWorks' multi-body simulation environment, SimMechanics. As a use case for academia the two modeling approaches are applied for the controlled (inverted), rotary pendulum system. The system is visualized and animated using Simulink 3D Animation with a simple virtual reality world and a more sophisticated, imported CAD model on the one hand, and with the SimMechanics-built model on the other hand.

Also included in this bundle are the corresponding hardware implementation models for LEGO Mindstorms NXT and EV3, a video showing the controlled LEGO system in action, and a hardware construction manual. For the traditional modeling approach the Euler-Lagrange tool is used to derive the system differential equations:

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/49796-euler-lagrange-tool-package.

For model handling and startup: either a) execute the startup script in the utilities folder and easily access all models through a html menu, or b) open up models individually.

You can model and develop more elaborate algorithms using the Control System Toolbox and Stateflow. MATLAB Coder, Simulink Coder and Embedded Coder allow you to inspect and modify the generated code to learn on and explore industry-grade hardware platforms.