Design of a Portable Digital Signal Processing Workstation

Some undergraduate laboratory courses for digital signal processing (DSP) do not provide an ideal environment for study of the subject. This is due to a lack of hands-on experience; these courses are limited to computer simulations, even though DSP is primarily used on real-world signals. Providing hands-on learning is hindered due to a lack of available solutions that are affordable and simple to use. A novel, custom DSP learning solution that addresses these issues is presented, consisting of a portable USB device and an accompanying graphical user interface. This solution allows students to write their DSP algorithms on a computer, and have their algorithms instantly uploaded to the device for application to an incoming signal, with the result outputted as a new signal in real-time. Additional features for algorithm analysis are included, such as algorithm execution time measurement and viewing of the processor instructions that make up the algorithm. A prototype of the device has been realized, and its capabilities were verified through the successful design and application of Finatie Pulse Response (FIR) and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters. Audio applications with sample rates of up to 96kS/s have also been successfully realized. The prototype design is improved and finalized so that the learning solution is ready for student use. An enhanced DSP learning experience is achieved, and the solution\u27s portability additionally allows for remote study and learning