Darko Hercog

A DSP-Based Remote Control Laboratory

This paper presents a framework for rapid remote experiment implementation in the field of automatic control. The proposed solution is based on in-house developed embedded control hardware and two commercially available software packages. MATLAB/Simulink is used for rapid experiment control algorithm development, while LabVIEW is used for the user front-end and remote control. A combination of presented hardware and software solutions enables the rapid and easy creation of different interactive remote control experiments. Using this solution, a digital-signal-processor-based remote control laboratory for teaching purposes has been realized. This remote laboratory enables the remote users to easily interact with a set of physical control experiments through the Internet. In the friendly user interface, the remote user can change predefined system parameters and observe system response in textual, graphical, or video format. In addition, this remote laboratory includes a booking system, which enables remote users to book experiments in advance.

DSP based rapid control prototyping systems for engineering education and research

This paper presents custom made, DSP-based rapid control prototyping (RCP) systems that are suitable for control engineering education and research. Presented RCP systems provide an easy transition from the model-based control system design in MATLAB/Simulink to embedded DSP-based target implementation. In addition to rapid binary code generation, Lab VIEW data visualization and parameter tuning solution is presented. The paper also includes an example of cascade DC motor control

Remote Control Laboratory with Moodle Booking System

In order to enhance learning of control design, minimise the gap between theory and practice and especially to support learning by doing we built remote control laboratory. This paper describes a Moodle based booking system for our remote laboratory. The web-based remote laboratory is presented through a RC oscillator experiment for learning of control design. In RC oscillator experiment, interactivity between the controller design parameters in Bode plot and Root Locus with real experiment has been implemented in order to support full visualisation of the controller design. An experiment for control of a mechatronic device, it is a DC motor, was implemented. Special safety measures built into the experiment are represented in the paper.

E-training in mechatronics using innovative remote laboratory

Abstract: This paper describes a novel E-training developed for teaching mechatronics. The training has been developed as part of the Leonardo da Vinci lifelong learning programs and MeRLab project (Innovative Remote Laboratory in the E-training of Mechatronics). The primary target group are engineers or technicians who have already completed formal education in the field of mechanical, electrical engineering or other technical fields, but have no knowledge of mechatronics, although their job requires it. For the training, special E-learning platform has been built in the user friendly environment, which is based on combination of commercial eCampus platform and open-source Moodle platform. The complete materials with the animations, graphical presentations, tests and the utilities such as discussion forums are offered. In addition to E-learning materials, the remote laboratory experiments are also available. The training has been executed with a group of 70 participants from Slovenia and second group of 6 participants from Austria. 90% of participants have successfully finished this quite extensive training. Results of anonymous survey show that they have evaluated the training as excellent and think that the gained knowledge will be useful in their further career.

Educational aspects of mechatronic control course design for collaborative remote laboratory

This paper addresses educational aspects of a distance learning mechatronic control course, which is one of the 18 courses that compound an international collaborative remote laboratory designed for students of electrical engineering. The work is undertaken in the frame of European Leonardo da Vinci project EDIPE ldquoE-learning distance interactive practical educationrdquo with a goal to offer Web based experimental courses to the students from 11 countries that participate in the project. Course presented in this paper is motion control of mechatronic device with nonlinear dynamics. Addressed topics are modelling of dynamics of mechatronic device, design of linear and nonlinear motion controllers, implementation and optimization of motion controllers for real mechatronic system. Three remote experiments are available as a part of the course: motion control of mechatronic device with cascade controller, motion control with PD controller and computed torque motion controller. For the course two educational strategies are developed; one for geographically distant students and one for local students. For geographically distant students the course is executed completely remote. For local students some parts of remote course are combined with traditional learning in the classroom and laboratory sessions in order to improve coursepsilas flexibility and to achieve best educational outcome.

MATLAB Web Server and Web-based Control Design Learning

In order to enhance learning of control design, minimise the gap between theory and practice and especially to support learning by doing we built two Web-based laboratories. This paper presents the two Web based laboratories: a MATLAB Web server (IMWS) based virtual laboratory for learning of control design and a remote laboratory. Using MWS based virtual laboratory, students could run prepared application as well as write their own MATLAB M-files and execute them using the MATLAB Web server. The Web-based remote laboratory is presented through a RC oscillator experiment for learning of control design. In RC oscillator experiment, interactivity between the controller design parameters in Bode plot and Root Locus with real experiment has been implemented in order to support full visualisation of the controller design

Realization and experience of professional mechatronics e-training

It is becoming more and more common that the universities and vocational training schools offer training in different engineering fields not only to the students but also to the unemployed and employed professionals who have already finished their formal education but need new knowledge in order to cope with increasing demands of their jobs. This contribution describes how these demands in the field of mechatronics are meet in Slovenia by developing of a new kind of distance learning environment and distance training for vocational training of technicians and skilled workers from related engineering fields. The training is based on the high-quality e-materials, number of remote experiments on various mechatronic devices, practical tasks and tests and is executed completely online under the supervision of distance tutor. The training, which requires from participants at least 50 hours of intensive work effort, is organized into following logical modules: Introduction to mechatronics, Servomotor in mechatronics, Electrical circuits and Mechatronic devices. The pilot training was executed with 70 participants in March-April 2009. 90% of the participants have successfully finished the training since intensive tutoring has minimized the drop-out rate. Evaluation of the training, also presented in the paper, shows that the participants are highly content with the training and gained knowledge. They also think that the gained knowledge will be useful in their further career and will recommend the training to their co-workers and friends.

A Flexible Microcontroller-Based Data Acquisition Device

This paper presents a low-cost microcontroller-based data acquisition device. The key component of the presented solution is a configurable microcontroller-based device with an integrated USB transceiver and a 12-bit analogue-to-digital converter (ADC). The presented embedded DAQ device contains a preloaded program (firmware) that enables easy acquisition and generation of analogue and digital signals and data transfer between the device and the application running on a PC via USB bus. This device has been developed as a USB human interface device (HID). This USB class is natively supported by most of the operating systems and therefore any installation of additional USB drivers is unnecessary. The input/output peripheral of the presented device is not static but rather flexible, and could be easily configured to customised needs without changing the firmware. When using the developed configuration utility, a majority of chip pins can be configured as analogue input, digital input/output, PWM output or one of the SPI lines. In addition, LabVIEW drivers have been developed for this device. When using the developed drivers, data acquisition and signal processing algorithms as well as graphical user interface (GUI), can easily be developed using a well-known, industry proven, block oriented LabVIEW programming environment.

E-Training in Mechatronics for Professionals: Implementation and Experience

Mechatronics is in most of the European countries still the profession in which the need for competent and qualified staff exceeds the number of formally educated professionals. E-training in mechatronics presented in this paper is developed in order to at least partially fill that gap. MeRLab training (Innovative Remote Laboratory in the E-training of Mechatronics) offers innovative way for acquiring knowledge and skills in mechatronics by offering the high-quality educational materials enhanced by the remote exercises executed on various mechatronic devices and constant supervision of the training instructor. As a basic educational approach, the problem based learning was chosen. During the training this approach was stimulated by introducing a number of complex, practically oriented exercises that finish with the remote experiments. Pilot testing of the training was executed with 60 participants, mostly professionals from related fields such as mechanical and electrical engineering. Most of the participants are employed in the industry, while some were the teachers from secondary or high vocational schools. Feedback from the participants shows that overall response to the training is very good, as the majority of participants think that the training fulfils the goals, that the materials are clear and concise, that the exercises and tests are adequate, and, that the whole learning contents is excellent.

Experimentally oriented remote motion control course for mechatronic students

This paper presents experimentally oriented remote control course for mechatronics students that is available to the engineering students from 11 European countries. The course aim is to give students theoretical knowledge as well as necessary experience and practical skills for designing of the motion controllers for mechatronics devices. In the course all phases of the motion control design including modeling, simulations, and applied motion control design for linear and nonlinear controllers are given. Course is supported with e-materials and remote experiments. It is available as a part of international collaborative remote laboratory for E-learning Distance Interactive Practical Education project of Leonardo da Vinci program. In the paper the organization of the course as well its contents are described. Studentspsila feedback obtained by anonymous questionnaire is also discussed.