Power Electronics Lab

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  Electronics, Control System and Instrumentation

  Pendulum Control System

  The Pendulum Control System, PCS2, is designed for the study of control engineering and theory. The PCS2 consists of a carriage module and analogue control module with a mimic of the system. It can function as a stand-alone analogue system or be interfaced to an external controller such as a PC using a suitable interface card. The PCS2 is supplied with an interface card and PCSDS software. The software includes attempted Linear control, attempted Harmonic control, and Direct Digital Control and Fuzzy Logic control. Students can compare the performance of the different controllers. Connection is through 4mm-shrouded colour coded sockets and to an interface card through the IDC connection.

  The PCS2 can be used in two different modes, an inverted pendulum or an overhead crane, each mode presents a control situation that requires a separate approach and solution and an understanding of how feedback systems function. The first mode; control of an inherently unstable system, to balance the pendulum in the inverted position the pivot must be continuously moved to correct the falling pendulum. In the second mode; the carriage module is turned upside down to act as a crane, the pendulum swings into an equilibrium position with the centre of mass below the pivot, control the Linear position of the load, with very oscillatory dynamics.

  Experiments:

  • Static and dynamic characteristics of the pendulum control system
  • Analogue control of an inverted pendulum
  • Fuzzy Logic control of the inverted pendulum
  • Direct Digital controller design and implementation: inverted pendulum
  • Direct Digital controller design and implementation: swinging crane

  Key Features

  • Control of inherently unstable systems and of systems with very oscillatory dynamics
  • Study of control engineering theory
  • Stand-alone Analogue control
  • Classic control model for Analogue, Direct Digital or Fuzzy Logic control
  • Two different modes, an inverted pendulum or overhead crane
  • Software with attempted Linear control, attempted Harmonic control, Direct Digital control and Fuzzy Logic control

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  Electronics, Control System and Instrumentation

  Washing Machine Simulator

  The Washing Machine Simulator (WMS) is an application for electronic control engineering. The unit incorporates a series of input and output devices, which together simulate the actions of a typical domestic washing machine. The WMS has two main areas. The first area comprises the electronic circuits and connector sockets, the second area is the indicators, a motorised disc (which represents the washing machine drum) and the user controls. The circuit board incorporates test points, a fuse and four switches for fault insertion.

  Three blue push buttons are used to select a ‘wash program’ from the software program and inputs from these buttons turn on green, yellow and red LED’s. The binary pattern displayed may be compared to a ‘program selector table’ to indicate the current choice of program. A grey push button is used to cancel the current choice and a red push button to ‘accept’ input for the controller. A mechanically latched push button with a built in LED provides an input, which simulates the open/closed status of the washing machine door. An infra-red reflective sensor mounted beneath the disc supplies feedback on the speed of the motor. A seven-segment display is used to highlight the ‘wash program status’. The status options are: Empty, Fill, Heat, Wash, Rinse, Spin, Dry and Complete.

  Motor speed can be controlled using PWM and a buzzer activated to indicate the end of the ‘wash program’ (can be enabled or disabled using on-board switch). The buzzer can also be used to indicate that the ‘door’ has been opened or that a fault has occurred. Variations for programming the WMS are possible using two switches that change the input/output characteristics of the motor drive and speed sensor feedback. The WMS can be connected to a PC, using a suitable interface, or to a microcontroller.

   Experiments:

  • Control of digital outputs
  • Control of the seven segment display
  • Reading the program selector switches
  • On/Off control of the DC motor
  • Controlling the DC motor/speed open loop
  • Reading the motor speed feedback
  • Colour wash program cycle
  • Closed loop control of the DC motor

  Key Features

  • Simulates actual domestic washing machine processes
  • Control of DC motor, speed and direction
  • Closed loop and PWM control of DC motor
  • Target application for PC or Microcontroller
  • Test Points and Switched Faults for diagnostics fault finding techniques
  • Visual indication of activities using LEDs and display

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