Automatic Control Software Courses
Instead of an expensive equipping of laboratories with plant models,
function generators, oscilloscopes and measuring instruments we offer our so-called
Automatic Control Software Courses. They can be used as a supplement or alternative to
conventional experiments within courses and although no hardware is needed they are of
great clearness. The software courses are based on the WinFACT education editions and are
mainly intended for colleges and universities for applied science. Each course deals with
one topic and consists of the following components:
 |
instructions for experiments (ring binder): introduction to the
theoretical background as well as worksheets with detailed tasks and solutions
(sample pages in PDF-format) |
 |
 |
a set of high-quality colour slides for overhead-projection, which
show a summary of the main points of the experiments
(sample slides in PDF-format) |
 |
numerous WinFACT sample files containing tasks and their solutions.
All sample files contain extensive control and visualization functions especially for
the presentation of plants and controllers. The student almost 'forgets' that he isn't
sitting "in a real lab" but "only" simulating with a PC (especially advantegeous
regarding operational safety and energy consumption). The following plant models, among
other things, are used within the courses (see also WinFACT plant models below on this
page): |
| |
- temperature plants
- motor-generator-set
- inverted pendulum
- loading crane
- stirring tank
- light plant
- aircraft attitude control
- stirring tank cascade
- synchronous motion control
|
 |
At the moment the following courses (German) are available:
| item no. |
courses |
required WinFACT components |
| 0801E00XX |
Introduction to PID-Control |
BORIS, INGO |
| 0802E00XX |
Closed loop systems with switching controllers
(2-point, 3-point) |
BORIS, INGO |
| 0803E00XX |
Cascade and state control |
BORIS, INGO, SUSY |
| 0804E00XX |
Introduction to fuzzy control |
BORIS, INGO, FLOP |
| 0805E00XX |
Introduction to digital control |
BORIS, INGO |
| 0806E00XX |
Controller design in frequency range |
BORIS, INGO, LISA, RESY |
| 0807E00XX |
Introduction to PLC-programming (in preperation) |
Soft-PLC, (BORIS) |
Automatic Control Plant Models
This collection includes numerous different plant models for the block
oriented simulation system BORIS. Each model consists of the functional block (mathematical
plant model as a BORIS superblock) or several alternative functional blocks and the
corresponding visualization block (User-DLL-Block) block, which visualizes the dynamic
behaviour of the single plant variables graphically. Thus, these courses and plant models
are especially suitable in the field of education and training and also as a basis for own
process visualizations. All plant models optionally come with source listings and resource
files (Pascal/Delphi format), so that own extensions can easily be programmed. A written
documentation, of course, is delivered with each package.
The following table shows the available plant models. To start the
original animations just click the corresponding graphic preview.
| Graphic preview |
Short description |
 |
Liquid level plant (one tank
system). This plant model represents a single tank shaped like a cylinder
with inflow and outflow (plant without compensation, I-plant), of which inflow and
outflow current is controlled by an electrical valve. |
 |
Temperature plant. At
moment there are three different temperature plants to choose from. Each plant
model is realized as a series connection of an electrical valve and a room to be
heated. Input variable of the plant is the motor voltage, output variable the room
temperature T. An additional disturbance can be simulated by a disturbance input.
The three types of plants differ in the realization of the valve resp. room
model. |
 |
Seesaw with ball. This
model represents a seesaw 2l long. On this seesaw there is a ball with mass m and
radius r, which is to be brought to a setpoint (e. g. centre of the seesaw) by a
servo. The servo is driven by the voltage and from that generates an angle
Phi. |
 |
Loading crane. This model
represents a loading bridge. A wagon with the mass with a jib l long with the load
mass is moved forward by the power F. State variables of the system are the
position of the wagon and its speed as well as the angle of the pendulum and its
rotation speed. |
 |
Motor-Generator-Set. This
plant model represents a motor-generator-set by which a speed control can be
realized. Input variable of the plant is the motor voltage, output variables are
the generator voltage and the speed. Additionally a disturbance can be simulated by
a disturbance input. |
 |
Three tank system. This
model represents three identical tanks in a row. Each two tanks standing side by
side are connected by a pipe with an electrical valve. Additionally each tank has a
seperate, also by an electrical valve controllable outflow, which can be used e.g.
for the simulation of a leak. The outer tanks can be filled by electrical pumps.
This model is especially suitable for the design of multivariable controls or error
detection/diagnosis systems. |
 |
Mixed water plant. This
plant model represents a mixing process. Two liquids with different temperature are
mixed up. The inflows of the cold and the warm water are controlled by two
electrical valves with the voltage Ucold resp. Uhot. Both
volume flows are mixed to a total volume flow with the temperature Tmix
and e.g. from there flow into a basin which is to be filled up. |
 |
Inverted pendulum. This
plant model represents a turned up pendulum, which can be controlled by a torque M
proportional to the motor current i generated by a motor. The state variables of
the pendulum are the angle and its rotation speed. |
 |
Stirring tank reactor. This
plant model represents a stirring tank reactor, in which a liquid can indirectly be
heated by covering water. The water itself is heated by a heat exchanger, which is
brought into contact with a heating medium of the temperature T. The flow rate of
this heating medium can be controlled by an electrical valve. Output variables of
the system are the temperature of the water in the reactor cope resp. the
temperature of the liquid in the tank. |
 |
Container ship. This plant
model represents a container ship, which after an one-sided loading can be
stabilized by pumping a liquid from one tank into another. The tanks are installed
in the hull. The model is especially suitable for applications in the field of
fuzzy control. |
 |
Spindle Drive. This plant
model represents a spindle drive of a tool machine. The workpiece on the slide can
be positioned by a motor driven spindle. Input variable of the system is the
voltage of the motor, output variables are its rotation speed and the position of
the slide. Besides a disturbance (e. g. an additional load torque) can be simulated
via the disturbance input. |
 |
Light Plant. Light controls
are realized by this plant model. A lamp in the center of the ceiling illuminates a
room. The controlled variable is the brightness in the room, the manipulated
variable the power of the lamp. Additive disturbance light shines into the room
through a window which can constantly be closed by a blind. |
 |
Aircraft attitude control.
This plant model represents an aircraft. Its flight attitude is to follow a
controlled angle and depends on the thrusts of two engines. The left one is the
manipulated variable, by the right one a disturbance can be simulated. Input
variables are the thrusts of the two engines, output variables the angular speed
and the orientation angle of the aircraft. |
 |
Stirring tank cascade.
This plant model represents a cascade of three stirring tanks which contain a liquid of a certain color concentration (variables x1, x2 and x3). The controlled variable is the color concentration in the third tank (x3). The first tank can be filled by two inflows, the first one contains pure water and can be controlled by a valve. The second inflow adds the colouring. The maximum colouring inflow and the color concentration of the inflow (disturbance z) can be set. The actual inflow (manipulated variable) is regulated by a valve. |
 |
Synchronous motion control.
This plant model demonstrates a typical synchronous motion control with the example of sychronizing two belts. It is the automatic control task to synchronize the belt below with the belt above in such a way that the positions of both belts correspond to each other (indicated by the boxes on the belts). |
| Prices: |
|
|
| Education licence: |
EUR |
| Single course (German) | 150,00 |
| Set of all courses (incl. plant models, excl. DLL-sources) (German) | 690,00 |
| Set of plant models (separately) (German) | 390,00 |
| DLL-sources for plant models (only as completion) | 135,00 |
Please refer to our price lists for current prices of all products!