Feedback Instrument's Ball & Plate Control System
Imagine throwing a ball onto a plate and it being stabilised exactly in the
centre within two seconds. The remarkable response of this control system is due
to the implementation of advanced control techniques which are now prevalent in
modern industrial processes.
Feedback Ball and Plate Control System
demonstrates a classic control problem of balancing a sphere on a flat surface
and maintaining its position. It can then be programmed to make the ball
describe a circular or any other shaped path around the plate.
The unique
electromagnetic table actuation enables the study of this unstable system in
real-time using sophisticated controllers. The
progressive nature of the student exercises enables the study of the problem
from first principles to more advanced control concepts. The product provides a
useful insight into control engineering at all levels of undergraduate study and
enables advanced users to model and control the Ball and Plate using their own
strategy.
The Ball and Plate unit consists of a base plate, four plate
actuators, two sensing potentiometers, a very light table and a digital camera
suspended above. The system incorporates a NI acquisition card for processing
position sensor signals and deriving coil drive signals.
Features
- Intriguing control experiment featuring extensive courseware
- Progressive student exercises
- Enables study of real-time control of a non-linear and unstable process
- Implementation of digital control techniques
- Ball position sensing and image processing using USB camera
- Open and closed loop configurations
- Fully assembled plant with integral power supply
- Suitable for undergraduate courses in electrical, electronic and mechanical engineering
Click on the picture for a Demo Videoclip on YouTube®
