Flexy2: A Portable Laboratory Device for Control Engineering Education. Issue 9 (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kalúz, Martin; Klaučo, Martin; Čirka, L'uboš; Fikar, Miroslav
• Is Part Of: IFAC-PapersOnLine. Volume 52:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Laboratory devices -- Control education -- System identification -- PID control -- Embedded systems; Automatic control -- Periodicals; 629.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.08.121
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2405-8963

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes a use of laboratory device Flexy 2 for purposes of control education. The device is a simple air flow dynamical system where a computer fan is used as an actuator and a flexible resistor as a sensor. Flexy 2 is designed to directly support practical learning in courses focused on automatic control and programming. The device's properties, principle of operation, dynamical behavior, interfacing features, and general paradigms of usage in education are described. We demonstrate the versatility of the device by providing two case studies that actually take place in our courses. The first is system identification and PID control design via MATLAB and Simulink, and the second is an algorithmic implementation of real time control system using an embedded controller.