Industrial Automation Self-Learning Through the Develoment of Didactic Industrial Processes

Trabalho apresentado no 20th International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning, 27-29 de setembro 2017, Budapeste, HungriaTeaching industrial automation is a complex mission. The classical approach is based on lectures and laboratories assisted by teachers. Nevertheless, teaching industrial automation using the classical approach is not easy because this multidisciplinary area requires knowledge in control, energy, electronics, robotics and computer engineering, among others. In this way, this paper presents an approach to teach Industrial Automation based on a self learning strategy. Instead of using the classical approach, students must develop a research work and a didactic automation prototype. The results of this methodology indicate that students increase the interest about industrial automation and clarify important aspects of assembly, commissioning, parameterization and programming of electric and electronic devices. Additionally this methodology seems to increase self-confidence of students and give them the necessary background to face the challenge of working in the real world.N/

A didactic electronic set-up for introducing to complex networks of chaotic oscillators

The paper describes a portable didactic experiment, realizing a complex network of Chua's circuits, along with its use for introducing collective dynamics in networks of nonlinear oscillators to students. The equipment enables the full configurability of the node's parameters and the network structure (topology and link impedances). An 8 nodes portable version is realized as a demonstrator, however the corresponding laboratory experiment is designed to be easily scalable to a high number of nodes. The network's control and the data acquisition are automated thanks to a USB interface board and a LabVIEW control interface. The experiment allows the student to perform some direct real time analysis of a set of networked (coupled) Chua's circuits, with the goal to give immediate impact to the discovery of collective behaviors. In particular, the proposed experiences range from the characterization of the complex dynamics of the isolated nodes to the complete synchronization, as well as the emergence of clustering and waves. It is adopted within some course on Advanced Circuit Theory at the Master Degree level