A low-cost system for remote access and control of automation equipment

The shift towards remote access and control of equipment has become more prominent, especially due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Access to physical/real equipment for practical learning remains important for engineering studies. Thus, this paper presents an approach for remotely accessing and controlling automation equipment for engineering practical activities. Specifically, it addresses the issue of accessing and controlling machines for programmable logic controller (PLC) programming tasks. The combination of a scheduler, remote desktop access, graphical user interface, and a micro-controller allows students to work remotely on practical equipment. The lab computer can be accessed via a remote computer to select one of multiple equipment for practical activities. A prototype system was constructed as proof of concept. The prototype system functions as required

Tecnologías automatizadas implementadas en la FMS HAS200

This paper presents the automation implemented through a series of projects oriented towards the continuous improvement and development of the didactic systems present in HAS200 flexible manufacturing cells of the Facultad Tecnológica of the Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Through these projects, it has been possible to implement a series of automated improvements such as (i) a virtual environment of the flexible manufacturing cell, geometrically modeled for remote simulation of the didactic processes; (ii) a new automated station for recycling pellets that is integrated with the other stations to classify the raw material in three separate colors; (iii) a new user-machine interface for a Melfa Mitsubishi RV-M1 manipulator arm, which allows the recycling station to be integrated with the rest of the flexible manufacturing cell; iv) an automated gripper design for handling and subsequent opening of containers within the cell; v) an artificial vision system implemented to alternate autonomous transport of product between stations using unmanned ground vehicles; vi) a virtual course for the management and operation of the flexible manufacturing cell. The automation strategies proposed in the HAS200 can be extrapolated to real production environments under the same automation concepts, which makes each result obtained doubly beneficial.En este artículo se presenta la automatización implementada a través de una serie de proyectos orientados hacia el continuo mejoramiento y desarrollo de los sistemas didácticos presentes en celdas de manufactura flexibles HAS200 de la Facultad Tecnológica de la Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas. Por medio de dichos proyectos se ha logrado implementar una serie de mejoras automatizadas como por ejemplo: i) un entorno virtual de la celda de manufactura flexible, modelado geométricamente para la simulación remota de los procesos didácticos; ii) una novedosa estación automatizada para el reciclaje de pellets que se integra con las demás estaciones para clasificar la materia prima en tres colores separados; iii) una nueva interfaz de usuario-máquina para un brazo manipulador Melfa Mitsubishi RV-M1, que permite integrar la estación de reciclaje con el resto de la celda de manufactura flexible; iv) un diseño de gripper automatizado, para la manipulación y posterior apertura de recipientes dentro de la celda; v) un sistema de visión artificial implementado al transporte autónomo alterno de producto entre estaciones mediante vehículos terrestres no tripulados; vi) un curso virtual para el manejo y operación de la celda de manufactura flexible. La automatización propuesta en la HAS200 puede ser extrapolable hacia entornos productivos reales bajo los mismos conceptos de automatización, lo cual hace que cada resultado obtenido sea doblemente beneficioso

Development of PLC Based Navigation System for Mobile Robot

A programmed machine called mobile robot has a skilled of movement in any controlled environment. Microcontroller/microprocessor based controllers is known as the best controller for mobile robot. The difficulties of applying the Microcontroller/microprocessor based controllers as well as writing the program in it bring the attention of researches to look for easier controller such as Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). Yet, it is still very few mobile robots which used PLC as the navigation controller. This project is motivated by this situation, with a consideration to develop the type of mobile robot which is controlled by PLC because of the lack of mobile robot developed under control by PLC. Therefore, this project is trying to develop a PLC based navigation system for mobile robot, by developing the algorithm and analyze the performance of the mobile robot able to follow line hypothetically. All related works with comprised information about mobile robot, controller system and application of PLC in mobile robot navigation system are reviewed. The method to complete this project is starting with designing the program using PLC software, apply the commissioning of the PLC into a mobile robot with complete circuit wiring and analyze the project. To analyze the project, a navigation experiment is done under 2 different paths and each path is repeated for 5 times. The experiment was represented using line graph in order to know the effectiveness of the mobile robot movement using PLC system. Both path showed a good result with tolerance about 5-10% of error thus it prove the hypothesis. Lastly, as a conclusion, the significant finding in this project is proved that PLC is able to be applied as line following mobile robot control system

Towards automatic apparatus integration in Automation Remote Laboratories

International audienceIn the context of ELearning, remote handson training has become an insisting need as in traditional learning, especially in scientific and technical disciplines. Electronic Laboratories (ELabs) have been growing for the last few years. LIESP team started in 2002 a research aiming to provide a framework which helps towards exchanging ELab learning scenarios when they fit to similar apparatuses (same functions, maybe not the same hardware). Meanwhile, LIMOS team focused on a design process to automate PLC code generation to help to design and generate programs for industrial discrete systems. This paper presents a project of merging these approaches to help ELab designers to design and integrate apparatuses into ELab frameworks when these apparatuses are discrete systems

Towards semi-automatic generation of training scenarios in industrial automated systems

International audienceIn the context of E-Learning, remote hands-on training has become an insisting need as in traditional learning, especially in scientific and technical disciplines. Electronic Laboratories (ELabs) have been growing for the last few years. But till now, exchanging learning scenarios of ELabs is still difficult as existing scenarios (elaborated by means of standard ELearning authoring tools) are restricted to specific apparatuses, which prevents instructors from reusing or exchanging scenarios. Actually, LIESP team started in 2002 a research aiming to provide a framework which helps towards exchanging ELab learning scenarios when they fit to similar apparatuses (same functions, maybe not the same hardware). Meanwhile, LIMOS team focused on a design process to automate PLC code generation to help to design and generate programs for industrial discrete systems. This paper presents a project of merging these works to help ELab designers to design and integrate apparatuses into ELab frameworks when these apparatuses are discrete systems

A bibliometric and classification study of Project-based Learning in engineering education

Engineering education has been the subject of studies in search of approaches that provide better results in terms of learning. The Project Based Learning approach (PBL) is the subject of this study from the point of view of its application in Engineering. The objective is to present a classification and bibliometric analysis of PBL in Engineering. Publications on the subject were identified through queries at the journal databases at ISI Web of Science and Scopus SCImago between 2000 and 2016. The results highlight the benefits from the use of the PBL approach to learning in Engineering showing increased absorption of technical content by students and the development of soft and multi-disciplinary skills. The bibliometric analysis revealed the most relevant journals in the subject, authors and the most cited papers and keywords. New horizons to advance the use of PBL in engineering education are discussed

Control strategy for a flexible analytical chemistry robotics system

This thesis is the result of work carried out during more than two years on a Teaching Company Scheme. Liaison took place between Rhone-Poulenc Agriculture Limited (the industrial partner), hereafter referred to as RPAL or the company, and Middlesex University (the academic partner). The aim of the Scheme was to realise the design, development, commissioning, testing and validation of an intelligent robotic system for sample analysis of trace pesticides and metabolites in order to enable quicker product development. Due to the complexity of the project and the range of technical expertise and skills needed for its implementation, three associates participated in the Programme. I joined as the second associate. With my degree in Industrial Engineering, I have been in overall charge of developing the computational aspects of the system, from control overview to implementation and validation. Two distinct types of studies will be carried out with the robot based system: • Routine extraction of pesticide from soil or plant material, which is compound as well as analyst dependant. • Method development studies, to optimise those routine extraction processes. Traditional strategies of control were not applicable for such system because we were dealing with the automation of a non repetitive process involving non-deterministic operations (evaporation, filtration, etc.). The resulting control system should provide a high degree of flexibility to allow workcell reconfiguration without involving any reprogramming. Modularity is also a must if expansion and upgrading to new technologies and equipment is to involve relatively little cost and effort. In addition, all generated data has to be stored and reported following Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards. As the system is both large and flexible in operation, it has proven a real challenge to develop. Software had to be written that can - among its many tasks - allow unrestricted analyst choice, optimise system performance, detect, prioritise and act upon error signals, dynamically schedule robot and instrument operation in real time, trace samples as they pass through the system and generate results as reports stored in databases. The system is now virtually complete, and is presently undergoing the last stages of the validation. Due to the success of this scheme, further cooperative ventures are being planned between Rhone-Poulenc and Middlesex University in both the UK and France

The programmable logic controller : its prehistory, emergence and application

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are widely used devices controlling industrial machines and processes and many other diverse applications, requiring primarily, combinatorial logic and sequential control. The PLC is a hidden technology, little known by the general public and overlooked in academic historical studies of technology. The research reported in this thesis aims to address this lack of awareness. The thesis explores the development of sequential and combinatorial logic control technologies, the emergence of the PLC, its subsequent development and its industrial applications. Patents and first- hand accounts and experiences from senior industrial engineers in a number of diverse manufacturing industries have been used as the primary research sources since, as a hidden technology, academic historical accounts are sparse. This approach illustrates, through using the PLC as an example, a potential method of studying other, unrelated hidden technologies. The research has revealed the influence of geography, industrial settings and earlier engineering practices on the design, selection and application of PLC control technologies, and comments on the how these influences define specific communities of practice

Experimentação Remota em Atividades de Ensino Formal: um Estudo a Partir de Periódicos Qualis A

É apresentado nesse trabalho um estado da arte sobre o uso da Experimentação Remota no ensino formal, a partir do levantamento e análise de trabalhos sobre o assunto em revistas e periódicos de Ensino e Educação, no Brasil e no exterior. O intuito é investigar se (e como) os laboratórios remotos estão sendo utilizados no ensino, particularmente, no ensino de Física. Foram selecionados e analisados artigos de periódicos Qualis A nacionais e internacionais, entre os anos 2000 e 2009. No desenvolvimento de nosso trabalho não encontramos relatos de pesquisa sobre acesso remoto a experimentos para a área de Física ou de como isso pode incrementar o processo de ensino e aprendizagem dessa disciplina. Desta forma, as eventuais limitações na utilização desta ferramenta no ensino devem ser estudadas de forma aprofundada e suas potencialidades exploradas no sentido de suprir as necessidades de uma aula prática