Automation software for a materials testing laboratory

A comprehensive software system for automating much of the experimental process has recently been completed at the Lewis Research Center's high-temperature fatigue and structures laboratory. The system was designed to support experiment definition and conduct, results analysis and archiving, and report generation activities. This was accomplished through the design and construction of several software systems, as well as through the use of several commercially available software products, all operating on a local, distributed minicomputer system. Experimental capabilities currently supported in an automated fashion include both isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue and deformation testing capabilities. The future growth and expansion of this system will be directed toward providing multiaxial test control, enhanced thermomechanical test control, and higher test frequency (hundreds of hertz)

DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROL IN A COMPLEX OF SOFTWARE DESIGN OF DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

This article provides the functionality of creating direct digital control devices in the computer-aided design of digital automatic control systems (CAD of digital ACS), in a complex of software design of digital control systems (SDSDC complex) for automated process control systems. Technical tools are defined by the international standard IEC 61131-1: 2003 (Part 1: General data). The possibility of implementing SDSDC complex in direct digital control, single-cycle and multi-cycle ladder diagrams, identification of objects of management and synthesis of digital controllers in comparison with the international standard IEC 61131-3: 2003 (Part 3: Programming Languages) are evaluated. Users’ productivity is estimated as well as the possibility of its separation between the users at different stages of the design of digital systems of automatic control is assessed

DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROL IN A COMPLEX OF SOFTWARE DESIGN OF DIGITAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

This article provides the functionality of creating direct digital control devices in the computer-aided design of digital automatic control systems (CAD of digital ACS), in a complex of software design of digital control systems (SDSDC complex) for automated process control systems. Technical tools are defined by the international standard IEC 61131-1: 2003 (Part 1: General data). The possibility of implementing SDSDC complex in direct digital control, single-cycle and multi-cycle ladder diagrams, identification of objects of management and synthesis of digital controllers in comparison with the international standard IEC 61131-3: 2003 (Part 3: Programming Languages) are evaluated. Users’ productivity is estimated as well as the possibility of its separation between the users at different stages of the design of digital systems of automatic control is assessed

Test-driven development of embedded control systems: application in an automotive collision prevention system

With test-driven development (TDD) new code is not written until an automated test has failed, and duplications of functions, tests, or simply code fragments are always removed. TDD can lead to a better design and a higher quality of the developed system, but to date it has mainly been applied to the development of traditional software systems such as payroll applications. This thesis describes the novel application of TDD to the development of embedded control systems using an automotive safety system for preventing collisions as an example. The basic prerequisite for test-driven development is the availability of an automated testing framework as tests are executed very often. Such testing frameworks have been developed for nearly all programming languages, but not for the graphical, signal driven language Simulink. Simulink is commonly used in the automotive industry and can be considered as state-of-the-art for the design and development of embedded control systems in the automotive, aerospace and other industries. The thesis therefore introduces a novel automated testing framework for Simulink. This framework forms the basis for the test-driven development process by integrating the analysis, design and testing of embedded control systems into this process. The thesis then shows the application of TDD to a collision prevention system. The system architecture is derived from the requirements of the system and four software components are identified, which represent problems of particular areas for the realisation of control systems, i.e. logical combinations, experimental problems, mathematical algorithms, and control theory. For each of these problems, a concept to systematically derive test cases from the requirements is presented. Moreover two conventional approaches to design the controller are introduced and compared in terms of their stability and performance. The effectiveness of the collision prevention system is assessed in trials on a driving simulator. These trials show that the system leads to a significant reduction of the accident rate for rear-end collisions. In addition, experiments with prototype vehicles on test tracks and field tests are presented to verify the system’s functional requirements within a system testing approach. Finally, the new test-driven development process for embedded control systems is evaluated in comparison to traditional development processes

Lighting Control Systems: Factors Affecting Energy Savings' Evaluation☆

Abstract The use of automated lighting control systems allows to reduce lighting costs and to achieve significant energy savings. The energy performances of controls are affected by many factors, the impact of which is very difficult to account for during the design process. The goal of this paper is to describe the factors that influence the control systems' energy performances, to analyze how the currently available calculation tools take them into account and finally to propose a simple method to adjust results obtained from the simulation software

An upgraded ultra-high vacuum magnetron-sputtering system for high-versatility and software-controlled deposition

Magnetron sputtering is a widely used physical vapor deposition technique. Reactive sputtering is used for the deposition of, e.g, oxides, nitrides and carbides. In fundamental research, versatility is essential when designing or upgrading a deposition chamber. Furthermore, automated deposition systems are the norm in industrial production, but relatively uncommon in laboratory-scale systems used primarily for fundamental research. Combining automatization and computerized control with the required versatility for fundamental research constitutes a challenge in designing, developing, and upgrading laboratory deposition systems. The present article provides a detailed description of the design of a lab-scale deposition chamber for magnetron sputtering used for the deposition of metallic, oxide, nitride and oxynitride films with automated controls, dc or pulsed bias, and combined with a coil to enhance the plasma density near the substrate. LabVIEW software (provided as Supplementary Information) has been developed for a high degree of computerized or automated control of hardware and processes control and logging of process details.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

From Autonomous to Performative Control of Timbral Spatialisation

Timbral spatialisation is one such process that requires the independent control of potentially thousands of parameters (Torchia, et al., 2003). Current research on controlling timbral spatialisation has focussed either on automated generative systems, or suggested that to design trajectories in software is to write every movement line by line (Normandeau, 2009). This research proposes that Wave Terrain Synthesis may be used as an effective bridging control structure for timbral spatialisation, enabling the performative control of large numbers of parameter sets associated with software. This methodology also allows for compact interactive mapping possibilities for a physical controller, and may also be effectively mapped gesturall

An integrated computer-aided modular fixture design system for machining semi-circular parts

Productivity is one of the most important factors in manufacturing processes because of the high level of market competition. In this regard, modular fixtures (MFs) play an important role in practically improving productivity in flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) due to this technology using highly productive computer numerical control (CNC) machines. MFs consist of devices called jigs and fixtures for accurately holding the workpiece during different machining operations. The design process is complex, and traditional methods of MF design were not sufficiently productive. Computer-aided design (CAD) software has rapidly improved as a result of the development of computer technology, and has provided huge opportunities for modular fixture designers to use its 3D modelling capabilities to develop more automated systems. Computer-aided fixture design (CAFD) systems have become automated by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This study will investigate the further improvement of automated CAFD systems by using AI tools. In this research, an integrated CAFD is developed by considering four main requirements: · a 3D model of the workpiece, · an expert system, · assembly automation of MFs, · an efficient feature library. The 3D model is an important factor that can provide the appropriate specification of the workpiece; SolidWorks is used the CAD environment for undertaking the 3D modelling in this study. The expert system is applied as a tool to make right decisions about the CAFD planning process, including locating and clamping methods and their related element selection. This helps achieve a feasible fixture design layout. SolidWorks API and Visual Basic programming language are employed for the automating and simulation of the assembly process of MFs. A feature library of modular fixture elements is constructed as a means to simplify the fixture design process

Проектирование автоматизированной системы управления блочно-кустовой насосной станции

Данная работа является проектом разработки автоматизированной компьютерной системы управления. Представлен выбор технических и программных средств, математический аппарат и программное обеспечение при проектирование автоматизированных систем управления SCADA. В работе отражены физические основы работы устройств АС, протоколов и интерфейсов систем автоматизации технологических процессов, требования ГОСТ по разработке технической документации проектов АС.This work is a project for the development of an automated computer control system. The choice of hardware and software, mathematical apparatus and software for the design of automated control systems SCADA. The work reflects the physical basis of the AC devices, protocols and interfaces of process automation systems, the requirements of GOST for the development of technical documentation of AC projects