NSF Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement: Computer Control Laboratory

综合自动化系统的计算机控制的实验室工作必须解决分布式控制和通信网络的问题。目前，计算机控制实验课的重点是设备级。本项目的目的是围绕分级控制概念重组课程。对学生的影响是对自动化中计算机控制的看法发生了变化。通过这一新的重点，学生将展示将单独控制的设备集成到完整的自动化系统中的能力。学生将通过制定控制系统的通信规则来学习通信的基础知识。这些规则将用于控制由机器人和机床等各种机器组成的工作中心。对于学生来说，下一步是控制整个工厂车间。这些进展将通过购买新的实验室设备来实现。两个主要的设备需求是计算机网络和计算机工作站。网络是在控制系统中提供通信所必需的。工作站将以两种方式使用：(1)提供学生和系统之间的接口；(2)模拟物理设备，如机床、熔炉、传送带等，这些设备对于实验室设施来说太大和昂贵。

Laboratory work in computer control of integrated automated systems must address the issues of distributed control and communication networks. The current focus of the laboratory course in computer control is at device level. The intent of this project to restructure the course around hierarchical control concepts. The impact on the student is a change in perspective on computer control in automation. With this new focus, students will demonstrate an ability to integrate individually controlled devices into complete, automated systems. Students will learn the basics of communications by developing communication rules for control systems. These rules will be used to control work centers consisting of a variety of machines such as robots and machine tools. The next step for students is to control an entire factory floor. These advances will be made through the acquisition of new laboratory equipment. The two main equipment needs are a computer network and computer workstations. The network is necessary to provide communications in the control system. Workstations will be used in two ways: (1) to provide an interface between from the student and the system and (2) to emulate physical devices such as machine tools, furnaces, conveyors, and the like, which are too large and expensive for the laboratory facility.