Development of a Web-Based Control Laboratory for Automation Technicians: The Three-Tank System

This paper introduces a Web-based control laboratory for experimentation on a nonlinear multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system: the three-tank plant. Using this application, automation technician students can learn in a practical way many fundamental aspects of control processes. The client-side of the virtual laboratory has been developed using the programming support provided by Easy Java Simulations (EJS), an open-source tool for teachers with limited programming skills who want to create Java applications and applets. The lab has been integrated in the collaborative Web-based experimentation environment eMersion which provides more flexibility for the students performing the laboratory experiments.

[1]  Sangarapillai Kanapathipillai,et al.  Engineering students' understanding of the role of experimentation , 2000 .

[2]  P. Atkinson,et al.  Process Control Systems , 1968 .

[3]  Francisco Esquembre,et al.  Easy Java Simulations: a software tool to create scientific simulations in Java , 2004 .

[4]  S. Dormido,et al.  The quadruple-tank process: An interactive tool for control education , 2003, 2003 European Control Conference (ECC).

[5]  Sebastián Dormido-Canto,et al.  The Role of Interactivity in Control Learning , 2005 .

[6]  Denis Gillet.  Towards Flexible Learning in Engineering Education , 2003 .

[7]  Karl Henrik Johansson,et al.  Design of decoupled PI controllers for two-by-two systems , 2002 .

[8]  S. Dormido,et al.  Interactive Learning of Control Concepts Using Easy Java Simulations , .

[9]  Sebastián Dormido-Bencomo,et al.  Control learning: present and future , 2004, Annu. Rev. Control..

[10]  José Sánchez Moreno,et al.  WEB-BASED VIRTUAL LAB AND REMOTE EXPERIMENTATION USING EASY JAVA SIMULATIONS , 2005 .

[11]  Denis Gillet,et al.  Sustaining Collaboration within a Learning Community in Flexible Engineering Education , 2004 .

[12]  Denis Gillet,et al.  Collaborative web-based experimentation in flexible engineering education , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Education.

[13]  Ole K. Solbjørg,et al.  Game play in vocational training and engineering education , 2007 .

[14]  S. Dormido,et al.  Adding interactivity to existing Simulink models using Easy Java Simulations , 2005, Proceedings of the 44th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control.

[15]  F. G. Greg Shinskey,et al.  Process Control Systems: Application, Design and Tuning , 1990 .

[16]  Fernando Morilla,et al.  A Java/Matlab-based environment for remote control system laboratories: illustrated with an inverted pendulum , 2004, IEEE Transactions on Education.

[17]  Katrina Strampel,et al.  Learning Objects in Use: 'Lite' Assessment for Field Studies , 2005 .

[18]  Ole K. Solbjørg,et al.  GAME PLAY IN VOCATIONAL TRINING AND ENINGEERING EDUCATION , 2006 .

[19]  Fernando Morilla,et al.  Virtual and remote control labs using Java: a qualitative approach , 2002 .