1. AN ENVIRONMENT FOR REMOTE CONTROL
Paulo Almeida, Fernando Vieira Coito, Luis Brito Palma
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica
Monte da Caparica, Portugal
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

2. Overview of Presentation
Abstract
Introduction
Architectures of the ERC System
Experimental Results
Conclusions
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

3. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Abstract
This paper presents an environment (ERC system) for remote monitoring and control of dynamic systems
The ERC architecture is based on a server and multiple clients via TCP/IP
This system works with models and real systems
Different type of controllers (PID, fuzzy, etc) can be implemented
This system is being tested on a control education environment
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

4. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Introduction
Remote monitoring and control
Remote process monitoring was the first type of application in networked instrumentation
Laboratories
Engineering courses needs a great number of laboratories, and some of them are full or restrict
Few equipment exists for many students
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

5. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Introduction
Real laboratories
Typical constraints are:
Reduced space
Time limited access
High cost of equipments
Technologies for virtual laboratories
Common Gateway Interface - CGI
Active Server Pages – ASP
JavaScript
Use of HTML browser
LabView® and Matlab® platforms
Complex controllers need a technology based on measurements and controls
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

6. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Introduction
The proposed approach
Implemented based on the LabView® and Matlab® platforms
Use a Client-Server architecture for real and virtual laboratories
Works with real physical systems or process models
Virtual instruments are used for remote control via TCP/IP
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

7. Architectures of ERC system
Hardware Architecture
Server Architecture
Client Architecture
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8. Architectures of ERC system
Hardware Architecture
Several real equipments can be connected to the Server via DAQ boards
The TCP/IP protocol is used for communication between Server and Clients
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9. Architectures of ERC system
Server Architecture
Communication protocol and hardware drivers are implemented by
The server software supervises the clients and control the real process or models
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10. Architectures of ERC system
Server Architecture
Usually, the control algorithms are previously implemented on the server
Also, through scripts, the user can implement its proper controller
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

11. Architectures of ERC system
Client Architecture
Is similar to the server architecture
The user, via an interface, can run a remote controller on the server
Also, a new control algorithm script) can be uploaded to the Server
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

12. Architectures of ERC system
Client Architecture
Each client have a limited time to run the experiments
The ERC system allows users to visualize the signals of active user
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13. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Experimental Results
Some experiments were done in order to test the performance of the ERC system
A general architecture of a closed-loop control system was used
The step-response and the PID control algorithm were used to test the ERC system on models, and on real systems
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal

14. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Experimental Results
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15. 1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal
Conclusions
The ERC system is appropriate to be use in virtual laboratories
Runs on a client-server architecture based on Labview® and Matlab® softwares
Remote Clients can monitor or control process models or real systems
The communication is done via the TCP/IP protocol
Monitoring and PID control algorithms were tested, and shown a good performance
1st Virtual-Lab 2004, Setúbal-Portugal