Resumo:
This work has as goal to implement a simple and efficient system that enables to make
experiments in control loops from afar using data communications resources, like the Internet.
The proposal consists in the accomplishment of practical experiments from afar using didactic
sets of continuous processes control systems. The purpose is to enable the execution of real
experiments of control systems in a remote way such as processes of level, outflow, position,
temperature, etc.
With the increasing availability of resources and the cost reduction of information
technology, it is very promising and feasible using a data communication network to
interconnect control systems to personal microcomputers, aiming the accomplishment of
practical experiments and the visualization of the data obtained in a remote way.
The proposed system also incorporates a digital camera (webcam) which allows the
visual observation of the experiments accomplished remotely. The advantage of the system is
that a single laboratory set can be shared from afar by several users regardless of their
physical locations. In other words, the users do not need to be physically in the laboratory to
carry out the experiments, being able to use microcomputers that are connected in other rooms
of the institution or even externally. As a result, it is not necessary to have several identical
kits for the accomplishment of the laboratory experiments. It enables the cost reduction in the
acquisition of equipment for teaching laboratories. And even the optimization of the
utilization of the rooms destined to the laboratories.
Resources client/server of data communication web environments, programming
language oriented will be used in the accomplishment of this work. One or more didactic
systems, in a reduced scale, will be used to exemplify the controlled processes. The interfaces
with the instruments of the processes will be accomplished through data acquisition systems
of low cost. The algorithms of classical control like PID (Proportional-integral-derivative)
will be implemented by software.
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Experiments with a didactic system of level were carried out and the results that were
gotten were promising. The system proved itself to be of simple utilization and to operate
effectively.
The considered system is being currently implemented in practically all the process
(outflow, pressure, temperature and position) of the Laboratory of Control of Industrial
Continuous Processes of the Federal University of Itajubá.
