Resumo:
This master’s thesis explores the development and impact of a web-based Programmable
Logic Controller (PLC) simulator, aiming to improve technical and professional education
and promote digital inclusion. In a context where industrial automation is rapidly expanding,
and PLCs play a crucial role in controlling industrial machines and processes, the
complexity of PLC programming represents a substantial obstacle, especially for beginners.
The developed PLC simulator, by offering a safe and controlled virtual environment
for programming and simulation, emerges as an innovative educational solution, allowing
users to experiment and test various programming and control strategies. Its main advantage
lies in its web-based access, enabling use anywhere with internet access, which
provides flexibility to students and professionals and eliminates the need for physical
equipment, reducing the risk of damage or interruptions in production. The relevance of
simulators in the teaching and learning process, also recognized in academic literature,
is particularly highlighted in this study, given their ability to provide a safe environment
for the practice of complex skills, crucial in risky fields such as electrical engineering and
industrial automation. The dissertation approach includes everything from the conception
to the technical implementation of the simulator, in addition to an analysis based on
research with technical level users, aiming to evaluate its effectiveness in the learning process.
The results obtained are important for the continuous improvement of the tool and
for the expansion of its educational applications, emphasizing the simulator’s potential to
improve the teaching of PLC programming and contribute significantly to the training of
more qualified professionals prepared to meet the demands of the automation industry.
