28537 - Control System Engineering and Technology T

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course, the students have to know the basics of engineering and technology of modern industrial control and automation systems. In particular:

- typical architectures of industrial control and automation systems;

- main components of industrial control and automation system (sensors, actuators, control units, interface electronics, communication systems);

- software tools and standards to implement control and automation.

Beside, the students have to achieve the following capabilities:

- to design and develop automation software for medium-complexity applications;

- to carry out a preliminary design of analog/digital electronics for sensor signals acquisition;

- to choose typology and size of electric drives for motion control applications (“electric drives” are a particular kind of actuators). 

Course contents

The Course can be divided in two main areas:

- architectures and components of industrial control and automation systems;

- software tools and standards to implement industrial control and automation.

In the first area, hardware architectures of control and automation systems are briefly introduced, mapping the classical “functional schemes” of the Automatic Control theory in “technological schemes”. Afterwards, the main classes of devices used in control and automation are introduced. For each class some components are considered, enlightening selection and sizing criteria.

As far as the second area is concerned, the main issues related to the software implementation of control algorithms (continuous events) and automation sequences (discrete events) are presented. The design and the SW implementation of automation sequences according to the IEC61131 standard is deeply analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the implementation on PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), which are a standard-de-facto in automation systems. By means of a CAD tool for design and simulation of automation sequences, many examples are presented to the students. This is also instrumental for the students to carry out the automation sequence design for a specific plant, as required to take the examination.

Detailed list of arguments:

- Technological architecture of control systems.

- Transducers: definitions, classification (sensors and actuators), characteristics.

- Most common sensors for autiomation.

  Position: potenziometer, resolver, encoder.

  Speed: encoder, resolver, dynamo.

  Strain, Force and Pressure: strain gauges.

  Temperature: termocouples, RTD

  Electric current: resistive shunt, Hall-effect based.

- Interface electronics:

  Differential and instrumentation amplifiers. Multiplexer and Sample/Hold. A/D D/A converters.

- Introduction to digital control unit in automation

  Microcontrollers and DSP. PLC. Industrial PC.

- Software for control and automation

  Introduction to real-time system for control applications

  Automation sequences for plant and machines

  General criteria for automation and control SW design. IEC-61131.

  Automation sequence design. Examples. CAD tool for automation sofware design and simulation.

  Brief introduction to advanced design methodology for automation software

- Brief introduction to communication systems in automation

- An important kind of actuators for automation: electric drives

  Main features of electric drives, different electric motors and control algorithms.

  Introduction to motion control. Choice of typology and size of an electric drive depending on the motion task.

- Introduction to Motion Control Systems

  Basics and architectures

  A standard for programming

(Some of the contents could be revised)

Readings/Bibliography

Material given by the teacher. 

Bonivento, Gentili, Paoli "Sistemi di automazione industriale - Architetture e controllo" McGraw-Hill, ISBN 88-386-6440-4 (recommended)

Bonfatti, Monari, Sampieri "IEC 1131-3 Programming Methodology" CJ International (to study in depth, only).

Teaching methods

Traditional classes, supported by Power Point presentations Some classes are used to introduce a CAD tool to design automation software. Exercices are solved using the blakboard.

Assessment methods

Examination is composed by three parts, the first and the second are mandatory, while the third is optional:

1. Written examination (3.5 hours long) with some open questions with "short" answers and two exercises:

- the first concerns the interface electronics to acquire sensor signals;

- the second concerns the choice of typology and size of electric drives;

2. Presentation of an automation software project to control a specific plant (each project can be carried out by groups with three students at most)

3. Oral examination with some deep questions on the subject of the Course.

Further information (in italian) can be found in the Course web page (http://www-lar.deis.unibo.it/people/atilli/Ing-Tecn-T1.htm) and in the material available in AMS Campus

Teaching tools

PC and Videoprojector for PowerPoint presentation.

A CAD tool is adopted to develop and simulate logic control applications.

A laboratory (LAB1) is available (in time-sharing with other Courses) where the students can carry out free experiences concerning the Course.

Links to further information

http://www-lar.deis.unibo.it/people/atilli/Ing-Tecn-T1.html

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Tilli