The Consortial Approach to Advanced Control Laboratory Education LUBOMIR SMUTNY & RADIM FARANA Department of Control Systems and Instrumentation VSB – Technical University of Ostrava 17. listopadu 15, 708 33 Ostrava-Poruba CZECH REPUBLIC lubomir.smutny@vs http://www.vsb.cz/~smu50 http://www.vsb.cz/~far10 Abstract: A fundamental part of university education creates a connection between the theoretical or simulation approaches of experimental methods for verifying the coincidence of laboratory stands. An illustration of practical physical model properties is of cardinal importance for experimental engineering exercises, for comparing computer simulation tasks with practical experience and with real-time measured signals from technological aggregates. This paper deals with the important role laboratory experimental stands play with microcomputers for quality control engineering education and the design and verification of new control algorithms. At the Department of CSI VŠB-TU FME Ostrava a HAA2005 model (Hot-Air Aggregate) of climate unit with two controlled variables (temperature, air flow) was designed and produced. The HAA model, as an air tool (air-conditioning), is a dynamic system with multiple inputs and outputs. Experimental laboratory models allow us to easily understand the principles of the aggregate parts, measurement and control devices, signal character, noise, dynamic responses and to cross over easier to real technological systems. The consortial approach to project was completed by a group of five Czech universities – VŠB- TU FME Ostrava, UTB IIT Zlín, Univ. FCHE Pardubice, TU FM Liberec and CTU FME Prague, with the main proposer being the Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Science Academy of Prague. Every project participant designed and realized its own laboratory model with a real time control system and web support. Key-Words: - Control, Laboratory education, Lab stand, Consortial approach, WEB support. 1 Introduction The development of new communication infrastructures allows us to extend the function offered by distance learning to real laboratories whose physical processes can be remote controlled [1], [3]. A typical virtual laboratory tool proposes emulation or simulation allowing distance interaction with laboratory instruments. Simulation is the proper way to complement control education but in general, it cannot replace experiments in a real laboratory. In this paper we present the results obtained during the completion of some real projects. Automation is an interdisciplinary technology. It covers design, materials, electrical components, automatic control, electronics, optical parts and so on. Hands-on experience in automation technology education is typically provided through laboratories and an expert’s experience [4]. Significant advances in Internet and computer technology have made it possible to develop an Internet-based virtual lab system to support distance learning courses that require a laboratory component where Internet-based control laboratory experiments such as measurement, monitoring, and control applications can be accessed remotely. Remote engineering is becoming an import element in engineering education; accordingly there is a growing need for new learning media and tools [2]. 2 Design, production and utilization of experimental stands for teaching purposes The basic requirements for the design and production of laboratory experimental stands were described in [3] and [4] with these main topics: Θ similarity of a physical laboratory model with real industrial apparatus, Θ good dynamical responses of output signals, Θ miniaturization of dimensions and power input, Θ unified input and output electrical signals, Θ good possibility of connection with a PC computer, Θ availability of model function parts and their low price. At the Department of Control Systems & Instrumentation of VŠB-TU FME Ostrava a number of laboratory experimental stands, models and education tools were designed and produced during the past few years [4]. These stands were utilized for practical exercises in the subjects Measurement and Sensors, Means of Automatic Control, Microcomputer Measurement Systems, Design of Process Systems, Signal Processing, etc. In the next few figures we can see the main results of the GACZ project from the TU Ostrava and there are shown Proceedings of the 4th WSEAS/IASME International Conference on Engineering Education, Agios Nikolaos, Crete Island, Greece, July 24-26, 2007 211