Academic literature on the topic 'LabVIEW hardware platform'

LabVIEW is a graphical programming environment used by millions of engineers and scientists to develop sophisticated measurement, test, and control systems using intuitive graphical icons and wires that resemble a flowchart. It offers unrivaled integration with thousands of hardware devices and provides hundreds of built-in libraries for advanced analysis and data visualization, all for creating virtual instrumentation.The paper discussed the main features of virtual instrumetation and listed the main industrial applications. The research and analysis is the key function of LabVIEW software and has been detailed summarized. Finally, the author discussed the future development of LabVIEW software.

This PID temperature measurement and control experiment platform is composed of LabVIEW software, PCI-6024E data acquisition card and SC-2075 breadboard. Its hardware uses thermocouple to measure temperature and controllable silicon to control the current of the electric heater, thus to control temperature; and its software uses LabVIEW to design the front panel and block program of the control system. After the hardware experiment platform is built and connected with the program, it could realize PID temperature control and high or low temperature alarm at the same time. The system is proved to have practical value and application significance.

AbstractThe main contribution of this paper is to present the efficiency of LabVIEW in simulating and controlling a servo system with conventional methods (PI and PID control), as well as sliding mode control (SMC). The control of an actual system with LabVIEW and NI hardware provides an efficient implementation platform, using both LabVIEW’s graphical programming and the text-based m-file language MathScript RT. Both programming environments and the connection to NI hardware are relatively easy to use, therefore, ideal for education. The graphical “coding” can help novice users to see through their algorithms. However, the mathematical background of sliding mode control is difficult compared to conventional PID control; the SMC implementation for practical uses can be quite simple, as the presented example demonstrates. The first didactic step is a simulation with the Control Design and Simulation, as well as MathScript RT Modules. Then a myRIO Student Embedded Device is used to control a real servo system. LabVIEW code can be compiled to run on computers, (soft) real-time targets, and FPGAs (hard real-time targets), so students can easily and quickly step up to real industrial measurement and control problems without the need to learn new programming environments.

A photoacoustic microscope system based on virtual instrument development environment is presented, including ultrasonic sensor, digital oscilloscope, laser diode, personal calculation and other hardware platforms. and developed supporting software and image reconstruction algorithms. In the subcutaneous angiography experiment, the distribution characteristics of the ear blood vessels in mouse were completely reproduced perfectly, and the spatial resolution of the system can reach 14um. The system and method can potentially to develop into a non-invasive biological tissue structure and functional imaging technique.

In this paper, we proposed a set of data acquisition signal generator based on LabVIEW development tools, and realized the data communication from data collection terminal to testing the PC that based on serial port. Completed the function which of including data acquisition, signal generating and verified by simulation. The different between traditional generator and the Labview designed generator is to banish tedious and bulkiness of the traditional generator. With its unrivaled hardware integration and other unparalleled features, LabVIEW is an industry-leading software platform.

Real-time model is one of the key elements in Hardware In Loop (HIL) simulations. A new Crush Natural Gas (CNG) Turbo Engine model and HIL simulation platform are presented in this paper. The platform provides simulations of engine speed, torque, dynamic load, turbo, exhaust gas temperature and emissions conditions. The platform is based on Matlab/Simulink, Labview and can be seamlessly connected with a CNG engine control unit (ECU). Simulation results indicate that platform provide us higher development efficiency as well as lower reduce development expense of ECU.

In order to realize monitor and control multiple fuel cell group, design a PEMFC monitoring and control system. The system uses LabVIEW as the computer software platform. By calling the USBCAN card’s driver, LabVIEW realize the communication with CAN bus; By connecting with each data acquisition and control module,the CAN bus can realize data acquisition and hardware control, so as to realize the monitoring and control of the fuel cell system by the computer.

In this paper, To the energy efficiency of power adapter as the research target, we analyzed the demand for automated testing, establish safety regulations automated test system based on LabVIEW. We will use open, modular design and flexible hardware framework, increase the hardware configuration according to customer product testing requirements, and has a good price and versatility. The test process will be automated, the test results will be displayed in real time, and realize the test data storage, analysis and print. By establishing automates of the entire testing process, greatly saving time and reducing test engineers labor costs, and improve the testing laboratory automation and testing reliability.

A four-channel sensor durability to intermittent operation of motorcycle test system was given based on LabVIEW. The system provides a good working platform and a Convenient testing tools for the four channels of sensor signal data acquisition, signal analysis and processing. The hardware is composed of four-sensor platform, oscilloscope, servo motor, calibration, and computer. The system operating interface is designed using LabVIEW. The results show that the system could achieve the continuous automatic motor stopping, turning control, it could also sample four channel signals and analysis of the measurement data, automatic judge, real-time display. Compared with the traditional testing method, which saves cost and improves testing efficiency.

<p>In this paper, a design process and a hardware implementation for a wireless real-time home automation system approach based on NI MyRIO microcontroller board and LabVIEW platform has been developed. The proposed automated system has two hardware elements: the first one is a personal computer as a system main server hosting the designed LabVIEW platform and the second element is a NI MyRIO microcontroller board for managing the operating between the appliances and the sensors. The appliances can be automatically monitored, controlled, and accessed in response to the signals from the related sensors or manually by the system end-user through smart phone based on Wi-Fi and cloud computing technology. To approve the reliability of the proposed automated system, a hardware realization for three appliances: temperature management, light energy saving, and biometric security system of face recognition with fingerprint check has been introduced. The proposed system has a simple structure, economically cost effective and flexible scaling up for a proper automated home future.</p>

Проаналізовано методи аналізу якісного та кількісного складу харчових продуктів. На основі проведеного огляду методів контролю якості овочів визначено, що перспективним методом кількісного аналізу вмісту мінеральних речовин в овочах є кондуктометричний метод дослідження рідин, що ґрунтується на вимірюванні електричної провідності. На основі математичного аналізу з використаннямтеорії нечітких множин вивчено вплив мінеральних добрив на вміст корисних речовин (клітковини, вуглеводів, білків). При цьому, задача розв’язана у три етапи: 1) апроксимація результатів впливу мінеральних добрив на вміст корисних речовин 2) симплекс – метод. Знаходження оптимальних значень задачі лінійного програмування - параметрів w0 та d0 3) розв’язок системи нерівностей із шуканим результатом – марка мінеральних добрив. Також здійснений розрахунок функції належності цілі та обмежень для повної картини розв’язку математичної задачі. Досліджено можливості відомого імітансного методу для контролю показників якості овочевого соку. У кондуктометричну комірку поміщались модельні рідини – овочеві соки з домішками важких металів. Вивчено залежності активної та реактивної складових електропровідності овочевого соку з домішками іонів міді та натрію в частотному діапазоні 50 Гц - 100 кГц. Використання отриманих залежностей покращує інформативність електричних досліджень і, таким чином, підвищує оперативність аналізу показників якості. Розроблений засіб вимірювання та отримані залежності дають змогу здійснювати експрес-контроль вмісту домішок в овочевих соках за електричними параметрами. Для імітансного контролю показників якості овочевого соку запропоновано і реалізовано віртуальний засіб вимірювання на основі апаратно-програмної платформи LabVIEW та з блоком NI USB 6009. Віртуальний прилад у складі: ПК з програмним забезпеченням LabVIEW, згаданого блоку NI USB 6009 та кондуктометричної комірки з соком вжито для визначення вмісту важких металів у цьому соці. Тим самим, доведено, що у виробничих умовах при незначних витратах можна оперативно контролювати якість овочів, з яких отримують досліджуваний сік. Проанализированы методы анализа качественного и количественного состава пищевых продуктов. На основе обзора методов контроля качества овощей определено, что перспективным методом количественного анализа содержания минеральных веществ в овощах есть кондуктометрический метод исследования жидкостей, основанный на измерении электрической проводимости. На основе математического анализа с использованием теории нечетких множеств изучено влияние минеральных удобрений на содержание полезных веществ (клетчатки, углеводов, белков). При этом, задача решена в три этапа: 1) аппроксимация результатов воздействия минеральных удобрений на содержание полезных веществ 2) симплекс - метод. Нахождение оптимальних значений задачи линейного програмирования - параметров w0 и d0 3) решение системы неравенств с искомым результатом - марка минеральных удобрений Расчет функции принадлежности цели и ограничений для полной картины решения математической задачи. Исследованы возможности известного имитансного метода для контроля показателей качества овощного сока. Для экспериментальных исследований разработана структура измерительного средства в составе кондуктометрической ячейки, RLС-метра, блоков управления и обработки результатов. В кондуктометрическую ячейку помещались модельные жидкости - овощные соки с примесями тяжелых металлов. Изучены зависимости активной и реактивной составляющих электропроводности овощного сока с примесями ионов меди и натрия в частотном диапазоне 50 Гц - 100 кГц. Использование полученных зависимостей улучшает информативность электрических исследований и, таким образом, повышает оперативность анализа показателей качества. Разработан способ измерения и полученные зависимости позволяют осуществлять экспресс-контроль содержания примесей в овощных соках по электрическим параметрам. Для иммитансного контроля показателей качества овощного сока предложено и реализовано виртуальное средство измерения на основе аппаратно-программной платформы LabVIEW с блоком NI USB 6009. Виртуальный прибор в составе ПК с программным обеспечением LabVIEW, упомянутого блока NI USB 6009 и кондуктометрической ячейки с соком приняты для определения содержания тяжелых металлов в этом соке. Тем самым, доказано, что в производственных условиях при незначительных затратах можно оперативно контролировать качество овощей, из которых получают исследуемый сок. The dissertation is devoted to the improvement of methodological and metrological assurance of quality control of vegetables and juices from them on the basis of their electro physical parameters analysis with the help of virtual means of immitance control. The first section analyzes the methods for the qualitative and quantitative composition of food products. Measuring methods of analysis are based on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the substance. The described methods are briefly described; their advantages and disadvantages are indicated. Electrochemical methods, which are related to changes in structure, chemical composition and concentration, are shown to be effective and provide qualitative and quantitative analysis of substances in gas, liquid or solid state. Informative parameters, in this case, are electrical parameters. In the second section, a comparative analysis of the normative base of Ukraine was carried out in order to approximate the legislation on quality and safety of vegetables and their products to the standards of international law. To optimize the overall quality index, it is proposed to use the mathematical apparatus of the theory of fuzzy sets, since the characteristics of the product must be in a certain range. As a result, several mathematical models for the complex evaluation of the quality of agricultural products for fuzzy constraints are constructed: I model is a model for identifying vegetables with the highest content of fiber, carbohydrates and proteins, depending on the amount of mineral fertilizers (maximum value of the function defining a complex quality index); II Model - a model for achieving the maximum weight of agricultural products (maximum value of the function of mass depending on mineral fertilizers); III model - a model for ensuring the cultivation of agricultural products with specified parameters of the proportion of nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins); IV Model is a model of safety of vegetables, that is, a model for assessing the safety of products in relation to its contamination by heavy metals. Based on mathematical analysis using fuzzy set theory, the effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of nutrients (fiber, carbohydrates, proteins) has been studied. In this case, the problem is solved in three stages: 1) Approximation of the results of the influence of mineral fertilizers on the content of nutrients 2) Simplex - method. Finding the parameters w0 and d0 3) The solution of the system of inequalities with all the desired results - the brand of mineral fertilizers, mathematical parameters λ Calculation of the goal affiliation function and constraints for a complete picture of the solution of a mathematical problem. In the third section, a processing of the results was developed. In conductivity cell was placed model liquids - vegetable juices with impurities of heavy metals. The dependences of the active and reactive components of electrical conductivity of vegetable juice with impurities of copper ions and sodium ions on the frequency of the electromagnetic field of 50Hz-100kHz were studied. It was found on the basis of experimental study: 1) As the frequency of the test signal increases, the active component becomes constant (independent of frequency), and the reactive component approaches zero. As the purpose of research is complex conductivity, I consider research on high frequencies uninformative. 2) At frequencies below 1000 Hz, the experimentally obtained inverse dependence of the active and reactive components of conductivity, which provides information on the quality of juice without additives. 3) In the presence of heavy metal impurities in the controlled juice sample, using immittance measurements, it is possible to prove the efficiency of this method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of carrot juice. The fourth chapter presents a developed virtual means for measuring the imitation of vegetable juice was described. For immitance control of vegetable juice quality indicators, a virtual measuring device based on the LabVIEW hardware platform and a compatible NI USB 6009 unit was proposed and implemented. This enabled the rapid analysis of the juice content of the mineral substances by electrical parameters. Thus, in production conditions, at a negligible cost, you can quickly control the quality of vegetables from which the juice is obtained. The virtual device consists of: a PC with LabVIEW software, the mentioned NI USB 6009 block and a conductivity cell with juice used to determine the content of heavy metals in this juice. To measure and calculate the imitation of the object, a sinusoidal test signal was generated in the form of voltage variable amplitude of 10-20 mV. Since the NI USB 6009 unit is not capable of generating alternating voltage, the program uses certain elements of the NI-DAQ task with the While Loop with Stop Button cycle. To do this, it was created the Channel Generation - Create Channel (Start Task, Write, Clean Task), and Wait, which governs the sinusoidal period. The immittance values were obtained by mathematical processing of voltage and current signals of the conductometric cell with the investigated juice. The operation of mathematical processing is provided by the algorithm of the virtual measuring instrument. It was carried out in three possible ways: 1. The classical method, which involves the use of Euler's equation. 2. A method of measuring active and reactive power and dividing the effective value of the signal power by the square of the current value. 3. Method using exponential Fourier transformation using the voltage and current signals of the measured object to estimate the first harmonics.

Nell'esercizio della Distribuzione Elettrica, molte applicazioni come il controllo dei ussi di potenza e la stabilità della tensione, richiedono la conoscenza dello stato della rete. Queste informazioni possono essere ottenute aggregando misure disponibili della rete, seppur di diversa natura, e applicando ad esse algoritmi di Stima di Stato. Diversi fattori possono avere un impatto sull'incertezza della stima di stato nel caso in cui alcune grandezze della rete stiano evolvendo dinamicamente. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è quello di identificare i diversi contributi che incidono sulla accuratezza del risultato della Stima di Stato globale durante il verificarsi di eventi di natura dinamica. Tra questi si citano quali veloci variazioni della potenza generata da parte di fonti di energia rinnovabili e uttuazioni della domanda di potenza da parte clienti della rete. I test eseguiti evidenziano l'importanza del porre particolare attenione agli effetti portati da queste dinamiche allo scopo di identificare le incertezze che affliggono il sistema di monitoraggio della rete.

碩士
正修科技大學
機電工程研究所
96
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a reliable on-board autopilot system is competent to execute out-of-sight flight missions that brings forth many innovative applications in scientific, civilian, and military fields. To design and test the autopilot system practically and safely is the key of UAVs research. Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation (HILS) has been proved in many cases tobe an effective solution to assess prototype system’s performance. In this thesis a real-time HILS platform for prototype autopilot system of UAV is set up. The graphical language LabVIEW is used to be the software development platform for design, control, and test of the autopilot system. The details of design and assembly of servo and sensor modules are described. The transfer functions of servo and sensor modules are also derived from the Bode plots through steady state responses to sinsoidal inputs test. The HILS experimental results indicate that the presence of sensor module has a crucial influence on closed-loop response of UAV autopilot system. On condition that the mathematical models of servo or sensor are unknown, applying Ziegler-Nichols tuning in HILS experiments is an effective method to determine an appropriate PID (proportional-integral-derivative) control gain. The real-time HILS platform including servo and sensor modules is of great value in design and test of UAV autopilot.

In order to meet the requirements of engineering testing and reduce system development costs, LabVIEW 8.0 is used as the software development platform to design a set of equipment vibration signal acquisition and analysis system. The signal of the device under test is collected through the sensor, and then transferred to the LabVIEW development platform through the computer after hardware conditioning. In addition to displaying the waveform, the platform can realize time domain analysis and frequency domain analysis through system processing; the system also has data storage and offline signals Analysis and other functions. By comparing the turntable data of the vibration test bench measured by the system with the existing test data, it proves that the system is complete and accurate. At the same time, the system is applied to the on-site inspection of tamping coke oven equipment.

This chapter aims to present a system for remote laboratories dedicated to solar cells in the context of contemporary research development in the field of renewable energy. The system is based on the NI ELVIS rapid prototyping platform, the LabVIEW graphical programming language, remote control techniques, and an original add-on for studying solar cells developed for the platform. The completed NI ELVIS add-on, called SolarLab, is a modular board, which allows users to perform eighteen different lab experiments. Using the developed driver, users can create their own applications according to their needs. Thus, SolarLab can be used for both education and research purposes.

This chapter aims to present a system for remote laboratories dedicated to solar cells in the context of contemporary research development in the field of renewable energy. The system is based on the NI ELVIS rapid prototyping platform, the LabVIEW graphical programming language, remote control techniques, and an original add-on for studying solar cells developed for the platform. The completed NI ELVIS add-on, called SolarLab, is a modular board, which allows users to perform eighteen different lab experiments. Using the developed driver, users can create their own applications according to their needs. Thus, SolarLab can be used for both education and research purposes.

In this work, in-depth considerations about FPGA-CPU architectures design methods are presented together with some possible plant applications. FPGAs are used because of their potentials in guaranteeing parallelism, synchronism and high reliability tasks; on the other hand CPUs are crucial to higher precision computations and to reproduce data and results on a graphical interface, thus resulting in an improvement in the human-machine-interface (HMI). Design choices are here reported to justify the benefits from the use of both CPU-FPGA approaches. Taking advantage of these features, the LabVIEW environment and its digital platform is expanded in order to develop a novel tool able to support designers during the fundamental phases of a supervision and control tool realization: from the model development to the digital hardware implementation and testing. LabVIEW is able to communicate with several languages like Matlab or Scilab for a theoretical model study and simulation, and VHDL for a digital implementation, taking the advantages from both development environments. Main results have been reported concerning studies of control systems in nuclear plant facilities, showing how a full-digital platform can be very useful in developing monitoring and control instrumentation. This new tool is thought to improve the so-called hardware in the loop (HIL) simulations and to accelerate the process of prototypes implementation and testing, using a more accurate and reliable environment in terms of performance and safety.

This paper details the successful and inexpensive implementation of remote laboratory experiments into a control systems course using readily available hardware and software. The custom-made experiments include an inverted pendulum, a platform leveling system, a ball and beam apparatus, and an aerodynamic beach ball levitation system, each implemented in a separate course offering. With each laboratory, the control objective is to regulate a physical parameter, (pendulum angle, platform orientation, ball position, etc.) by manipulating voltage to a drive component (DC motor, linear actuator, blower, etc.). Engineering software commonly used in controls courses (MATLAB/Simulink and LabView) coupled with dedicated hardware (xPC Target and NI Compact Rio) provide the controller platforms, while Microsoft NetMeeting and standard Internet video conferencing equipment are used to interface the distance-learning students with the laboratory equipment. Both local students at North Carolina State University’s campus in Raleigh and distance students at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Craven Community College in Havelock, NC complete the laboratory experiments. In a student survey, distance students participating in the remote labs rated the experience as favorably as local students. Course grades, including design project grades, were similar between the two groups.

In this manuscript, the development and current state of an inexpensive platform for educational purposes and research in the interaction between humans and robots (human-robot interaction) is described. The platform is based on the ubiquitous LabVIEW programming language and an in-house developed two degree of freedom non-holonomic robot. The platform includes multiple interaction modalities, which will be described, between the robot and the user. The procedures followed for the successful software and hardware implementation are explicated. Furthermore, a demonstration of an obstacle avoidance path planning algorithm for a single obstacle is validated in hardware, as well as simulation demonstration of the multiple obstacle avoidance algorithm. These implementations to the platform further demonstrate the ease of augmenting the existing platform to additional modalities. The algorithm uses a vision acquisition system to identify the location and size of an obstacle, in addition to orientation patterns and calibration points, in the workspace and generate the robot path to reach a desired goal while avoiding the obstacle. The manuscript describes into the current research of path planning in the presence of multiple obstacles. The development of a set of criteria, Generation Succession, Arrival Departure, and Side Consistency, for the algorithm are elucidated in the manuscript. The algorithm has been demonstrated to be successful in simulation by avoiding multiple obstacle in various layouts.

Environments for robotics research and education are usually based on open source code or use proprietary software tools. Open source usually requires a user to know a low level programming language and proprietary software does not provide the environment needed for research and educational activities. In addition to the software, the hardware must be inexpensively and easily fabricated and assembled for teaching and experimentation purposes. In this manuscript, we will present the design and fabrication of a small size two-wheel mobile robotic platform developed for research and education purposes. Subsequently, the software environment for controlling the robot which is based on LabVIEW will be presented. LabVIEW was chosen because it provides many built-in toolboxes, and it is characterized by expandability and ease of interface with external devices. The software allows experienced as well as novice users to develop control code with ease. The robot communicates with control software in LabVIEW through a Bluetooth device. The developed environment is used to control the robot through multiple interfaces, to implement obstacle avoidance algorithms with ease, to implement open and closed loop control algorithms, to easily incorporate and use an inexpensive web camera for vision calibration, and is currently used to implement image processing and voice processing algorithms for robot localization and control both for research and education in both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Abstract This paper presents an experimental apparatus designed and built to facilitate the study of solar-assisted heat pump (SAHP) systems using the hardware-in-loop methodology. The apparatus includes an 11.6kW capacity water-to-water heat pump, a 409L thermal storage tank, a 288L domestic hot water tank, two variable speed circulation pumps, and emulation hardware representing solar collectors and conditioned building space. A complex network of piping and electronic diverting valves is used to create various energy flow paths to support fifteen different operational modes for space heating, space cooling, domestic hot water generation, and energy storage charging. The apparatus is heavily instrumented for temperature and flow measurement. Controls and data acquisition are predominantly managed using National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW software. The experimental apparatus has been installed, commissioned, and tested. The basic functionality of control and operation has been verified through testing four different operational modes and domestic hot water withdrawal emulation. The experimental apparatus can be used not only as a platform for research on a multifunctional indirect expansion SAHP system, but also allow for similar testing of less-complex related SAHP configurations.

Abstract This paper presents the results of using laboratory facilities in conjunction with computer aided data acquisition in order to enhance the teaching and learning experiences of the air conditioning and measurements/instrumentation courses in an engineering program. The paper discusses the use of educational technology in the form of a laboratory experiment developed for support of Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education in an engineering curriculum. The experimental apparatus discussed in the paper is a heat pump demonstration unit with LabView data collection and visualization software. The use of modern technology in the classroom is illustrated in this paper by using a heat pump demonstration unit to illustrate the physical principles of air conditioning and heating. Data collection and acquisition/instrumentation, data reduction curriculum is addressed by using an automated data collection system to gather data for the heating and cooling processes. The main objectives of the study were to i) expose STEM students to LabView based data collection, ii) enhance the curriculum of air conditioning and measurements science by using hands-on facilities, iii) develop technical report writing and data reduction skill sets. The experiment is conducted in small teams of 3 to 4 students in order to make the experiential learning a more intimate process. The heat pump hardware is used to illustrate real world working system. The experiment is composed of a compressor, an evaporator, a condenser and throttling valve. The unit allows for operation as both a heat pump and a refrigeration unit. Thus illustrating the concept of Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (ERR) for both the heat pump and the refrigeration mode are enabled. The unit works on R134A and water as the working fluids. The unit is instrumented with a control thermostat allowing the set-point of the device to be changed. Thermocouples, pressure transducers and flow rate meters are used to collect live data which is fed to the LabView based data-acquisition platform. By using such equipment in the teaching of the Air Conditioning curriculum, it allows the students

Increasing demands on the productivity of complex systems, such as machine tools and their steadily growing technological importance will require the application of new methods in the product development process. This paper shows that the analysis of the simulation results from the simulation based mechatronic model of a complex system followed by a procedure that allows a better understanding of the dynamic behavior and interactions of the components. Mechatronics is a design philosophy, which is an integrating approach to engineering design. Through a mechanism of simulating interdisciplinary ideas and techniques, mechatronics provides ideal conditions to raise the synergy, thereby providing a catalytic effect for the new solutions to technically complex situations. This paper shows how the mechatronic products can exhibit performance characteristics that were previously difficult to achieve without the synergistic combination. The paper further examines an approach used in modeling, simulation and optimization of dynamic machine tools and adopts it for general optimized design of mechatronics instrumentation and portable products. By considering the machine tool as a complete mechatronic system, which can be broken down into subsystems, forms the fundamental basis for the procedure. Starting from this point of view it is necessary to establish appropriate simulation models, which are capable of representing the relevant properties of the subsystems and the dynamic interactions between the machine components. Many real-world systems can be modeled by the mass-spring-damper system and hence considering one such system, namely Mechatronics Technology Demonstrator (MTD) is discussed here. MTD is a portable low cost, technology demonstrator, developed and refined by the authors. It is suitable for studying the key elements of mechatronic systems including; mechanical system dynamics, sensors, actuators, computer interfacing, and application development. An important characteristic of mechatronic devices and systems is their built-in intelligence that results through a combination of precision, mechanical and electrical engineering, and real time programming integrated to the design process. The synergy can be generated by the right combination of parameters, that is, the final product can be better than just the sum of its parts. The paper highlights design optimization of several mechatronic products using the procedures derived by the use of mass spring damper based mechatronic system. The paper shows step by step development of a mechatronic product and the use of embedded software for portability of hand held equipment. A LabVIEW based platform was used as a control tool to control the MTD, perform data acquisition, post-processing, and optimization. In addition to the use of LabVIEW software, the use of embedded control system has been proposed for real-time control and optimization of the mass-spring-damper system. Integrating embedded control system with the mass-spring-damper system makes the MTD a multi-concepts Mechatronics platform. This allows interface with external sensors and actuators with closed-loop control and real-time monitoring of the physical system. This teaches students the skill set required for embedded control: design control algorithms (model-based embedded control software development, signal processing, communications), Computer Software (real-time computation, multitasking, interrupts), Computer hardware (interfacing, peripherals, memory constraints), and System Performance Optimization. This approach of deriving a mathematical model of system to be controlled, developing simulation model of the system, and using embedded control for rapid prototyping and optimization, will practically speed product development and improve productivity of complex systems.

The testing facility called the Outdoor Collector Test Loop (OCTL), which is located at the Solar Industrial Mesa Top Area (SIMTA) of National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), measures the optical efficiency of parabolic trough collectors. It uses a dual-axis, large-payload solar tracker to hold a parabolic trough collector module and track the sun. Due to the growing need for measurement accuracy and efficiency, a new tracking control system for the tracker has been acquired and successfully commissioned as of February 2012. As part of the customization needed to address the unique testing requirements at the OCTL, new tracking modes have been designed and embedded into the new controller. In particular, the incidence angle modifier (IAM) and fixed-azimuth modes allows the OCTL to readily measure the IAM values for a trough collector, significantly improving the speed and efficiency of IAM data collection compared to the previous controller (with test times of days versus weeks). The Siemens S7 1200 PLC integrates various hardware components (such as the hydraulic pump, encoders, sun sensor and wind sensor) through corresponding communication channels, and a Simatic HMI panel provides a powerful user-friendly interface for operation, monitoring, and diagnostics. In addition, NREL integrated the Siemens tracking control program with the existing LabVIEW program that serves as a user interface of the thermal fluid loop, and calibrated the tracking platform as a whole to characterize its tracking accuracy. At last, the challenges and opportunities for the control system in the area of concentrating solar power (CSP) are briefly discussed.