Quanser Rapid Control Prototyping Toolkit: From Control Teaching To Open-Ended Research

A new version of Quanser rapid control prototyping software add-on for LabVIEW™, RCP Toolkit 2013, is now available for users interested in controls. RCP Toolkit 2013 builds on its previous version by helping users take full advantage of the latest iteration of NI graphical development software, LabVIEW 2013.

Working in conjunction with the Quanser Q1-cRIO module for NI CompactRIO controller, RCP Toolkit 2013 continues to simplify the hardware access, configuration and algorithm deployment onto the NI CompactRIO, thanks to new features that offer real-time performance, along with expanded compatibility, usability, safety and support. As a result, LabVIEW users can extend the range of their activities from control teaching to open-ended research.

Key new features of RCP Toolkit 2013 include:

• PXI Windows 7 support via the PXI 7841R DAQ board and the Quanser QPIDe for real time support
• HIL Read Hardware Timebase VIs for Windows for enhanced safety and real-time performance
• HIL Watchdog VI’s for enhanced safety
• LabVIEW 2013, LabVIEW 2012 support under Windows 8

Visit our website to learn more about RCP Toolkit.

Student-developed Flight Simulator Aims to Take Controls Education to New Heights

In the wake of the overwhelmingly positive response by students to the Quanser Driving Simulator and the remarkable ability of this immersive 3D environment and simulation to provide an engaging platform for learning control theory, Quanser took the opportunity to go to the next level. To really emphasize the unique potential that the platform has to engage students in control systems design and development from the ground up, we decided to hand off the project to senior design students at the University of New Mexico.

The Challenge: Create a high level, engaging, hands-on platform to teach helicopter flight control

The students were asked to help Quanser innovate the way flight control is taught. They were tasked to design an educational platform that is industrially relevant, exciting and engaging; utilizes Hardware-in-the-Loop components; and relates to classic engineering concepts and practices.

We provided them with several Quanser tools and devices, including our 2 DOF Helicopter and Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) Toolkit with the Quanser 3D Viewer visualization software. Quanser engineers then mentored the team throughout the design process.

The Quanser 2 DOF Helicopter hardware is integrated with the on-screen simulation
as part of the competition-oriented video game that helps students gain familiarity
with the simulation and its controls.  

The Solution: The Quanser 3D helicopter flight simulator takes flight

The students aimed to design a platform that was as pedagogically rigorous as it was engaging. This was important because a great many game-style educational tools are dismissed by serious students. They also knew that the resulting 3D helicopter visualization had to be immersive and realistic, yet simple to control.

To get them off to a proper start, Quanser engineers outlined key success criteria. The first requirement was hardware-in-the-loop components, including the Quanser 2 DOF Helicopter. The 2 DOF Helicopter combined realistic model dynamics and ease of use, and helped ensure the undergraduate students had a serious and industrially-relevant learning experience.

For the second requirement, the capstone team had to create a repeatable, close-loop course for the virtual helicopter to follow that would allow students to develop and test the low level control systems and the high level navigation algorithms. Once these criteria were set, the students went to work on design and development, consulting with Quanser engineers and their instructors when necessary.

The students went one step further and added complexity to their  challenge by implementing an exciting helicopter-and-car chase capability.  This was achieved by integrating code from the Quanser Driving Simulator.

The Project Outcome: An innovative, high-flying, hands-on controls learning experience

Speaking for the UNM capstone team, Kurt Hollowell summed up their experience. “The Quanser (RCP) Toolkit gave us the functionality to control the helicopter at a basic level through LabVIEW™. We were able to change various inputs to the helicopter, as well as view helicopter state outputs such as current pitch and yaw readings, changes over time, and so on.

“Quanser’s visualization software allowed us to easily work with the models within our simulation. We were able to import, scale, and change the models as needed all in one place, which seamlessly integrated with the rest of our system. Ultimately, the toolset gave us the power to perform quick iterations during the development of our project."

The capstone project student team from the University of  New Mexico includes (left to right) Edgar Chavez (CE), Mitch Castillo (EE), Davie Torres (EE), and Kurt Hollowell (CE). 

As a platform for control systems education, the 2 DOF helicopter system and the simulation provided by the UNM capstone students now facilitates several flight scenarios for future users, including free flying over a never-ending environment, flying through ring courses, pursuing a car on the ground, and more. Overall, the system gives control systems and engineering students the opportunity to have a realistic and engaging hands-on learning experience.

The development of a complete courseware offering by these 4th year engineering students was accomplished in only 7 months, a testament to the effectiveness of the Quanser rapid control prototyping tools, the design process and the abilities of the students. We believe the successful completion of this capstone project will lead to a vivid new way to bring control theory to life in the lab.  It has already enhanced the students’ ability to succeed in their academic and industrial careers.

NI LabVIEW Users Now Have Access to LabVIEW-based Courseware for Over 30 Quanser Control Experiments

With the 2012 introduction of Quanser’s Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) Toolkit for NI LabVIEW and Q1-cRIO control interface module, professors and students using NI LabVIEW are able to interface with over 85 control experiments from Quanser.

Now, thanks to Quanser’s recently released LabVIEW-based courseware, they can possess study materials, exercises and more for over 30 hands-on control experiments. These experiments include virtually all of Quanser’s rotaryand linear experiments, as well as some more advanced mechatronic, aerospace and process control systems. The benefits this courseware offers teaching professors and students are significant.

Professors save time on course development.  Since course material fully compatible with LabVIEW is provided with the experiments, professors wind up with more available for teaching at a high level or conducting research. Instructor and student workbooks include comprehensive student assignments that are ready to use right out of the box.

Students can study controls at an introductory or advanced level.  LabVIEW is an excellent software platform on which students can learn everything from control fundamentals to advanced concepts through engaging, hands-on experiments. For example, students new to controls can become familiarized with PID control by tuning the control gains on the front panel and examining how the experiment response changes, while more advanced students may wish to modify the block diagram and implement their own feedback control strategies.  It’s all possible thanks to fully integrated Quanser courseware and supplied LabVIEW Virtual Instruments (VIs).

A wide range of teaching topics.  The courseware covers many classic modeling and control topics, including modeling a system using a step response, designing a PID-based controller, and state feedback control.

Courseware guides you from set up to lab experiments.  Quanser controls courseware typically includes hard copies and digital copies of Instructor and Student Workbooks and /or Laboratory Guides, a User Manual and a Quick Start Guide. The courseware helps you quickly set up the experiment in your lab, provides a summary of background theory, as well as a set of pre-lab assignments (questions) you can use to test students’ understanding of it before they start the laboratory exercises. Many Quanser systems have multiple sets of lab exercises; for example, with the Rotary Servo Base Unit, you can teach modeling, position control and speed control labs. 

Quanser courseware typically includes Instructor and Student Workbooks and/or 

Laboratory Guides, a User Manual and a Quick Start Guide.

ABET-aligned content.   The courseware conforms to the requirements established by ABET, Inc., the recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering and technology.  This may help your institution in the accreditation process. The alignment process was conducted in collaboration with Professor Hakan Gurocak, Washington State University, Vancouver, USA.

Developed by experts.  Quanser courseware is authored by an experienced team of Quanser curriculum developers and engineers, headed by ProfessorJacob Apkarian, Ph.D., Quanser’s founder and Chief Technical Officer. In keeping with the integration process, some material was been developed in cooperation with specialists at National Instruments.

LabVIEW VIs are included.  LabVIEW Virtual Instruments (VIs) are offered with all Quanser experiments. The VIs are based on the laboratory exercises presented in the documentation. You can easily modify the VIs to suit your particular course.

Access to the courseware updates. Quanser documentation is regularly reviewed and revised.  Changes are based on several criteria including feedback from existing users and collaborating professors, and internal and external peer reviews. We also seek out novel ways to present and deliver our curriculum that would make it easier for professors to adapt the courseware for their specific needs. In the future we plan to introduce an online update mechanism that will give professors access to the latest documentation.

If you wish to download a course material sample, click here.

Unveiled: Two New Quanser Products Allow Quicker Development of Control Algorithms in LabVIEW™

Last month I had the pleasure of attending the National Instruments NI Days UK event in London. This one-day event brought together over 600 leading engineers and scientists from across the UK and Ireland to see the latest advancements in design, control and test.

 As part of the academic track, I had the opportunity to run a couple of hands-on sessions to teach professors and researchers how they could quickly and effectively develop control algorithms to control real hardware in LabVIEW™. In each of the two hour-long sessions, the attendees were able to configure the data acquisition (DAQ) hardware, obtain real-world sensor data, command a servo motor open loop and then, program a basic control algorithm in LabVIEW. The algorithm was then deployed onto the stand-alone real-time controller, the NI CompactRIO.

The Quanser Q1-cRIO control interface module is designed to be driven by the RCP Toolkit for NI LabVIEW™  and interfaces with over 85 control experiments from Quanser. The module is compatible with NIcRIO-9024 controllers paired with the NI cRIO-9113 chassis.

It was all made possible because of two new products, a new C-series DAQ, the Quanser Q1-cRIO and Quanser’s Rapid Controls Prototyping Toolkit add-on for LabVIEW, both of which had been under development for the past year. These two new products greatly simplify the hardware access, configuration and algorithm deployment onto the cRIO.

For those of you that have had experience developing your own embedded controllers on the cRIO platform, you'll understand what a feat this was for an untrained audience. In the past for this to be possible, the controls engineer would first have to learn how to program the cRIO's FPGA, and then code and debug hardware access configurations and hardware algorithms, such as quadrature decoding. Then after hours or days of this phase of development, they would be ready to start doing what they originally wanted to do, and that is to develop their control algorithms. That kind of efficiency is of great value to anyone working in controls education and research.

The Quanser Rapid Control Prototyping Toolkit is a new add-on to the NI LabVIEW™  graphical development environment. With the Q1-cRIO, igreatly simplifies the hardware access, configuration and algorithm deployment onto the NI CompactRIO. 

This was the first time that Quanser’s RCP Toolkit and Q1-cRIO were used by education professionals so I was watching closely to see how they took to the experience. But as the sessions progressed and each and every one of the participants got their servo motors moving under control, I was both pleased and proud that the development efforts of our R&D team had hit the mark.

- Derry Crymble

Academic Solutions Advisor