Control Systems

PLC: Structure and functioning of PLC and its components. Practical programming of PLC in a modern development environment. Program-execution. Addresses and instructions. Sequence programming with single, alternative and parallel processes. Programming unexpected events in sequence programming. Profibus and Ethernet as communication networks.

HMI: Planning, design and programming of screen based user interfaces (HMI).

Real time programming: Basic Python focusing on real-time application. Arduino. Real-time operating systems. Multi-threaded programming. Shared memory. Usual causes of failure. Basic IO.

Practical implementation of controllers: Time discretization. Implementation of PID controllers and simple filters on micro controllers. Anti-aliasing filters. AD and DA conversion. Signal conditioning. Practical tips, such as placement of PID-parameters for bumpless tuning, and implementation of a tracking-input. Bumpless transfer and anti-windup using the tracking input.

Control engineering: State space models. Linearization. Realistic simulation. Controller tuning using frequency analysis, direct synthesis and SIMC. Final adjustments. Control structures such as cascade, feed forward, dead-time compensation and ratio control. Gain scheduling. Coupled systems: RGA analysis, condition numbers and decoupling.

Project work: To function as a project manager and a team member. Interaction between the subject areas taught.

Knowledge: The candidate can explain
- system functionality from circuit diagrams.
- the structure and functioning of a PLC.
- the structure of general sequence programs.
- principles behind industrial networks and HMI-based control systems.
- challenges in connection with digital implementation of real-time control systems.
- what separates real-time programming from other kinds of programming.
- concepts such as multi-threaded programming, shared memory and resource allocation.
- aliasing as a phenomenon, and the purpose of anti-aliasing filters.
- the different concepts for AD and DA conversion.
- the purpose of signal conditioning between process and control system.
- how a tracking input works, and what it can be used for.
- the principles behind direct synthesis and SIMC.
- control structures such as cascade, feed forward, dead-time compensation and ratio control.
- challenges and solutions regarding interacting control loops.
- how a project can be planned and executed.

Skills: The candidate can
- draw circuit diagrams for electrical connections.
- write PLC code and document it.
- set up a PLC-controlled facility.
- set up a simple industrial data network.
- program HMI-based control systems.
- write good code for embedded computers using the lectured mechanisms and principles.
- program digital controllers with simple user interfaces on microcontrollers.
- specify, design and implement an analog anti-aliasing filter subject to given conditions.
- arrive at simple but sound process models for typical unit processes.
- simulate stationary and dynamic, linear and non-linear processes with often-used analysis tools.
- tune controllers using frequency analysis, direct synthesis and SIMC.
- carry out a final tuning of controller parameters.
- analyse and design typical control loops with cascade, feed forward, dead-time compensation and ratio control.
- manage a project and be a good team member.
- convey to others how a project was planned and executed.
- convey to others a given technical problem, and its practical solution.

General competence: The candidate wields a combination of theoretical and practical skills within the subject area, providing a base for solving practical problems in a professional setting - and for further education within the subject area.

Lectures, team work, exercises, laboratory exercises. Project.