The Quanser QUBE-Servo combined with NI myRIO and LabVIEW provide a powerful platform for students to learn control systems

Controls Labs for the Quanser QUBE Servomotor and Pendulum

by Quanser Inc.

This set of ABET-aligned labs introduces students to basic controls concepts using the QUBE™ servo motor. Students will get hands-on experience designing models and control systems for an inertial disc and pendulum, giving students a fundamental background in the theory and experimentation of controlling a system. Then, students can use the skills they've learned to complete advanced labs that relevant to real-world applications including cruise control and steering control. Use the Download button below to acquire resources for the QUBE 2. For QUBE 1 resources, see the resource tab.

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students learn fundamental controls topics, including modeling, second order systems, PID control, stability analysis, moment of inertia, balance control, LQR optimization, and swing-up control
Students complete activities to model, control, and optimize control systems, including inertial disc position and pendulum swing-up control
Students complete advanced activities to apply control theory to real-world systems, including cruise control and steering control

COURSE ALIGNMENT

Level	University
Topic	Controls
Style	Laboratory
Prerequisite Skills	Basic Physics, Basic LabVIEW familiarity

Included Course Labs

DC MOTOR INTEGRATION

Students will build a virtual instrument in LabVIEW that drives a DC motor and measures its angular position. In addition, they will learn about fundamentals of encoders.

DC MOTOR FILTERING

Students learn the basics of filters and how they are used to modify signals. Using this knowledge, students use a low-pass filter to eliminate noise of the signal when measuring servo speed.

DC MOTOR BUMP TEST

Students will design a virtual instrument to complete a bump test on the dc motor to acquire model parameters that describe the motor's response. This lab will teach students key information about first order transfer functions as well as system modeling.

DC MOTOR STABILITY ANALYSIS

Students build a virtual instrument that reads servo speed and position after a step voltage is applied to the motor. Using speed and position, students are able to determine the stability of the system.

DC MOTOR FIRST PRINCIPLES MODELING

Students will use governing equations to generate a virtual instrument that models the servo's velocity. Using an encoder, the student will complete model validation by comparing the actual and simulated responses.

DC MOTOR SECOND ORDER SYSTEMS

This lab teaches students about second order system models. Students create a virtual instrument that implements unity-feedback to control the motor's position.

DC MOTOR PD CONTROL

This lab introduces students to PD compensators used to control motor position. Students will use given specifications to test the position response of the system.

DC MOTOR LEAD COMPENSATOR

This lab introduces students to lead compensators used to control motor speed. Students will use given specifications to design a lead compensator that satisfies all requirements.

ROTARY PENDULUM MOMENT OF INERTIA

This lab introduces students to moment of inertia calculations for the rotary pendulum. Students find the moment of inertia analytically and experimentally for comparison.

ROTARY PENDULUM MODELING

In this lab, students create a virtual instrument that drives a dc motor and read angles from the rotary arm and pendulum. The instrument is then adjusted to match the model.

ROTARY PENDULUM BALANCE CONTROL

This lab introduces students to the common control task of balancing an object. Students design a virtual instrument that balances the rotary pendulum using PD control.

ROTARY PENDULUM STATE-SPACE MODELING

Students use state equations that describe the rotary pendulum to create a model for how it behaves. In this lab, students also design a virtual instrument that applies a signal to the physical system to compare the model and real data.

ROTARY PENDULUM SWING-UP CONTROL

This lab focuses on designing a virtual instrument to control the swing-up of the pendulum. Students learn about energy control, relating to fundamental kinematics of the pendulum.

ROTARY PENDULUM LQR CONTROL

Students explore the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) used to find the parameters of the pendulum balance controller.

CRUISE CONTROL

Students interact with the Quanser HIL Driving Simulator and LabVIEW to teach fundamental car speed control methods. This lab gives students real-world applications of previously described control methods, including electronic throttle control, traction control, and cruise control.

STEERING CONTROL

Students interact with the Quanser HIL Driving Simulator and LabVIEW to teach fundamental car position control methods. This lab gives students a real-world application of previously described control methods, including parking assist systems.

Requirements

LabVIEW

LabVIEW is systems engineering software for applications that require test, measurement, and control with rapid access to hardware and data insights. Learn more

myRIO

Provides reconfigurable I/O that allows you to teach and implement multiple design concepts with one device. Learn more

Quanser QUBE-Servo

The Quanser QUBE-Servo with NI myRIO Connections is a high-fidelity DC servo motor bundle for teaching control theory at an undergraduate level with the real-time control capabilities of NI myRIO. NI myRIO paired with the Quanser QUBE-Servo provides a turnkey, lab-ready solution for students to... Learn more

DETAILED REQUIREMENTS

Required Software

Download Academic Software, Learn About Software Licensing

myRIO Software Bundle (2015 or later)
- LabVIEW (Requires license)
- LabVIEW Real-Time Module (Requires license)
- LabVIEW myRIO Toolkit
- LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module(Requires license)
- LabVIEW Mathscript RT Module (Requires license)

Required Hardware

Purchase Engineering Education Products

NI myRIO ‒ View Specifications
Quanser QUBE-Servo ‒ User manual included in the download

Resources

INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES

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OTHER RESOURCES

Download QUBE 2 Student Resources

Download QUBE 1 (Previous Version) Student Resources