Institute of Applied Informatics, Automation and Mechatronics consists of several specialised laboratories enabling research and development of information, communication and control enterprise structures from the aspect of knowledge systems on all levels. The following laboratories are concerned:
I. CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY
This laboratory represents the lowest level in the control of production and technological processes. It involves collecting and processing information from the technological process, as well as control algorithms utilising programmable logic controllers or industrial controllers able to communicate with a higher-level system. Laboratory contains parts shared between individual workplaces (internal electricity distribution, including circuit-breakers, Ethernet wiring including corresponding active and passive components, data bus network, signal distribution systems and connection of external signal sources) and work stations. The laboratory consists of the following workplaces:
a) Research workplaces for complex processes (CCP)
The workstation includes the models and components described below:
Hybrid production system
Physical model of a hybrid production system connecting elements of process and industrial automation. The model enables simulating complex operations and processes occurring in food, chemical and pharmaceutical enterprises.
Model of communicating vessels
The equipment consists of five identical laboratory models used to simulate technological processes from the field of process automation and to perform the field related experiments.
Support equipment of the control system laboratory
The equipment consists of five identical laboratory workplaces, which serve for preparing the experiments, programming the control systems, evaluating the results of the experiments and other subsidiary activities connected to the laboratory operation.
b) Research workplaces for development and design of control systems
The system contains software tools for computer aided design and production documentation of automated control systems. Hardware components and work panels for simulating and testing the designed and projected solutions, as well as server with input/output cards enabling simulation of various technological processes are also a part of the workplace. Real control tool inputs and outputs are supplied with real signals of simulated processes obtained using a terminal block.
Decentralised control system (DCS), another part of the workplace, is composed of industrial control systems, engineering, human-machine, maintenance systems and of other sub-systems and modules listed below.
c) Research workplace for simulation of technological processes (STP)
The workplace includes software tools and models serving for:
- multi-domain simulation and model-oriented design in the field of dynamical and interconnected systems - utilising the interactive environment and adjustable set of basic block libraries.
- using the commonly used algorithms in solving both standard and large-scale optimisation tasks - utilising functions for linear programming, quadratic programming, binary integer programming, non-linear optimisation, non-linear least squares, system of non-linear equations, or multi-criteria optimisation.
- searching global solutions for multiple extreme problems.
- designing, implementing, visualising and simulating neural networks if the use of formal analysis is considered difficult, or impossible, e.g. pattern recognition, non-linear system identification and control.
- solving and handling the symbolic mathematical expressions and performing variable precision calculations. Connected to the module No. 1, it allows solving tasks involving differentiation, integration, simplification, transformation and solving equations.
- modelling and simulating physical systems involving mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and other physical domains.
- simulating three-dimensional mechanical systems such as robots, axle suspension system of vehicles, construction equipment, plane bogies.
II. LABORATORY iCIM
The laboratory is specialised for technology and visualisation control level. The laboratory and its workplaces are linked not only to each other, but they are also connected to the higher-level system and to the enterprise control level. Laboratory equipped in this way enables research and development of a wide variety of hardware, communication and software resources of automated control, knowledge systems, knowledge archiving and its distribution to higher-level systems.
The laboratory includes the following workplaces:
a) Research workplaces for distributed systems for control of production and technology processes (DSC)
The workplace includes the models and components described below:
Modular production system
Physical model of a modular production system enabling simulating complex operations and processes occurring in automotive, engineering and electronics industry enterprises. Sub-technologies found in the model are used in all industrial sectors, and therefore, the use of this device is not limited to a particular industry. However, it allows the users to address any tasks connected to industrial automation, as well as to related information technologies.
CNC production system
Physical model of a CNC production system combining a CNC lathe and a CNC twin miller, operated by industrial robots with 6 degrees of freedom. The model enables connecting to other models of the workplace following the purpose of constructing a complex workplace representing complete production. The model can be used for simulating, developing and exploring fully automated production processes from the field of engineering industry as well as information and communication technologies related to the processes.
Support equipment of the laboratory iCIM
The equipment consists of six identical laboratory workplaces used for preparing the experiments, programming the control systems, evaluating the results of the experiments and other subsidiary activities connected to the laboratory operation.
b) Research workplace for logical and sequential control (LOGIC)
The workplace includes the models and components described below:
- System for logic and sequence control,
- System of frequency converters and asynchronous motors,
- System for optical recognition and visual check of dimension and shape accuracy,
- System for autonomous carriage movement in the area,
- System for controlling the robot.
III. LABORATORY FOR INTEGRATION OF INFORMATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
The laboratory includes integrated information system of the corporate level, including the necessary hardware equipment (server, operating system, backup disc system and client PCs). Its core consists of the following systems:
- System for enterprise resource planning (ERP),
- System for enterprise content management (ECM),
- Tool for business intelligence (BI),
- Tool for Knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD),
- Tool for process mining (PM),
- Tool for simulating production and service processes and logistics systems, enabling also optimization (SIMUL_GTC),
- Database management system (DBMS),
- Support equipment laboratory.
Implementation aiming at ensuring the mutual cooperation and interconnection of individual laboratory modules is the integral part of the laboratory. It must ensure the integration between ERP and ECM system. BI monitoring the basic KPI must be deployed to master ERP.
IV. LABORATORY OF NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS
The laboratory is specialised for the research of numerical methods, in particular focusing on the finite element method. The research tasks include simulation and modelling the processes of forming, welding and heat processing, solving the problems of static and dynamic machine mechanics. For solving the problems and tasks, finite element simulation software ANSYS can be used; for modelling and simulation of forming processes, DEFORM software system is designated; for simulating heat processing and welding, SYSWELD software system is installed in the laboratory. The laboratory is also equipped with Wolfram Mathematica, MSC.Adams, MSC.Marc (2D) and JMatPro software systems. The laboratory equipment enables also performing experimental strain and deformation measurements applying the strain gauge method (QuantumX software developed by HBM); measuring the temperature fields using thermocouples and Flir thermal imaging camera; vibration and sound measurements (system PULSE by Bruel&Kjaer can be utilised)
V. LABORATORY OF AUTOMATED PRODUCTION
The laboratory is focused on the research in the field of programming and controlling automated machines and devices based on the new control principles. There are practical applications of the process technology and specialised robotics enabling reverse validation.
