Laboratory of Control Systems
Research workplaces for complex processes(contact person: doc. Ing. Peter Schreiber, CSc., email: peter.schreiber@stuba.sk, Ing. Jana Flochová, PhD., email: jana.flochova@stuba.sk, Ing. Dmitrii Borkin, email: dmitrii.borkin@stuba.sk)
Research workplace for development and design of control systems (contact person osoba: doc. Ing. German Michaľčonok, CSc. , email: german.michalconok@stuba.sk, Ing. Dušan, Horváth, PhD., email: dusan.horvath@stuba.sk)
Research workplace for development and simulation of technological processes (contact person: doc. Mgr. Róbert Vrábeľ, PhD., email: robert.vrabel@stuba.sk), Ing. Martin Juhás, PhD., email: martin.juhas@stuba.sk
PCS7 Distributed Control System (contact person: doc. Ing. German Michaľčonok, CSc. , email: german.michalconok@stuba.sk)
This laboratory represents the lower level in the production and technological processes control. It involves collecting and processing information from the technological process as well as the control algorithms utilising programmable logic controllers or industrial regulators able to communicate with superior system of higher level. The laboratory contains the parts shared among 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 working stations.
For modelling, controlling and optimising the systems and processes where the mathematical model object of control does not exist, or eventually it cannot be set or the way of setting it is unknown, we offer the solution via progressive methods of modelling, controling and optimising using fuzzy modelling and control, utilisation of neural networks and optimisation genetic algorithms. In case of knowing the processes explicitly, i tis possible to use knowledge and expert systems.
The laboratory comprises the following workplaces:
a) Research workplaces for complex processes
The workstation includes the models and components described below:
- Hybrid production system
Physical model of hybrid production system connecting elements of process and industrial automation. The model enables simulating complex operations and processes occurring in food, chemical and pharmaceuticla enterprises.
- Model of communicating vessels
The equipment consists of five identical laboratory model sused to simulate technological processes from the field of process automation and to perform the field related experiments.
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 modelling and simulation of technological processes
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 teh use of formal analysisi is considrede 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 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, and plane bogies.
Research activities in the field of mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of dynamic systems are focused on solving linear and non-linear tasks in the field of control theory using modern, sophisticated tools of differential equations theory, theory of dynamic systems and numerical analysis.
The equippment of the research workplace is complemented by three robots on which non-standard collisions and accidents of robotic workplaces are simulated as well as the optimisation o f their control.
d) PCS7 Distributed Control System
The system contains software means for computer-aided design and development of autmated control systems documentation. The system comprises also hardware components and working panels for simulating and testing the designed and projected solutions as well as it contains a server with input-output cards which due to its software tools allows simulating of different technological processes. Real signals from simulated proceses are are brought to inputs and outputs of real control means by a connecting distributor.
Another part of the workplace is represented by a decentralised control system (DCS) composed of industrial controlsystems, engineering, human-machine, maintenance systems and of other subsystems and moduels. The system will be determined for the research and development of homogenous and heterogenous tasks of automation and control for all industrial fields using various technological and software approaches (focused mainly on joint processes.
Laboratory iCIM
The research workplaces for distributed systems for control of production and technology processes (contact person: Prof. Ing. Pavel Važan, PhD., email: pavel.vazan@stuba.sk, Ing. Martin Németh, PhD., email: martin.nemeth@stuba.sk)
Research workplace of logical and sequential control (LOGIC) (contact person: doc. Ing. German Michaľčonok, CSc., email: german.michalconok@stuba.sk, Ing. Andrea Némethová, PhD., email: andrea.nemethova@stuba.sk)
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 workplace offers:
- analysing the pyramidal control systems
- designing a model of ana automated control production process in iits ndividual levels of a pyramidal model
- designing and integrating of selected control subsystems into the superior control system
- analysing, designing, and applying security critical subsystems into the control process in compliance with standards in force
- eliminating of possible defects in the operation of security-critical technological processes as a part of hardware and software design of security-critical processes control
- optimising the design and integrating the security-critical subsystems of control.
The laboratory comprises the following research workplaces:
a) Research workplaces for distributed systems for control of production and technology processes (DSC)
The workplace includes the models and components listed 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 six 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.
b) Research workplace for logical and sequential control (LOGIC)
The workplace includes the models and components listed below:
- system for logical and sequential 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.
Laboratory of Big Data and Integration of Information and Control Systems
(contact person: Prof. Ing. Pavol Tanuška, PhD., email: pavol.tanuska@stuba.sk, doc. Ing. Michal Kebísek, PhD., email: michal.kebisek@stuba.sk)
The laboratory includes integrated information system of the corporate level equipped with the systems for production planning and control, administration of documents, tools for Business Intelligence, simulator of processes and service processes with the possibility of their optimisation. Implementation aiming at ensuring the mutual cooperation and interconnection of individual laboratory modules is the integral part of the laboratory. The laboratory provides the possibilities for research and development in the field of integrating the information and control systems, simulations and optimisation of systems as well as in the field of Big Data, and predictive analyses.
In the laboratory we carry out the research and investigate professional issues for practice, particularly those related to collecting, processing, and analysing of an extreme volume of structured and unstructured data for the purposes of control of complex systems. We also execute data analyses to obtain new potential knowledge to be used in various levels of hierarchical control, such as prediction of emergency conditions of the controlled process in real time, planning of preventive maintenance, identification and optimisation of relevant parameters of processes control, etc.
We also deal with forming the data repository to store and archive structured and unstructured data from individual hierarchical levels, designing the paltforms based on Data mining determined for analysing available production data to find and recognize the patterns in data, which can thus have impact on acquiring new kowledge about the analysed process and increase the ability to predict emergency conditions, optimisation of theprocess, or decrease of operational costs, etc.
Laboratory of Information Technologies
(contact person: Ing. Bohuslava Juhásová, PhD., email: bohuslava.juhasova@stuba.sk)
The laboratory is focused on the support of information systems development as well as on the modern ways of modelling, controlling, and optimising processes via knowledge approaches, fuzzy control systems, genetic algorithms and neural networks as well as via computer-aided modelling of signals and dynamic systems while supporting selected methods of modelling and possibilities of their application in the analyses and syntheses of regulation circuits. For designing and implementing the program systems of control processes, it is possible to utilise the services of operational systems as well as utilise the application of graphical systems for automation of indutrial processes. The laboratory equipment also allows researching the implementation of communication data networks in different uses, plan, or project compact communication structures.
Laboratory of Numerical Simulations
Research workplace for thermal analyses (contact person: doc. RNDr. Mária Behúlová, CSc., email: maria.behulova@stuba.sk, Ing. Štefan Hajdu, PhD., email: stefan.hajdu@stuba.sk)
Research workplace for strength and dynamics analyses (contact person: doc. Ing. Milan Naď, PhD., email: milan.nad@stuba.sk, Ing. Rastislav Ďuriš, PhD., email: rastislav.duris@stuba.sk)
The laboratory of numerical simulations includes two mutually connected research workplaces: the Research workplace for strength and dynamic analyses and the Research workplace for thermal analyses. The laboratory is focusedon the implementation of numerical analyses and computer simulations of mechanical and mechatronic systems and technological processes of production and materials processing including investigation of strength, dynamic, thermal, fluid, and electro-magnetic tasks as well as dealing with complex contact and multi-physical issues. In the laboratory, there are the following program systems installed: ANSYS (modular programový systém pre riešenie multifyzikálnych inžinierskych problémov metódou konečných prvkov), DEFORM (program system for numerical simulation of forming and thermal processing processes), SYSWELD (software for modelling and simulation of processes of thermal processing and welding including phase transformations), MSC Marc (final-element/konečno-prvkový program system for solving high non-linear taksks), MSC Adams (dynamic simulations of virtual prototypes of mechanical systems), Dynast (simulation and animation of dynamic systems behaviour), JMatPro (software for calculation of material properties of multicomponent alloys), Wolfram Matematica, and Matlab.
Vybavenie laboratória umožňuje realizovať i experimetálne merania napätí a deformácií, tenzometrickou metódou (systém QuantumX firmy HBM), teplotných polí termočlánkami termokamerou Flir, merania v oblasti vibrácií a hluku (systémom PULSE firmy Bruel&Kjaer).
The laboratory equipment offers calculation operations in the field of design, analysis and optimisation of conventional industrial heatings of metal and non-metal materials for the processes of thermal processing, forming, welding, and founding including specialised high-frequency electric and induction heatings, heatings by laser or plasma beams as well as heatings in the conditions of electro-magnetic levitation. In the laboratory we have been providing various tasks investigation, consultation and review services for several significant indutrial plants, particularly in the field of machine engineering, power engineering, production and processing of metal, non-metal and composite materials, research and medicine.