An Educational Environment for Reinforcement of Dynamic System Modeling and Controls Concepts Utilizing MATLAB, xPC-Target and a Hardware in the Loop Magnetic Levitation Device

Engineering education and especially hands on experience has been the focus of many studies. The experience and benefits associated with hands on experience using real hardware components as compared to virtual analysis using computer simulation tools are invaluable. In this paper, we present the development and use of an educational environment for experimentation and reinforcement of concepts found in dynamic system modeling and real-time controls in upper level undergraduate and graduate courses in engineering. This environment requires two computers, a host and a target that communicate through a serial protocol. The basic software tools (reside on the host) are the ubiquitous MATLAB along with Simulink, Real Time Workshop, xPC Target, and Visual C++ compiler. The hardware in the loop, HIL, device to be modeled and controlled is a custom developed magnetic levitation system that is nonlinear, open loop uns table and has time varying dynamics. A compatible data acquisition board (resides in the target) is required to provide the interface between the software and the device to be controlled. This environment provides for the development of various controllers and allows for direct comparison of their performance with hardware in the loop as shown in the presented examples.