The Active Suspension experiment teaches cutting-edge technology that has brought a new generation of vehicles to life. Active suspension technology is used in the automotive industry to continuously control the vertical movement of the vehicle wheel using an actively-controlled actuator placed on the suspension axis. Similar technologies have also been used in train bogies to improve the curving behavior of the train and the decreased acceleration perceived by the passenger.
Active Suspension
The Active Suspension consists of three masses that along stainless steel shafts using linear bearings and is supported by a set of springs. The upper mass (blue) represents the vehicle body supported above the suspension, the middle mass (red) corresponds to one of the vehicle’s tires, and the bottom (silver) mass simulates the road. The upper mass is connected to a high-quality DC motor through a capstan to emulate an active suspension system that can dynamically compensate for the motions introduced by the road. The lower plate is driven by a powerful DC motor connected to a lead screw and cable transmission system.
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2 DOF Robot
The 2 DOF Robot module is connected to two Rotary Servo Base Units, which are mounted at a fixed distance. Two servomotors on the Rotary Servo Base Units are mounted at a fixed distance and control a 4-bar linkage system: two powered arms coupled through two non-powered arms. The system is planar and has two actuated and three unactuated revolute joints.
The goal of the 2 DOF Robot experiment is to manipulate the X-Y position of a four-bar linkage end effector. Such a system is similar to the kinematic problems encountered in the control of other parallel mechanisms that have singularities.
2 DOF Ball Balancer
The 2 DOF Ball Balancer module consists of a plate on which a ball can be placed and is free to move. Two Rotary Servo Base Units are connected to the sides of the plate using 2 DOF gimbals. The plate can swivel about in any direction. By controlling the position of the servo load gears, the tilt angle of the plate can be adjusted to balance the ball to a desired planar position.
The digital camera mounted overhead captures two-dimensional images of the plate and track coordinates of the ball in real time. Images are transferred quickly to the PC via a FireWire connection. Students can make the ball track various trajectories (a circle, for example), or even stabilize the ball when it is thrown onto the plate using the controller provided with the experiment.
Quanser AERO myRIO
The experiment is reconfigurable for various aerospace systems, from 1 DOF and 2 DOF helicopter to half-quadrotor. Integrating Quanser-developed QFLEX 2 computing interface technology, the Quanser AERO also offers flexibility in lab configurations, using a PC, or microcontrollers, such as NI myRIO, Arduino and Raspberry Pi. With the comprehensive course materials included, you can build a state-of-the-art teaching lab for your mechatronics or control courses, engage students in various design and capstone projects, and validate your research concepts on a high-quality, robust, and precise platform.
QUBE – Servo 2 Embedded
Integrating Quanser-developed QFLEX 2 computing interface technology, QUBE-Servo 2 provides more flexibility in lab configurations, using a PC, or microcontrollers, such as NI myRIO, Arduino and Raspberry Pi. With the comprehensive course materials included, you can build a state-of-the-art undergraduate teaching lab for your mechatronics or control courses, and engage students in various design and capstone projects.
Quanser Controls Board
As automation and connected devices move from industry to commercial products and the home, an understanding of the design and implementation of control systems on hardware is essential. The courseware progression that accompanies the Quanser Controls Board begins with a grounding in the basics of modeling and control. Topics then transition into more complex strategies including optimal control, hybrid control, and digital control.
QLabs Virtual Quanser AERO
Same as the physical Quanser AERO, the virtual system is a dual-rotor helicopter model that can be reconfigured for 1 DOF attitude, 2 DOF helicopter, or half-quadrotor experiments. Rotary encoders measure the angular position of the propeller DC motors, the speed of the motors is measured through a software-based tachometer.
QLabs Virtual Rotary Servo
Same as the physical Rotary Servo Base Unit, the virtual system features a DC motor that drives a smaller pinion gear. This gear is fixed to a larger middle gear that rotates on the load shaft. The position of the load shaft is measured using a high-resolution optical encoder or a potentiometer.
Magnetic Levitation
The force between electromagnet and ball is highly nonlinear. Further, the electromagnet itself has its own dynamics that must be compensated for. The challenging dynamics of the system make it perfect for teaching modeling, linearization, current control, position control, and using multiple loops (i.e. cascade control). It could also be used to test and implement more advanced control strategies, such as multi-variable, gain scheduling, and nonlinear control.
