Six ControlS Experiments

for NI ELVIS

QNET: EXPERIMENTS TO TEACH

FUNDAMENTALS OF CONTROLS AND
MECHATRONICS
QNET is a series of six experiments
that are designed exclusively for the
National Instruments Educational
Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation
Suite (NI ELVIS). Extending the
functionality of NI ELVIS and
NI LabVIEW through six training
boards, the QNET experiments are
an effective tool for teaching controls
fundamentals in various engineering
disciplines including electrical,
mechanical, mechatronics, aerospace
and biomedical. Comprehensive
pedagogical curriculum is provided with
all QNET experiments to save educators
considerable time while enabling students
to cultivate a deep understanding of
engineering principles. With QNET
hardware-in-the-loop implementations,
engineering students can get hands-on,
practical experience in the important
aspects of engineering practice. These
include control, design and simulation.
This spurs student interest, motivation
and enhances the laboratory experience.

The LabVIEW graphical programming

environment is used to design measurement,
test and control systems. Intuitive graphical
icons and wires that resemble a flowchart
empower students to rapidly design,
prototype and deploy control algorithms.

QNET controls experiments optimize

lab space. They can be used for multiple
NI ELVIS is an educational design and engineering courses. Choose from six
prototyping platform, tightly integrated different modules for the NI ELVIS
with LabVIEW, which is ideal for teaching workstation.
introductory engineering concepts Curriculum is provided with QNET
including control, design and simulation. experiments to save educators time.

Please see system specifications inside.

For more info visit www.NI.com/QUANSER

Teaching Control with QNET and NI ELVIS: Six Experiments to Choose From
Choose from six QNET experiments to teach introductory controls to engineering students in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Biomedical and
Aerospace. The table below provides an overview of how each QNET module can be used to demonstrate specific industrial applications. In addition,
you will find a summary of key attributes, curriculum and technical specifications of each QNET module. Please note NI ElVIS is sold separately.
QNET MODULES Teaching Fundamentals
for NI ELVIS of Control
The DC Motor Control Trainer illustrates
QNET DC Motor
the fundamentals of DC motor control using
CONTROL Trainer
the NI ELVIS platform and LabVIEW
software. It can quickly and easily be
configured to control motor position and
speed, as well as parameter estimation and
control of a haptic knob.
The Rotary Inverted Pendulum Trainer
QNET Rotary
offers students the opportunity to balance a
Inverted
vertical rod at the tip of a rotating arm using
Pendulum
a DC motor. This is a classic pendulum control
Trainer
experiment that can now be performed
more cost-effectively using the NI ELVIS
platform and LabVIEW software.
QNET HVAC Trainer Ideal for illustrating concepts covered in
fluid dynamics and thermodynamics control
courses. The HVAC Trainer teaches students
how to design a control system that regulates
temperature in a chamber using the NI ELVIS
workstation and LabVIEW interface.
This experiment introduces the student to
a wide variety of sensors that are commonly
QNET Mechatronic
used today. It teaches how to use these
Sensors Trainer sensors and demonstrates their advantages
and limitations. One of the most useful
topics in an introductory Mechatronics
course is the understanding and application
of sensors.
The QNET Vertical Take-Off and Landing
(VTOL) module introduces students to the
QNET VTOL Trainer fundamentals of aerospace engineering,
such as basic flight dynamics and control.
The QNET Myoelectric trainer is an
QNET MYOELECTRIC exciting way to introduce students to
Trainer biomedical engineering. Students can learn
how to control a servo from the contraction
of muscles using the principles of
electromyography (EMG).
For more info visit www.NI.com/QUANSER
Products and/or services pictured and referred to herein and their accompanying specifications may be subject to change without notice. Products and/or services
mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quanser Inc. and/or its affiliates. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners. 2009 Quanser Inc. All rights reserved.
Rev 1.0
Applicable
Engineering
Discipline
MECHATRONICS
To request a demonstration or quotation, please visit www.ni.com/quanser
Mechanical
BIOMEDICAL
AEROSPACE
ELECTRICAL
Real-life Curriculum
Applications Key Attributes Included Technical Specifications
System modeling Motor Max current 5A
Printers Durable DC servo motor
Cameras Built-in power amplifier Model validation Torque constant 0.033 Max output power 120 W
Position and speed control Terminal resistance 8.7 ohms
Robots High resolution optical encoder to sense position Current Sense Resistor
CD players Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy System simulation Rotor inertia 18 g cm2 Current sensitivity 1.0 A/V
PID controller design
Vehicles lab setup Max torque 0.1 Nm Encoder
Tracking error
Compact and easy to store Linear Amplifier Lines per revolution 2048 lines
Sensitivity analysis
Protective cover to shield the circuitry Phase and gain margins Gain 2.3 V/V Resolution-quadrature 0.0439 deg/count
Max output voltage 24 V Type TTL
Disturbance rejection
Segway transporter Documented energy based-swing up control design System modeling Motor Motor Encoder
Torque constant 0.033 N.m/A Lines per revolution 2048 lines
Stabilization of rocket during take-off based on the pendulum link model Parameter estimation
Human posturing system Durable DC servo motor Balance control
Terminal resistance 8.7 ohms Resolution-quadrature 0.0439 deg/count
Rotor inertia 18 g cm2 Type TTL
Traction control of vehicles Precise and stiff machined components Linear-Quadratic Regulator (LQR) design Max torque 0.1 N.m Pendulum Encoder
Built-in power amplifier Non-minimum phase Linear Amplifier Lines per revolution 1024 Lines
High resolution optical encoders to sense positions Friction compensation Gain 2.3 V/V Resolution- Quadrature 0.0879 deg/count
Max output voltage 24 V Type TTL
Fully document system model and parameters Nonlinear swing-up control
Max current 5A Pendulum
Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy lab setup Energy-based design
Max output power 120 W Pendulum length 19.1 cm
Compact and easy to store Hybrid balance / swing-up control Current Sense Resistor Pendulum mass 27 g
Protective cover to shield the circuitry Current sensitivity 1.0 A/V Motor Encoder Coupling armlength 8.26 cm
Heating ventilation and air Transparent chamber Temperature control Heater maximum power 20 W
conditioning system (e.g room Durable fan Relay / on-off control design Temperature Sensor
12V halogen lamp as the heat source calibration 20 deg C/V
climate control) System modeling
Integrated electronic temperature sensor Blower airflow 0.81 m3/min
Incubators Built-in power amplifier Parameter identification
Chamber inside cross
Aquarium Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy lab setup Model validation
section area 15.9 cm2
Surge tank Compact and easy to store PI control design
Bioreactors Protective cover to shield the circuitry
Magnetic field transducer for Includes more than 10 different types of sensors: Benefits and drawbacks of certain Potentiometer Resolution 2.54 cm
throttle, pedal, suspension, and valve Strain gage sensors Mechanical angle range 300 deg Reading frequency 20 Hz
position sensing Piezo film sensor Independent linearity +/- 5 Piezo Film
Rotary potentiometer Sensor behavior
Optical sensor for non-contact
Pressure sensor Calibration Infrared Sensor Location of mass
position sensing and safety used in an Distance measuring range 20 to 150 cm from edge 1.40 cm
Thermistor sensor Using sensors to identify natural
assembly line Pressure Sensor Sensitivity at resonance 16.0 V/g
Long range sensors: sonar and infrared frequency of material
Piezo film sensors to log vibration history Short range sensors: magnetic field and optical Pressure range 0 - 207 kPa Resonant frequency 40.0 Hz
of package Need for debounce in switches
Micro switch, push button, and optical switch Sensitivity 0.0193 V/kPa 3dB frequency 20.0 Hz
Various switches and LEDs are used in Two digital output LEDs and buttons
Quantization step 3 mV
electronic devices Encoder Understanding how encoders work
Sonar
Sonar and infrared range sensors Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy lab setup Object detection 0 - 6.45 m
often found in robots Compact and easy to store
Protective cover to shield the circuitry Sonar range 0.15 - 6.45 m
Helicopters High quality rugged propeller assembly Flight dynamics, (e.g. modeling the Power (at 1.5 A) 5.4 W Fan chamber diameter 6.8 cm
Rockets Variable-speed fan with safety guard plant) Thrust (at 1.5 A) 32 g Fan chamber height 4.1 cm
Balloons Identifying parameters experimentally Efficiency (at 1.5 A) 5.93 g/W Counter-weight mass 270 g
High resolution encoder
Harrier jets Model validation Encoder Pitch range of motion
Fully document system model and parameters
Tiltrotors PID control Lines per revolution 1024 lines (from horizontal) +/- 28 deg
Reliable QNET base and amplifier components
Cascade control Resolution-quadrature 0.0879 deg/count Linear Amplifier
Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy
Dealing with actuator dynamics Type TTL Gain 2.3 V/V
lab setup Max output range 24.0 V
Dimensions
Compact and easy to store Helicopter body length 28.4 cm Max current 5A
Protective cover to shield the circuitry Max output power 120 W
Myoelectric prosthetics Electromyograph with opto-isolated electrode and a Analyzing the electromyogram signal Myoelectric Sensor
Bioinstrumentation grounding strap Signal conditioning (e.g. FFT Analog output +/-5 V
Clinical diagnostic tool: identifying Electromyograph runs on two AA batteries and filtering) Servo
neuromuscular diseases Pulse-width controlled metal gear servo Developing task-based servo Operating range 4.8-6.0 V
Stall torque 0.294 N.m
Assisted control in aircrafts QNET board includes signal conditioning circuit control from processed
Dimensions 2.9x1.3x3.0 cm
Unvoiced speech recognition and PWM electromyogram
Weight 21.9 g
Can monitor electromyogram signal at different
stages in circuit
Plug-and-play design facilitates quick and easy
lab setup
Compact and easy to store
Protective cover to shield the circuitry
All QNET modules comply with the following international quality standards:
BRING ADVANCED MECHATRONICS TO YOUR LAB
WITH LABVIEW AND QUANSER TECHNOLOGY implementation. By combining these tools with the LabVIEW
Control Design and Simulation Module, students can take
While the QNET series for NI ELVIS provides a cost-effective solution
advantage of custom algorithm development, analysis and visual-
for teaching introductory control and mechatronics principals, you
ization. Plus you can integrate LabVIEW Real-Time and LabVIEW
can leverage the National Instruments educational platform for
FPGA software and hardware to integrate a single platform for easily
advanced teaching and research. LabVIEW software and a wide
and quickly designing, prototyping, and deploying your systems.
range of National Instruments hardware is fully compatible with
National Instruments multifunction data acquisition and field pro-
Quanser control experiments for intermediate and advanced level
grammable gate array-enabled I/O devices combine analog input,
teaching and research. Quanser experiments cover topics applicable
analog output, digital I/O, and counter/timers on a single device.
to various engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical,
With new, innovative analog and digital designs, M Series and X
mechatronics, aerospace and civil. From rotary to linear and to more
Series devices set a new standard for performance, I/O capability,
advanced, Quanser experiments are distinctively modular. This enables
safety, and value. NI R Series multifunction RIO devices offer the
labs to maximize the investment in National Instruments technology
best combination of value and performance by integrating
and cost-effectively employ the same power plant and data acquisition
field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology with analog and
card to perform experiments of varying complexity.
digital I/O into a single device that is offered on standard PC form
Easy integration with National Instruments hardware provides factors. Please visit www.quanser.com for a detailed list of National
many options for prototyping, hardware-in-the-loop tests, and final Instruments cards that are compatible with Quanser experiments.

NI LabVIEW Control Design

and Simulation Module

Quanser AMPAQ

Quanser Active
Suspension NI R Series
Unit Multifunction
RIO Device

Quanser Comprehensive Curriculum

The Active Suspension is an example of a Quanser experiment that is suitable

for intermediate/advanced level teaching. The combination of LabVIEW
software, National Instruments R Series multi-function devices and Quanser
experiment represents a self-contained control workstation. The capabilities
of this powerful yet adaptable bundle are extended further by curriculum,
complete with Instructor and Student Workbooks. The LabVIEW-based
curriculum is developed by engineers for engineers to effectively demon-
strate and teach the mechatronic design approach practiced in industry. This
includes modeling, controller design, simulation and implementation.

See the full range of mechatronic controls experiments for LabVIEW and National Instruments hardware
at www.quanser.com/nimcc
About Quanser:
With 20 years in control design, Quanser is the world leader in education and research for real-time control design and implementation. We specialize in outfitting
engineering control laboratories to help universities captivate the brightest minds, motivate them to success and produce graduates with industry-relevant skills.
Universities worldwide implement Quansers open architecture control solutions, industry-relevant curriculum and cutting-edge workstations to teach Introductory,
Intermediate or Advanced controls to students in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Robotics, Aerospace, Civil, and various other engineering disciplines.
Quanser educational solutions are fully compatible with:

For more info visit www.NI.com/QUANSER