Seguidor Solar Solar-tracker

ROTARY CONTROL CHALLENGE Solar Tracker

Innovative Light-Tracking Device

Product Information Sheet R15 - 1 - rev. D

Description Quanser's Solar Tracker is a unique light-tracking device which detects an actuated and controlled light source. This versatile servo system is designed for teaching, studying and demonstrating concepts and practice in control engineering. As an industrial product, it is also targeted on applications that track missiles, stars, solar projects, etc. The system is fully compatible with MATLAB/Simulink/QuaRC and LabVIEW. The device consists of two key components: an independently controllable light source attached to a rotary Turnkey Experiments Provided: Exp #1: Servo Tracker System Identification through Bode Plots Analysis

arm and a light-sensing camera mounted on a servo motor-activated slip ring. The light source has its own embedded controller with an onboard power amplifier to vary the light’s intensity, position and speed. Solar Tracker's plant consists of a DC motor in a solid aluminum frame. The motor is equipped with a planetary gearbox, driving external gears. The servo unit also includes a tachometer to measure motor speed as well as an optical encoder and a continuous-turn potentiometer to measure the position of the load gear. Notable features of Solar Tracker include its slip ring, which allows for untethered 360-degree rotation, as well as a standalone light source module can be separated from the rotary servo unit. The device can be

Exp #2a: Servo Tracker Position Control through a PV Design Exp #2b: Servo Tracker Speed Control through a PI Scheme

used to perform a wide range of experiments and is provided with many turnkey laboratories, carried out in both analog and digital domains. These include system identifications, servo position and speed controls, and optical target tracking.

Key Features High Quality

Typical Light Sensor Camera Characteristics

• Solid aluminum frame Exp #3: Photosensitive Camera Sensor Calibration and Gain Identification

• Durable, well-built slip ring mechanism • Small inertia and torque ripple DC motor • High-resolution quadrature optical encoders to sense position Versatile

Exp #4: Light Source Tracking Servo Control through a PI Design using QuaRC (Digital) Exp #5: Light Source Tracking Servo Control through a P Scheme using an Analog Circuit

• Embedded microcontroller for closed-loop control of the light module arm position and light intensity • Automatic arm position calibration using Hall-effect sensors • Open-architecture design allowing for a wide range of experiments Comprehensive & Compatible • Complete system documentation

Exp #6: Light Source Seeking Servo Control through a Switching Mode Controller

• Provided curriculum covers several analog and digital control and system identification experiments. • Fully compatible with NI LabVIEW • Fully compatible with MATLAB/Simulink/QuaRC

With Quanser the possibilities are infinite

Camera Sensor Linear Response The differential intensity signal (Ad) between both camera light sensors (right and left) is linear to ± 10% within the range of view. The graph illustrates the curve obtained from the differential error signal in the camera when the servo motor rotates by ± 90˚ ( ) relative to a fixed light source. The camera signal linear range is ± 30˚, while its useful range is ± 80˚

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ROTARY CONTROL CHALLENGE Solar Tracker

System Requirements

Innovative Light-Tracking Device

Component

Product Information Sheet R15 - 2- rev. D

Quanser Recommended

Alternative

(Common Configuration)

Power Module

Quanser UPM 1503

Alternate Power Amplifier (Minimum requirements: +/- 12V,3A)

Control Hardware

Quanser Q4, Q8 Series

dSPACE DS1104*

Control Software

Quanser QuaRC

The Mathworks – RTWT, xPC dSPACE – ControlDesk National Instruments - LabVIEW

* Quanser offers interface boards for dSPACE DS1104 boards.

Differential Light Sensor (Camera) Specifications

Name

Value

Right Light Sensor Signal Range

±5V

Left Light Sensor Signal Range

±5V

Differential Light Sensor Signal Range

±5V

Camera Linear Range of View

± 30 º

Camera Usable Range of View

± 80 º

Camera Number of Output Signals

3 (left, right and differential)

Camera Servo Range of Motion*

infinite rotation (due to slip ring)

* Slip ring design facilitates full range of motion

Controllable Light Source Module Specifications

Name

Value

Light Source Range of Motion

± 90 º

Light Source Actuation

geared DC Motor

Arm Encoder Resolution

4096 counts/rev

Distance from Light Source to Camera (Perpendicular) Controllable Light Source Controller

20 cm PIC embedded micro-controller

Arm Position Command Range (Analog Signal to PIC)

± 90º (0 – 5V)

Arm Speed Command Range (Analog Signal to PIC)

0 – 120 deg/s (0 – 5V)

Light Intensity Command Signal Range to PIC

0 – 5V

Safety Considerations

Current Limit Safety Stops

Tender Specification A compact, turnkey, table-top system for teaching, studying and improving industrial control. The system includes a DC servomotor equipped with a tachometer, encoder, potentiometer and camera mounted on a slip ring. It also consists of a standalone controllable light source module with an embedded controller and a power amplifier. The system allows for a wide range of control experiments, including the tracking of its moving light source by the camera slip ring mounted atop the servomotor. Equipment is supplied with a one year parts and labor warranty.

With Quanser the possibilities are infinite

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Products and/or services referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quanser Consulting Incorporated, and /or its affiliates. Other product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008 Quanser Consulting Incorporated. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Errors and omissions excepted.