Remote Laboratory for Remote Laboratory for Industrial AutomationIndustrial Automation

Rui Delgado, Gustavo SantosRui Delgado, Gustavo SantosCarlos Cardeira, J. R. C. Pinto, Rui Carlos Cardeira, J. R. C. Pinto, Rui

LoureiroLoureiroOtto LeichsenringOtto Leichsenring

IST – GOM - INFOCONTROLIST – GOM - INFOCONTROL

GoalsGoals

• Remotely accessed laboratory for Remotely accessed laboratory for industrial automation industrial automation

• Improve laboratories sessions Improve laboratories sessions productivityproductivity

• Compromise between a real lab and Compromise between a real lab and a virtual laba virtual lab

Real, Remote and Virtual Real, Remote and Virtual LabsLabs

• Real labsReal labs– There’s nothing like a real experimentThere’s nothing like a real experiment– They’re very close to realityThey’re very close to reality

But …But …- They’re limited to timetablesThey’re limited to timetables- Require a presence of a tutor or a Require a presence of a tutor or a

technician availabilitytechnician availability

Real, Remote and Virtual Real, Remote and Virtual LabsLabs• Remote labs – provide access to real Remote labs – provide access to real

experiments remotelyexperiments remotely– Not limited by timetablesNot limited by timetables– They’re (very) close to realityThey’re (very) close to realityBut …But …- Physical experiments access is mutual Physical experiments access is mutual

exclusiveexclusive- They’re affected by network performance and They’re affected by network performance and

reliabilityreliability- Bottlenecks near the deadlines limit the Bottlenecks near the deadlines limit the

availability of remote labsavailability of remote labs

Real, Remote and Virtual Real, Remote and Virtual LabsLabs• Virtual labs – Completely virtualVirtual labs – Completely virtual

– Not limited by timetablesNot limited by timetables– No bottlenecks near the deadlinesNo bottlenecks near the deadlines– Access is not mutually exclusiveAccess is not mutually exclusive– They aren’t affected by network performance They aren’t affected by network performance

and reliabilityand reliability

But …But …- No feeling of realityNo feeling of reality- Limited by programmed possibilitiesLimited by programmed possibilities

Real, Remote and Virtual Real, Remote and Virtual LabsLabs

• All types of labs have advantages All types of labs have advantages and drawbacks (otherwise only one and drawbacks (otherwise only one type would exist)type would exist)

• Virtual Labs : for training and Virtual Labs : for training and masteringmastering

• Remote Labs : for testingRemote Labs : for testing

• Real Labs : for doing it !Real Labs : for doing it !

Industrial Automation Remote Industrial Automation Remote LabLab

Industrial Automation Remote Industrial Automation Remote LabLab

No specific software:No specific software:• Connection to Lab PLC is made by Connection to Lab PLC is made by

TCP/IP using the manufacturer’s TCP/IP using the manufacturer’s programming environmentprogramming environment

• Access to the webcam image is made Access to the webcam image is made with a normal videoconferencing with a normal videoconferencing softwaresoftware

• The human-machine interface is made The human-machine interface is made by a normal browserby a normal browser

Edit, Compile, Download, Edit, Compile, Download, DebugDebug

Webconnect - HMIWebconnect - HMI

• PDP keys are embedded in the HTML PDP keys are embedded in the HTML code, being used for addressing PLC code, being used for addressing PLC data. data. – %%PDP,,I16,B% addressing one input %%PDP,,I16,B% addressing one input

“I16” and format is binary.“I16” and format is binary.– %%PDP,,R300,F% addressing the register %%PDP,,R300,F% addressing the register

300, format is in floating point.300, format is in floating point.– %%PDP,,DB10.20,d% addressing Data %%PDP,,DB10.20,d% addressing Data

Block 10, element 20, format is decimal.Block 10, element 20, format is decimal.

Web InterfacesWeb Interfaces

Web InterfacesWeb Interfaces

Remote CameraRemote Camera

Integration from Web to Integration from Web to physical hardwarephysical hardware

What you get:What you get:

ResultsResults

• Students have a demo version of the PLC Students have a demo version of the PLC software that allows them to check for software that allows them to check for syntax errorssyntax errors

• Students may use the remote lab to check Students may use the remote lab to check for semantic errors and make online for semantic errors and make online debugdebug

• Students go to the lab session for the real Students go to the lab session for the real laboratory to make real contact with the laboratory to make real contact with the equipmentequipment

PerspectivesPerspectives

• Security issuesSecurity issues

• An unique front endAn unique front end

• A PLC simulator towards a virtual labA PLC simulator towards a virtual lab

• Convince more and more PLC Convince more and more PLC manufacturers to create remote labs manufacturers to create remote labs on their facilitieson their facilities