Diseño e implementación de un levitador neumático

Abstract

This project aims to enhance the knowledge of the students of the Mechatronics career at the Salesian Polytechnic University by implementing a pneumatic levitator applying PID control. Several surveys were conducted with students of lower semesters, which showed their lack of interest in subjects taught in an entirely theoretical way. This project strengthens the knowledge of subjects such as "Control Theory" since it shows how to control a plant, in this case, the pneumatic levitator, through a PID control, using a PLC S7-1200 programmed in TIA PORTAL. The suspension of a specific body in a closed environment can be performed; in this case, it is an acrylic tube containing a sphere, whose position is varied by pushing a pneumatic force performed by a 12V DC fan. Subsequently, a final survey was conducted, in which several students were asked for their opinions on the use of projects and research as a learning strategy. Positive results were yielded, demonstrating the importance of support and learning in which easy-to-manipulate projects are used for students. Through the pneumatic levitation plant implemented in this project, the theoretical knowledge of control is verified where through the HMI, the level at which a sphere must levitate is ordered, and at the same time, the PID control algorithm performs the necessary effort to keep the object at its working point.