Desarrollo de un túnel de levitación neumática utilizando un sistema embebido para la optimización de sistemas de mando y control

Abstract

A pneumatic levitation tunnel is a device that has evolved since its creation, going from an entirely experimental equipment and for verifications; to diversify its usage to professional training and general entertainment spheres. By no longer having inside it only objects, mechanisms, and machines subjects of verification of their aerodynamic characteristics, and going to a usage with people involved. Therefore, the correct control of the airflow inside of these devices became an imperative need. An entirely manual control of the airflow is the main characteristic of these types of pneumatic levitation tunnels, or better known as wind tunnels. The presence of a person inside the tunnel, doing a recreative, professional or training activity, demands a more advanced control to guarantee the safety of who is using it, being the essential to diversify its means of command. Due to all wrote down above, in this document is shown the development of a pneumatic levitation tunnel using an embedded system for the optimization of the command´s means and control. The system is a small-scale representation of a wind tunnel with the inclusion of assorted command´s means trough a TIVA TM4C129 development board. The system has a feedback control, with the acquisition of the position of a pellet with the usage of an ultrasonic technology sensor, which goes to the controller to manage the system output in the necessary size to satisfy the operating set points. The system varies the airflow inside the tunnel to control pellet position with the action of an EDF (Electric Ducted Fan) of controllable Speed. Command´s means incorporated for this tunnel were implemented in concordance with the desired optimization for the system, as a prevailing need of increasing the security levels that could be included in the big scale systems. There were added command´s means in natural way through traditional communication, graphic command through HMI and Ethernet communication, and command through a sensor placed for human interaction.