Module Code - Title:
DM6031
-
AUTOMATION AND CONTROL
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
To inform the student of the various automated components contained within typical industrial products.
To provide the student with an understanding of pneumatic and hydraulic systems used within production of products.
To establish how product design can impact on industrial robotics.
To illustrate how product design can impact on production line feeding mechanisms.
Syllabus:
Control
LabVIEW
• Continuous monitoring of data (analogue signal processing),
• Design of graphical user interface,
• Control of systems (Proportional Integral Derivative PID control)
• Development of programming language in the context of industrial applications and uses.
• Embedded systems in factory automation
Industrial Data systems
Distributed Systems - Fieldbus protocols, topologies and standards. Interoperability of units.
Industrial Robotics
• Robot anatomy, joints and links, 6 axis robotics.
• Robotic drive systems, control systems,
• End effector design e.g. grippers, sensors, applications - material handling, assembly - linked to product design - design for manufacture.
• Robot programming, teaching point to point and through more advanced software packages.
• Pneumatic systems, actuators, valves and end effectors.
Vision Systems
Operating principles, industrial applications, advantages, disadvantages.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1 Program and control industrial robots and complete reliability and repeatability studies associated with industrial equipment.
2. Mathematically calculate end effector position through 4*4 matrix calculations.
3. Develop software programmes to facilitate the calculation of PID control.
4. Have the ability to continuously monitor information obtained from sensors and develop programmes to act on this information.
5. Understand the operating principles and industrial applications of vision systems in terms of quality control and speed of inspection.
6. Specify, Design and assemble pneumatic systems to control automated processes e.g. robot end effector, materials transfer.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Appreciate the use of technology in the modern manufacturing plant.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
Physically teach and programme 6 axis Robot and complementary vision system.
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will be delivered in a formal lecture setting complemented with laboratory practical sessions.
Successful participants will be:
(i) Knowledgeable about modern robotic processes and approaches to automating a manufacturing process.
(ii) Creative in applying problem solving skills relevant to the challenges associated with the design of robot systems in manufacturing.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Mikell Groover ()
Automation, Production Systems, and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
, Prentice Hall
Fraser C, Milne J. ()
Integrated Electrical and Electronic Engineering for Mechanical Engineers
, McGraw Hill
Tzafestas, S.G., (Ed) (2010)
Robotics
, Springer
Carryer, E., M. Ohline and T. Kenny (2010)
Introduction to Mechatronic Design
, Pearson
Stacey, C. (1997)
Practical Pneumatics
, Arnold
Vetterli, M. J. Kovacevic, and VK Goyal (2013)
Foundations of Signal Processing
, Cambridge University Press
Other Relevant Texts:
Mikell P. Groover ()
Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing
, Wiley
Barney, G. C. ()
Intelligent Instrumentation
, Prentice Hall
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Autumn
Module Leader:
Gerard.Dooly@ul.ie