Rapid Design and Implementation of Embedded Real-Time Control Systems
Goal
To streamline the process of implementing real-time feedback control system designs on embedded hardware
Background
The design of feedback control systems usually includes the following steps:
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System identification
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Designing and simulating a controller on a PC
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Implementing a prototype controller on an PC using an A/D board
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Converting the prototype controller to an embedded solution
This last step often causes a significant bottle neck in the design of real-time control systems.
Approach
This project will automate the process of converting a computer simulation of a control system to an embedded solution so that the need to implement prototype controllers on A/D boards is eliminated. This project will basically walk through the control design process, from system identification to embedded implementation, for several systems, intelligently automating at each step.
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Use Python on a PC for automated processing and analyzing of system ID data and fitting that data to an object-oriented model of the physical system
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Develop a Python module for feedback control design and simulation building on the existing Scipy suite of tools
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Use Python to auto-generate C code for implementing the controller on a PSoC (Programmable System-on-Chip)
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Compare this process to implementing the controller using the PSoC Express software from Cypress
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Investigate the possibility of Python auto-generating an input file for PSoC Express that could also be user edited
Project Outcome
A suite of software tools that intelligently automate the control design process and integrate well with embedded hardware