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Project14 | Control Systems: Build Anything from Simple On-Off Controllers, to PID Control, to Model Predictive Control!

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Control Systems

Enter Your Electronics & Design Project for a chance to win a $200 shopping cart!

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Monthly Themes
Monthly Theme Poll

 

In the Comments Below:  Let Us Know Your Project Ideas for Control Systems!

 

Your Project Can Involve Anything from Simple On-Off Controllers, to PID Control, to Predictive Control!

 

Submit a Blog in or tag your post ControlSystemsCH for a Chance to Win!

 

Submit an EntrySubmit an Entry

 

The theme this month is Control Systems and it comes from a suggestion by .  Control systems are used everywhere, in ovens, anti-blocking brake systems, drones stabilization, segway stabilization, etc. Many systems would not be able to operate at all if they didn't implement a control system. Control systems continuously compare the feedback signal to the provided setpoint to compute the error and accordingly change the system input in order to reach the set point. The math required to create a control system can be from very simple on-off controllers, to PID control, to model predictive control, to all kind of exotic algorithms.  The controller task is the same, reach the setpoint quick without overshooting.   This makes control system is a varied and diverse field of engineering.  Control System Engineers are responsible for the design, development, and implementation of solutions that control dynamic systems that are constantly changing.  Their goal is to bring stability to these constantly changing systems to produce the desired outcome.

 

Your project can also involve remote monitoring and control of devices that are not easily accessible, such as something involving radio communication or battery powered devices made to last as long as possible.  Examples of projects you could build include water monitoring systems, smoke detection systems, remote battery charger, remote temperature monitors, remote plant monitoring systems, remote air quality monitoring, IoT CCTV cams that people can talk through, doorbells and cameras, Cams with dog feeders to give your dog a treat while you're at work, and more.

 

Here are some projects to help inspire you:

 

Project 3: LoRa Experimental Environmental Sensors (LoRaXes) by :

 

 

LoRa Experimental Environmental Sensors (LoRaXes)
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CatDogFoxBot  by :

 

CatDogFoxBot
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Big Petro Maker Magic:  $100 Datalogger That Can Save Millions  by :

 

 

Big Petro Maker Magic: $100 Datalogger That Can Save Millions
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Micro Monster - Succulent Plants Monitoring System by :

 

Micro Monster - Succulent Plants Monitoring System
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Your Chance to Win

 

Be Original
Stick to the Theme
  • You could come up with a clever name that make's your project memorable!
    • This project is your baby! Part of the fun of bringing something new into the world is coming up with a name.
  • Your project could introduce something new or that is not commercially available or affordable!
  • If you have an idea for a project that doesn't fit the current theme then submit your idea in the comments section of the monthly poll.
List the Steps
Submit Video Proof
  • Provide the steps you took to complete your project (text, video, or images).
    • This could be a step by step how-to-guide, vlog, schematics, coding, napkin drawings, voice narration, or whatever you think will be useful!
  • If it doesn't work that's fine, this is more about the journey than the end product.
  • A short video is all that is required but you can shoot as much video as you like.
  • You are encouraged to be creative and have as much fun as possible!

 

Your Project Examples

 

Control Systems
Remote Home Monitoring with Raspberry Pi and Hologram Nova - Full Instructions Big Petro Maker Magic:  $100 Datalogger That Can Save Millions

 

 

 

Your Prizes

 

One Grand Prize Winner Wins a $200 Shopping Cart!Three First Place Winners Win a $100 Shopping Cart
  • One Grand Prize Winner Wins a $200 Shopping Cart!
  • 3 First Place Winners a $100 Shopping Cart!
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Your Project, Your Ideas!

 

About Project14
Directions

Every month you'll have a new poll where you'll get to decide an upcoming project competition, based on your interests, that will take place a couple of months in advance. Themes are broad in scope so that everyone can participate regardless of skill set.

 

What are Monthly Themes?

  • Every month (around the 14th of each month) a new theme will be posted on Project14.
  • Submit your ideas (proposals) for your projects to get feedback from the rest of the community.
  • Submit a project entry in the Theme space once you start working on it.

 

What are Monthly Theme Polls?

  • Every month (around the 14th of each month) there is a project theme poll.
  • Vote on which project competition you want to see for the following upcoming theme.
    • The themes voted on during the previous poll decided the upcoming theme.
    • If you submit an idea for a theme that is not used then it can still be used in a future poll.
  • Themes comments and ideas from the comments section of the project theme poll.

Step 1: Log in or register on element14, it's easy and free.

Step 2: Post in the comments section below to begin a discussion on your idea. Videos, pictures and text are all welcomed forms of submission.

Step 3: Submit a blog post of your progress on your project by the end of the month.  You are free to submit as many blog entries as you like until the beginning of the next theme.

 

Be sure to include video proof of your project!

 

Visit:  Control Systems or tag your project blog ControlSystemsCH

 

You have until October 14th End of Day to submit your completed project!

 

 

Submit an EntrySubmit an Entry

 

 

A jury consisting of your peers will judge project submissions!

 

 

In the Comments Below:  Let Us Know Your Project Ideas for Control Systems!

 

Your Project Can Involve Anything from Simple On-Off Controllers, to PID Control, to Predictive Control!

  • If you're looking for an RTOS example with PID, I wrote a series about it in 2017: MSP432 and TI-RTOS: PID Library Part 1 - Intro

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  • Fresh Air for a building due to Covid-19.

     

    I would like to add fresh air to the furnace air return to improve the air quality within a building.  I would like to design the system to control CO2 using an incremental approach. Using a Raspberry PI (or similar controller board) to monitor CO2, inside temperature, outside temperature, day of week, time of day, and damper position, a program would determine every 10 minutes it it is necessary to adjustment a fresh air damper. When CO2 levels rise above 600 ppm, the program will increase the damper position by 5 percent. This will occur every 10 minutes, until CO2 levels are no longer above 600 ppm.

     

    The damper will continue to open until the CO2 levels are decreased or the damper position is fully open. The damper will remain at its current position until the CO2 level drop below 600 ppm. If the levels is below 600 ppm, the program will begin to decrease the damper position every 10 minutes. This incremental approach should keep the CO2 levels between 500 and 700 ppm, preventing unnecessary flooding of outside air into the building.

     

    Utilizing a schedule based on day of week, start and end times, the system will ignore the CO2 levels and close the damper to improve heating and cooling effectiveness.

     

    What are safe levels of CO and CO2 in rooms?

     

    250-400ppmNormal background concentration in outdoor ambient air400-1,000ppmConcentrations typical of occupied indoor spaces with good air exchange1,000-2,000ppmComplaints of drowsiness and poor air.2,000-5,000 ppmHeadaches, sleepiness and stagnant, stale, stuffy air. Poor concentration, loss of attention, increased heart rate and slight nausea may also be present.5,000Workplace exposure limit (as 8-hour TWA) in most jurisdictions.>40,000 ppmExposure may lead to serious oxygen deprivation resulting in permanent brain damage, coma, even death.

    The vast majority of COVID-19 transmission occurs indoors, most of it from the inhalation of airborne particles that contain the virus.

     

    Researchers have determined buildings with a CO2 levels below 600 ppm, stops the outbreak completely. An increase in fresh air ventilation can decrease the transmission by 97%. Since the COVID-19 is spread through the air, a higher CO2 levels in a room likely means there is a higher chance of transmission if an infected person is present. Based on the study above, It is recommend that buildings should try to keep the CO2 levels below 600 ppm.

     

    Consideration for development:

     

    • Controller board - Arduino or Raspberry PI
    • CO2 Sensor - Adafruit SGP30 Air Quality Sensor Breakout - VOC and eCO2
    • Temperature sensor -
    • 8" Duct Damper, Normally Closed
    • Interface to furnace/thermostat to determine blower motor off/on
    • User interface to allow remote administration and monitoring
    • logging of data for evaluation of performance

  • This makes me want to resurrect a long dusty project I never finished... from like 6 years ago... now I have a 3D printer and it'll really help...

  • I was pleased and honoured to get a mention at the beginning as an example of control with my CatDogFox project. Sadly it never detected a fox or cat (and there are no dogs) but it did detect my bare legs when I walked past the sensor. Maybe I'll have a try at controlling something else.

     

    Dubbie

  • A while back I posted a blog on using PID to control a DC motor more precisely:  Simple Arduino DC Motor Control with Encoder, Part 2.  The idea was to create a robot with a Raspberry Pi for a brain and microcontrollers where appropriate to offload and manage time critical activities like precise motor control.  I outlined in the second blog and comments how precise linear motion and curves might be obtained.  But alas, I haven't made any progress since then.  Maybe this Project14 contest will be the impetus I need to get started again :-).