I'm a student working on a project and am somewhat new to Arduino and control systems in general. I am a Mechanical Engineering major and don't have the most extensive background in electronics, so bear with me. We are working on a fluid flow problem that requires quickly varying flow and pressure. Our sponsor is keen on us presenting some information on Arduino to understand what the options for control are.
I'm doing some research on the feasibility of using an Arduino microcontroller instead of using a pc and LabView for control and data collection. I've already researched how to set up electric solenoid valves, servo valves, and even pinch valves with an Arduino, as well as reading pressure transducers and flow meters. I feel I have a solid idea of how to put this system together but thought the Arduino community may have more for me to chew on, or some helpful experience with similar projects.
We also will possibly be needing to control a higher voltage pump or servo motor.
If anyone has advice or any helpful reading material to point me in the right direction I would be extremely grateful.
Have you studied Control yet? That was a final-year subject when I did Mech Eng. but I wish that I had more semesters to study it more.
It seems like you are going the right direction but the usual standard of answers on this forum is enhanced when you ask specific questions, accompanied by datasheets for the components you're using. You really didn't ask a question which we can answer.
Thanks for the reply, I'm currently in Control. I don't have datasheets or components yet. The sponsor will be providing some components but we don't know specifics yet and I just wanted to make sure I'm not completely over my head in presenting an Arduino as a possible alternative. Some specific questions,
I need to run 2 servo valves, 1 solenoid valve, a flowmeter, 3 pressure transducers, and a 12v pump. What board should I use? An Uno like the one I have at home should have enough digital I/O and Analog pins, correct? Are there any other limitations I need to be aware of with a system like this, like computation time?
A sensor converts physical values into electrical ones.
Signal conditioning maps the signal voltages into 0-5V (Gnd, Vcc), ready for input by the Arduino, removes ripple etc.
Many sensors use special sequential transmission of binary or textual data (serial, SPI, I2C...), what requires to connect them to dedicated Arduino pins which implement just that interface. Multiple devices can be connected to SPI or similar buses, while serial devices must be connected to distinct serial ports.
The signals are read into controller memory (variables). Time constraints may require to use interrupts or other ways of fast data processing and short reaction times.
Program logic combines the signals and acts appropriately.
Step 1 and 2 apply to actors as well. You need driver modules to steer the actors, and additional power supplies.
With sensors and actors of yet unknown type you only can start at the last stage, and develop the general program logic. As specific devices become available, you can complete the remaining phases.