Development of a Web-Based Control Laboratory for Automation Technicians: The Three-Tank System

Abstract

<para xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> This paper introduces a Web-based control laboratory for experimentation on a nonlinear multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) system: the three-tank plant. Using this application, automation technician students can learn in a practical way many fundamental aspects of control processes. The client-side of the virtual laboratory has been developed using the programming support provided by <emphasis emphasistype="italic">Easy Java Simulations</emphasis> (EJS), an open-source tool for teachers with limited programming skills who want to create Java applications and applets. The lab has been integrated in the collaborative Web-based experimentation environment <emphasis emphasistype="italic">eMersion</emphasis> which provides more flexibility for the students performing the laboratory experiments. </para>