Application of a LabVIEW for Real-Time Control of Ball and Beam System

Abstract

Virtual instrumentation is defined as the combination of measurement and control hardware and application software with industry-standard computer technology to create user-defined instrumentation systems. This paper presents a real-time application of Ball and Beam controlled by PID controller designed based on LabVIEW program and the real -time position control of the DC motor was realized by using DAQ device. Ball and Beam is a common feedback control system application, due mostly to its ease in construction and its use in learning. Using Labview makes the application very useful for teaching and training students in data conversion domain. The system includes a ball, a beam, a motor and several sensors. The basic idea is to use the torque generated from a motor to control the position of the ball on the beam. The mathematical model for this system is inherently nonlinear, so linearization was done in order to improve the controllability of the system. Data acquisition, signal processing and analyzing can be completed by virtual instrument based on LabVIEW.