Now showing 1 - 10 of 17
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Virtual System for Industrial Processes: Distillation Towers

2021 , Jacome E.M. , Toaquiza J.F. , Mullo G.M. , Andaluz V.H. , Varela Aldas, José

In this paper a realistic and intuitive virtual environment of a distillation tower system is developed. The three-dimensional model of the system is based on a real system, which is replicated in Blender software to be later implemented in Unity, in order to simulate its behavior. By showing the evolution of the system, control and monitoring maneuvers are implemented, so that the virtual animation is similar to a real process. The application developed is intended to provide support in the learning process of an operator in the work area. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Open-Access Platform for the Simulation of Aerial Robotic Manipulators

2024 , Varela Aldas, José , Recalde, Luis F. , Guevara B.S. , Andaluz V.H. , Gandolfo D.C.

Recent technological advances have brought increased attention to aerial robotic manipulators (ARMs), particularly in applications that involve physical interactions using tools such as welding and drilling, as well as in the autonomous pickup and transport of objects. However, translating control algorithms into real-world applications for aerial robotic manipulators may prove challenging, given the potential for accidents and the time-consuming nature of experiments; furthermore, the acquisition of aerial robotic manipulators could impose a substantial financial burden on universities, research centers, and companies. Therefore, this work addresses these issues by developing an open access platform to simulate aerial robotic manipulators and test control strategies. The presented simulator is based on the kinematics and dynamics of the Matrice-100 aerial platform equipped with a 3 DOF robotic arm, where the mathematical formulation was developed using the Euler-Lagrange formalism. In addition, optimization techniques were used to perform the parameter identification procedure, ensuring the development of an accurate model for the open-access platform. The simulator platform is built upon the integration of Python, the Robot Operating System (ROS), and Unity 3D. These components collaborate to describe and demonstrate the behavior of the aerial robotic manipulator during the test process of control system algorithms. Simple tests were conducted to validate the open-access simulator platform. The proposed approach ensures the evaluation, testing of control strategies, and the ability to conduct experiments before hardware implementations. Finally, the proposal was published as an open source platform available in the following Code. © 2013 IEEE.

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Virtual Control of a Perfectly Stirred Reactor for Cyclopentene Production

2021 , Amores D.D. , Lema E.P. , Guerrero L.D. , Andaluz V.H. , García B.A. , Guanopatín A.V. , Varela Aldas, José

This article developed the implementation of a controller for a Perfectly Stirred Reactor (CSTR) for the production of Cyclopentene, through a 3D virtual environment, oriented to the teaching-learning process which allows an immersion to the industrial field. The non-linear process modeling is considered in order to implement a closed loop control algorithm and the simulation of the process through animations in the virtual environment, which is equipped with different elements that faithfully simulate the real process, such as: industrial instrumentation, surround sounds, catastrophic events, etc. Finally, the behavior of the system is validated against the nonlinear controller based on numerical methods with several experimental tests. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Non Immersive Virtual Laboratory Applied to Robotics Arms

2022 , Bastidas D.A. , Recalde L.F. , Constante P.N. , Andaluz V.H. , Gallegos D.E. , Varela Aldas, José

This article presents a non immersive virtual laboratory to emulate the behavior of Mitsubishi Melfa RV 2SDB robotic arm, allowing students and users to acquire skills and experience related to real robot, augmenting the access and learning of robotics in Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE). It was developed using the mathematical model of the robotic arm, thus defining the parameters for the virtual recreation. The environment, interaction and behavior of robotic arm was developed in a graphic engine (Unity3D) to emulate learning tasks such in a robotics’s laboratory. In the virtual system, 4 inputs were development for the movement of the robot arm, further to program the robot a user interface was created where the user selects the trajectory such as point to point, line, arc or circle. Finally the hypothesis of the industrial robotic learning process is validated through the level of knowledge acquired after using the system. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Virtual Environment for the Mashing and Boiling Process in Craft Beer Production

2023 , Pogo S.I. , Granizo J. , Andaluz V.H. , Varela Aldas, José

Process automation allows to increase production and improve the quality of craft products. This paper presents the implementation of closed-loop control algorithms for a mashing and brewing plant of craft beer. The proposed control scheme is implemented through the HIL technique, for which a virtual environment that simulates the behavior of the industrial process and a control card where the control algorithms are implemented are considered. To represent the behavior of the plant level and temperature processes, the mathematical model of each process is obtained, this model is used for the design of the control algo-rhythms, and the plant is modeled in 3D and incorporated into the graphics engine also has effects of realism together with been 3D in order to increase the level of realism to the process. For user interaction with the environment, an HMI type mantle center is incorporated to visualize and control the process manually, semi-automatically, and automatically, in order to test the control algorithms safely and avoid the risk of instrumentation damage or loss of real materials. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

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Pet Access Control System Using a Mobile Application

2022 , Cuzme C. , Miranda M. , Andaluz V.H. , Palacios-Navarro G. , Varela Aldas, José

This work develops a system consisting of a mobile application and an automatic gate implemented with low-cost technology. The devices are linked to a cloud server through the internet. The design of the system consists of a gate that incorporates a motion sensor to detect the pet, for this a passive infrared sensor is used. The electronic circuit of the gate is based on the ESP32 board. This device sends notifications to monitor when the pet approaches this area. The system consists of two modes, manual and automatic. In manual mode, the user decides to open the gate or not, while in automatic mode the gate opens whenever it detects the pet. On the other hand, the mobile application has been designed to control the operating mode. The application's user interface presents a warning when the presence of the pet is detected and allows the gate to be activated remotely only when it is in manual mode. The cloud platform used is Firebase, this remote database records the latest states of the fields shared by both devices. 3 pets were tested for 1 week to ensure continued system performance. As a result, adequate communication was obtained between the elements installed in the gate and the mobile application. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Teleoperation of a mobile manipulator with feedback forces for evasion of obstacles [Teleoperación de un manipulador móvil con retroalimentación de fuerzas para evasión de obstáculos]

2019 , Andaluz V.H. , Varela Aldas, José , Chicaiza F.A. , Quevedo W.X. , Ruales, María Belén

This work develops the teleoperation of a mobile manipulator using a kinematic and dynamic control. In addition, the operator receives feedback forces through a haptic device to evade obstacles. The experiments were performed in a local wireless communication network and using the AKASHA robot. The results show an adequate following of the references of control, speed errors are corrected with minimum communication delays. © 2019, Associacao Iberica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informacao. All rights reserved.

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Virtual Control of a Double Effect Evaporator for Teaching-Learning Processes

2021 , Garcés R.J. , Lomas J.F. , Pilatasig J.G. , Andaluz V.H. , Tutasig A.E. , Zambrano A.S. , Varela Aldas, José

This article presents the control and virtualisation of a double effect evaporator plant oriented to teaching-learning processes. A virtual process with similar characteristics to a real one is implemented using CAD tools and the Unity 3D graphic engine, with the aim of simulating the behaviour of an industrial process, specifically, a double effect evaporator; this allows the behaviour of the process to be evaluated and control manoeuvres to be implemented without putting the safety of the operator or the plant at risk. The result is an interactive and immersive virtual environment between the user and the industrial process. The dynamic modelling of the double effect evaporator is incorporated in the virtual environment, so that the virtual animation is similar to a real process. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Mobile Manipulator for Hospital Care Using Firebase

2022 , Varela Aldas, José , Buele, Jorge , Guerrero-Núñez S , Andaluz V.H.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the use of the technology in medicine is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The use of the robotics in the treatment of diseases and physical therapies is limited in Latin America due to the high acquisition and maintenance costs. This document proposes the design, development, and evaluation of a robotic system for the guided monitoring of patients, through remote control using a mobile application. Within the methodology, four phases were proposed: planning, design, development, and evaluation. The 3D design is done using the Tinkercad software, which facilitates the construction of the pieces using 3D printing technology. The ESP32 board is the main element that receives the signals from the sensors and controls the actions of the actuators through the orders received from Firebase. For the development of the application, App inventor is used, building a friendly and easy-to-use interface. To validate this proposal, experimental tests were carried out with two patients in a medical center. In addition, a parameter compliance questionnaire was applied to the robot, obtaining a score of 92.6%, and the mobile application obtained 72.5% in the usability test. All this confirms an efficient care proposal, with a reduced investment. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

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Temperature Control of an Electric Through Virtual Hardware in the Loop Technique

2022 , Mollocana J.D. , Jorque B.S. , Varela Aldas, José , Andaluz V.H.

This article presents the design of PID, fuzzy and MPC control algorithms for the temperature process of an electric oven with the objective of comparing operational and economic indexes. The controllers are implemented using the hardware in the loop technique that considers the virtualization of the process in the Unity 3D graphics engine. The development of the virtual environment incorporates 3D models that resemble a real environment of the brick manufacturing process, allowing the immersion and interaction of the user with the environment, in order to perform monitoring and control tasks of the industrial process. For the virtualization of the industrial process, it is considered to obtaining a mathematical model that represents the dynamics of the temperature plant. Finally, the experimental results achieved through the implementation of the hardware in the loop technique are presented, and a comparison of the controllers is performed in terms of power consumption, controller performance by visualizing the behavior of the temperature system and the evolution of the control errors. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.