This configuration of the NI Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (NI ELVIS) has been defined specifically for teaching controls topics throughout mechanical and electrical engineering curricula.
The Quanser Engineering Trainers for NI ELVIS (QNET) Rotary Inverted Pendulum Trainer gives students the ability to experiment with classic pendulum control challenges. By designing a control system that balances a vertical rod at the tip of a rotating arm, students gain intuition on control topics such as system modeling, parameter estimation, balance control, linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) design, nonlinear swing-up control, and energy-based design. The plant features a DC servo motor, built-in power amplifier, and optical encoders to sense the position of the pendulum.
Using QNET hardware-in-the-loop implementations, engineering students can complement their laboratory work with hands-on, practical experience in the important aspects of engineering practice, which spurs student interest and motivation. QNETs for NI ELVIS provide the components educators need to set up their control design, simulation, mechatronics/haptics, dynamics, or thermodynamics lab.
In this configuration of NI ELVIS, educators receive:
NI ELVIS II workstation (1.25 MS/s oscilloscope)
NI ELVISmx driver software
QNET plant, software, and courseware
Detachable protoboard
USB cable and connection
Educators can also upgrade to the NI ELVIS II+ system, which includes a 100 MS/s oscilloscope for further measurement capabilities.
