Development and validation of a less expensive and portable PLC module for students training in industrial automation

• Autor: Palomino Masco, Joel Fernando
• Formato: artículo
• Fecha de Publicación: 2022
• Institución: Universidad Tecnológica del Perú
• Repositorio: UTP-Institucional
• Lenguaje: español
• OAI Identifier: oai:repositorio.utp.edu.pe:20.500.12867/6887
• Enlace del recurso: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12867/6887; http://doi.org/10.53314/ELS2226039P
• Nivel de acceso: acceso abierto
• Materia: Programmable logic controllers; Industrial automation; Engineering education; https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#2.02.00

Programmable logic controllers (PLC) devices play an important role in automation systems; therefore, technicians must have adequate training with these devices. If a student wants to learn about PLCs, they will find two problems. First, training programs are expensive, and second, PLC modules are not suitable for gaining hands-on skills. This study proposes the implementation and validation of a less expensive PLC module that is accessible to students interested in learning about this technology. Two prototypes were developed using a PIC16F877 and an ATMEGA328P microcontroller. This study describes the enhancement made in the second prototype over the first prototype. Finally, a comparison test between the two prototypes and two commercial PLCs is demonstrated. A MyRIO programmed as a data logger monitored the PLC operation for 12h. The program recorded the response time of the PLC output each time a 24 volts signal was sent to its input. The results show that commercial PLC has a fast and more stable response time. Nevertheless, the developed modules proved to work effectively for 12h, demonstrating their efficiency for training.