Development of Design, Control, and Data Acquisition Modules for Fluid Power Education

Abstract

Abstract In preparing the next generation of engineering workforce, fluid power courses aim to provide students in applied engineering technology with the technical abilities industry professionals require. Within fluid power, understanding the fundamentals of pneumatic systems constitutes a core area of study due to its various applications in construction, automotive, and manufacturing. Nevertheless, traditional curricula entail limited implementation of practical knowledge in applied disciplines such as fluid power, which does not meet the expectations of a technical college or university. Consequently, students not only tend to face challenges in assimilating core fluid power concepts but are also later confronted with a lack of hands-on skills in industry. Despite the efforts to incorporate interactive tools and methods into fluid power labs, the challenge remains in training students on the control and data acquisition of fluid power systems using flexible methods that foster learning and critical thinking. Therefore, this paper presents a set of laboratory modules designed to introduce pneumatic systems design and control to fluid power college and university courses following a practical and inexpensive approach. In particular, it investigates the control of a pneumatic manipulator through an air pump and the data acquisition of a pressure transducer using an Arduino Microcontroller to measure the pressure exhibited in the system. The laboratory modules are proposed with their respective mechanical and electrical designs, hardware components, codes, and testing results.