The QUBE is a brushed DC servomotor developed specifically as a control plant for teaching undergraduate control theory. Its compact form factor is paired with two magnetically connected accessories-an inertial disk for introductory concepts such as PID control and an inverted pendulum for advanced concepts-to form a flexible and complete solution for controls labs.
Educators can use NI myRIO and the QUBE to teach controls right out of the box. Designed specifically to integrate with NI myRIO, the QUBE plugs directly into the MXP port on the NI myRIO with included cabling. The software experience is similarly integrated. The Quanser Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) Toolkit works seamlessly within NI LabVIEW software. Combined with the NI LabVIEW Control Design and Simulation Module and NI LabVIEW Real-Time Module, the Quanser RCP Toolkit simplifies all the programming needed to interface with hardware. Students benefit from the ability to focus on learning controls, not on developing drivers.
This hardware and software bundle includes ready-to-run courseware as well, furthering its out-of-the-box functionality. Quanser and NI have ensured that this courseware is relevant to a majority of undergraduate controls laboratories by taking steps to map each exercise to specific sections of eight commonly used controls textbooks. Not only is the courseware ready to teach out of the box, it is also modular and digital for easy customization.
The courseware includes guidelines for modifying modules or developing additional modules, so instructors can alter it to address their specific course needs. Learn more, including the topics covered, by downloading a sample of the QUBE courseware.
Bundling the NI myRIO and the QUBE means students can gain hands-on experience with LabVIEW and NI's industry-standard reconfigurable I/O (RIO) platform while simultaneously obtaining a rigorous introduction to control theory. Honing skills in embedded programming and control system design prepares students for the challenge of embedded system design, whether they face it in final year design with NI myRIO or in industry with the NI CompactRIO platform. The experience that these students have "doing engineering" with NI myRIO and the QUBE helps them develop more complex and precise control algorithms and gain a deeper understanding of how to program embedded systems. Given that control systems in industry are trending toward increased complexity, a controls education that offers students a deeper understanding is invaluable.
The QUBE was designed with an undergraduate laboratory setting in mind, including all of the wear and tear that comes with that. The QUBE is fully supported by NI and Quanser and is durable enough to be used semester after semester with minimal maintenance. Quanser's lowest priced controls plant decreases the student-to-station ratio, so universities can outfit complete labs at less than half the cost of traditional controls plants.
Visit ni.com/qube or contact your local NI representative to learn more about NI myRIO and the Quanser QUBE-Servo.