Development of an Open-Source Software Tool to Analyze Closed-Loop Control Systems

Abstract

This paper presents an interactive software tool developed to be used in an entry level course of control system. This software tool is open-source and it was programmed using Python3 language. It was created with the purpose of offering students an alternative software tool with a low computational cost. It was made thinking in providing a great user experience to the students when they are learning about process dynamics and closed-loop system behavior based on proportional-integral and derivative controllers. In particular, the real-time simulation mode, provides to the user an interactive way to understand the meaning of each parameter in classical second order process models or in PID controllers and, hence it could become in a useful tool in careers as electrical engineering.