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Experiment Automation

Class at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
NFPL017

Syllabus

1. Personal computers in physical experiments. Possible levels of computer integration into the apparatus (data acquisition, control). PC structure - hardware and software

2. Communication with peripheral devices. Basic interface types. • Parallel interface IEEE-1284 (Centronics). • Serial interface RS-232 and its derivatives. • USB interface. • PC extension cards. Plug-in data acquisition boards (PCIex, ExpressCard).

3. Measuring devices connected using USB. Drivers and application programing interface (API). How to integrate device controls into own program.

4. Using data acquisition boards. Installation, configuration and software support.

5. IEEE-488 standard (GPIB, HP-IB, IEC-625). Electrical and logical limitations. Interconnection topology. Basic interface functions (listener, talker, controller). Universal and addressed commands. Communication description. Handshake. IEEE-488.2 extension.

6. Arduino. Various versions and their parameters. Possible applications and working examples. Programming Arduino in several steps. Practical demonstrations. Basic electrical circuits.

7. 3D modelling basics. Basics of SketchUp a Autodesk Inventor programs. Introduction to 3D printers. Example applications of 3D print.

8. Computer control of experiment using Delphi. Programming environment for development of a computer controlled experiment set-up. Short introduction to LabVIEW basics.

9. Exercise in a form of a particular programming task.

Annotation

Personal computers in physical experiments.

Basic interconnection interfaces (Centronics, RS-232, USB) and their usage to control devices and transfer data.

Basics of IEEE-488 standard. Introduction to Arduino.

Plug-in I/O boards. Data acquisition. Real-time experiment control.

Exercise in a form of a particular programming task.