Industrial FPGA Usage

Do you like the best of both worlds? I mean, who doesn’t? Well, this project by  uses both FPGAs and microcontrollers to automate temperature and stirring rotational speed for a chemical reaction. The Instructable works on constructing a model, and the author considers it a basic or intermediate project. 

To get started with this project, you’ll need a ZYBO board (or another Zynq board), an H-bridge, an optocoupler, a transistor, and a digital temperature sensor. You’ll also need Vivado Design Suite and LabVIEW.

industrial-fpga-1

Now it’s time to begin by creating the block design in Vivado. Configure your processing system, then work on writing your own modules (Verilog or VHDL) that focus on the specific elements of your design (in this case, temperature measurement and motor control). Address your AXI IP blocks now. Then, open the SDK and create a project. Use the peripherals you added when you wrote the modules and then read the data you get. Then, write the automation and implement the proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID controller) with its algorithm. Program the boards and use LabVIEW to make an operator panel. Then, connect the H-bridge and sensors. It’s time to build the physical construction, and then time to run the system!

industrial-fpga-operator-panel
The operator panel.

This is obviously a great thing for automated industrial situations, but there are plenty of other applications! Comment with yours and let us know what you think.

 

Author

  • Amber Mear

    I was the Digilent blog editor, and now I'm a contributor. I love learning about wearables and writing about social issues in STEM. Outside of work, I can be found watching Netflix with my cat, working on an art project, or trying to find new, delicious local foods.

    View all posts

About Amber Mear

I was the Digilent blog editor, and now I'm a contributor. I love learning about wearables and writing about social issues in STEM. Outside of work, I can be found watching Netflix with my cat, working on an art project, or trying to find new, delicious local foods.

View all posts by Amber Mear →

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