Unit Step Function - University of Tennessee at...
Transcript of Unit Step Function - University of Tennessee at...
Lanze Berry
9/18/2012
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Unit Step Function
By Lanze Berry
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Engineering 3280L
Blue Team (Khanh Nguyen, Justin Cartwright)
Course: ENGR 3280L
Section: 001
Date: September 18, 2012
Instructor: Dr. Jim Henry
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Introduction
There were two objectives to attain in this laboratory. The first objective was to continue
to familiarize ourselves with our system, both the apparatus and the fundamentals of controlling
and guiding it. The focus in this laboratory was to reach an understanding of the unit step
function evaluated at specified inputs. The second objective was to collect experimental data on
the current output of our system for each percent power that was input into the system.
This report will go over in detail the background and theory behind the experiment which
will then be followed by the procedure. The results of the experiment will then be presented and
then there will be a discussion of the results. The final two sections will include the conclusions
and recommendations. Lastly, there will be an appendix containing raw data.
The background and theory section will contain information relevant to the set up of the
lab. This will include all the necessary technical data and schematics. The procedure will
provide an analysis of the experimental methodology. The results will be given in the form of
graphs, tables, and charts of the data obtained during the experiment. The conclusion segment
will reiterate the goals of the experiment and also explain the principles behind it. The
recommendations section will follow and highlight potential criteria of the experiment that can
be changed or improved. The appendix will contain any additional graphs or data not included
in the body of the report.
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Background and Theory
There are four main types of unit input functions. There are unit steps functions, pulses,
unit impulse functions, and sine waves. This laboratory will focus on the unit step function only
and show the dynamics of it. A unit step function will be developed using the data acquired by
the computer. This will help show the significance of the unit step function and help provide an
understanding of the experiment.
The materials used in this lab are a computer, motor, generator, controller, transmitters
and light bulbs. A computer program called LabVIEW is used to graph the readings of the
experiment. The computer is used to send a constant input power signal to the motor. The motor
will then cause the generator to produce amps. A signal will then be sent back to the computer
as an output. Once the signal is received by the computer, LabVIEW will then graph the input
and output readings. Once this has been done, the data can be read by EXCEL, which will help
in the analysis of the data. Figure 1 shows the schematic of the motor-generated system.
Figure 1: Schematic of the Motor- Generated System
Computer
Motor Generator
Light Bulbs
JT 101
JRC 101
ERT 101
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Figure 1 demonstrates in schematic form the procedure of sending an input and receiving the
output. The computer sends a signal to the power transmitter (JT 101) which in turn relays it to
the power-recording controller (JRC 101). Once the signal is received, it is sent to the motor
where the percentage power is the input. The motor begins to turn and the mechanical energy is
converted to electrical energy. The generator uses electromagnetic induction to convert the
energy. The new electrical energy is then used to create current to the light bulbs. The generator
then sends an amps output signal back to the (ERT) and relays the signal to the computer where
it is interpreted in LabVIEW as a graph. The block diagram is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Block Diagram of the Motor-Generated System
Figure 2 shows the input to the system on the left hand side of the block. The input is the time
allotted (in seconds) for the experiment and the motor power (in a percentage from 0 to 100).
The output response from the system is shown on the right side of the block. The output C(t)
demonstrates that it is a function of time. The output also contains the generated amps. The
system responds by giving a different amp output to each different input containing the time and
motor power percentage used.
In the previous experiment, an input percentage was entered to attain a steady state curve
within a desired output range (in amps). This data was collected using LabVIEW and then the
Motor-
Generator
System
Input M(t)
Motor Power (%)
Output C(t)
Generated Voltage (V) Generated Amps (A)
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data was plotted in excel. Figure 3 shows the SSOC for the input percentage of 72.5 and the
output within the 3 to 4 amp range.
Figure 3: SSOC for 72.4% Input
Each group member had a specific output target of 1 – 2 amps, 2 – 3 amps and 3 – 4 amps. Once
each individual collected data, it was compiled into one table. This data is shown in Table 1.
Motor Input Power (%) Average Current (Amps) Mean 2x (Std. Dev.)
50 1.13 0.021
60 1.43 0.015
65 1.73 0.012
67 1.77 0.012
69 1.95 0.009
69.5 2 0.51
70 2.01 0.4
70.5 2.1 0.5
71 2.16 0.881
72 2.2 0.373
74 3.6 0.006
76 3.7 0.005
79 3.8 0.005
82 3.9 0.006
Table 1: Steady State Curve Data Points
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Using Table 1, a plot was created using the points. Figure 4 shows the relationship of the input
percentages versus the output amperage.
Figure 4: Steady State Operating Curve
Figure 3 shows that that the input percentage between about 68% - 73% had a very clumped
output of about 1.8 amps to 2.2 amps. This section of the data prevents the line from showing an
ideal linear curve. There were difficulties staying in the 2 – 3 amps output range. If the input
percentage was too high, the output exceeded 3 amps. If the input percentage was too low, the
output did not reach 2 amps. When observing the graph, it can be seen that the first four data
points and the last four data points share about the same linear curve. It can be seen that this data
was somewhat consistent.
current (amps) = 0.0582(Input%) - 1.9671
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85
Ou
tpu
t (A
mp
s)
Input (%)
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Procedure
The experiment begins with using a computer. A program called LabVIEW is used as
system control and it collects data throughout the duration of the experiment. This program was
accessible through the internet and the Control Systems class website. Once the Current
Information Systems group was selected, a choice appeared to begin collected data for the Unit
Step Function. Once this was selected, a screen appeared with credentials to fill out (name,
email, etc…). Also, a space was provided to enter the how many seconds the experiment was to
last and there was also a space to enter at what percentage the power should be. Once the
criterion was complete, the program would conduct the experiment according to the time and
percentage entered. The program then records and plots the data into a data base. This process
was done three times by each group member for a unit step function. The data was then
translated into excel to plot a steady state operating curve and to statistically analyze the data.
Figure 5 shows the flow of information in LabVIEW.
Figure 5: Flow of Information to and from LabVIEW
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Results
Each experiment conducted collected data to create plots of the current output vs. time vs.
power input percentages in excel. Figure 6 shows a sample of a graph obtained from the
experimental data.
Figure 6: Graph of data collected for Unit Step Up Function
The output current is on the left side of the graph and measured on the secondary y-axis. The
time in seconds is located on the x-axis and the input percentage is located on the primary axis.
The blue line represents the input percentage. Figure 6 has an input percentage of 39% and has a
20% step height. Each graph had criteria that needed to be determined on it. Figure 5 shows
how the time constant was to be determined for the same input percentage as well as the gain and
the dead time. Each was calculated and shown on the graph.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
3 4 5 6 7
Ou
tpu
t (A
MP
S)
Inp
ut(
%)
Time (sec)
Unit Step Up Graph
Motor Input Power (%)
Output Current (Amps)
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Figure 7: Input Step Percentage of 39.5% to 59.5%
In Figure 7, the analysis of the unit step is shown. Fit 2 is used for the analysis. The gain (K) is
calculated to be 0.43 amps. The time constant (τ) is calculated to be 0.43 seconds. The dead time
(t0) was found to be 0.11 seconds. The results gathered by analyzing all of the experimental runs
were then used to create a unit step function. The data that created this function is shown in
Table 1. Once the output started to get higher, in the range of 3 – 4 amps, the measurements
started to become very inconsistent (which can be seen in the appendix for input % of 65 and
higher). Table 1 also identifies this. The time constant is about double the other measurents for
this range.
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Input (%) Gain (cm-amps/%) Dead Time (sec) Time constant (sec)
38 0.0420 0.1070 0.420
39 0.0430 0.1100 0.430
40 0.0450 0.1080 0.450
41 0.0450 0.1070 0.460
42 0.0460 0.1080 0.470
43 0.0460 0.1070 0.480
50 0.0500 0.1080 0.323
51 0.0490 0.1070 0.323
52 0.0499 0.1080 0.161
53 0.0516 0.1080 0.161
53.5 0.0502 0.1080 0.323
54.5 0.0499 0.1080 0.308
65 0.0652 0.1080 0.716
66 0.0688 0.1080 0.761
67 0.0733 0.1080 0.819
68 0.0780 0.1080 0.878
69 0.0820 0.1070 0.936
69.5 0.0830 0.1080 0.935
Table 2: Summary of Results for the Unit Step Function
Bar graphs were created to show the comparison of the gain, dead time, and time constant in
each section of amps output for the unit step up. A unit step down was not conducted due to the
motor not working correctly and data not being collected. The bar graphs are shown in Figures 8
-10. The bar graphs show that gain greatly increases once the output reaches the 3 to 4 amp
range. Figure 9 displays the dead time and shows that the dead time stays very consistent
throughout the different output ranges. Figure 10 is a graph of the time constant. This is a very
inconsistent measurement. Each output range has a different average.
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Figure 8: Gain of the 20% Unit Step Up
Figure 9: Dead Time of the 20% Unit Step Up
0.103
0.104
0.105
0.106
0.107
0.108
0.109
0.11
0.111
1-2 amps 2-3 amps 3-4 amps
Dead Time : to, (s)
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Figure 10: Time Constant of the 20% Unit Step Up
The unit step function for the motor-generator system (using Table 1) is shown in Figure 11.
Figure 11: Unit Step Function for the System
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1-2 amps 2-3 amps 3-4 amps
Time Constant: τ, (s)
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Discussion
This experiment dealt with analyzing the unit step function using signal processing. The
results explore the gain, dead time, time constant, and height of the step. The graphical
representations provide the best understanding of the unit step function. Through the graph, it is
visually seen where the input percentage jump is located and how it affects the output. The
current increases almost simultaneously with the input jump. Using just the graph, all the details
necessary for the experiment are provided. The dead time can be found using slope of the
current and the start of the input percentage jump. The time constant and the gain can also be
calculated with help of the graph. Input percentages ranged from 38% to 69.5%. These
percentages produced an output between 1 to 4 amps. The gain, dead time and time constant
were found for a 20% unit step up. The step down was not calculated because it could not be
conducted. Bar graphs were created to demonstrate the relationship of each output range (low
being 1 to 2, medium being 2 to 3, and upper being 3 to 4 amps).
It is determined that the motor input level greatly affects the output. When the jump of
the input percentage occurs, the amps greatly increase to follow that jump which in turn
represents the unit step. The initial part of the graph is disregarded because the data is constant
until the step begins. Figure 11 has a time range of four to seven seconds because that is the part
of the experiment to be focused on. Everything prior and after that time zone range is constant
and doesn’t provide any crucial data for evaluating the unit step function. Inconsistencies were
found when the output reached the range of 3 – 4 amps. The graphs (located in the appendix)
show that the output could not reach a constant state after the unit step in the desired output
range.
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Conclusions and Recommendations
The experiments that were conducted were done to collect data and to analyze the data to
further understand the Unit Step Function. The results that were obtained show clear unit steps
in each of the graphs and present the principles of the unit step function. The experiment
validates that when there was an input percentage increase; the output also increased and then
became constant.
The primary objectives of this experiment were to collect experimental data and to
understand and know how to analyze the unit step function. Each of these objectives was
reached. The data was collected using LabVIEW and put into an excel spreadsheet where it was
then created into a graph. Using the graph, the unit step function was analyzed and the dead
time, time constant, and gain were found. The results clearly present the data in concise and
detailed graphs.
The values for the dead time proved that it was a very consistent measurement throughout
all the outputs. The gain of each input percentage steadily increased as the output range
increased from 1 to 4 amps. The time constant proved to fluctuate tremendously with each
output range. The time constant ranged from 0.161 - 0.935 seconds.
A recommendation would be to have a way to evaluate why an output range could not
obtain a constant state. In the output range of 3-4 amps the data got somewhat inconsistent with
a much higher time constant.
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Appendix
Figure 12: 38% Input with 20% Step
Figure 13: 39.5% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 14: 40% Input with 20% Step
Figure 15: 41% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 16: 42% Input with 20% Step
Figure 17: 43% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 18: 50% Input with 20% Step
Figure 19: 51% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 20: 52% Input with 20% Step
Figure 21: 53% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 22: 54.5% Input with 20% Step
Figure 23: 65% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 24: 66% Input with 20% Step
Figure 25: 67% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 26: 68% Input with 20% Step
Figure 27: 69% Input with 20% Step
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Figure 28: 69.5% Input with 20% Step
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References
1. http://chem.engr.utc.edu/3280L
2. Carlos A. Smith and Armanso Corripio, Principles and Practices of Automatic Process
Control, John Wiley & Sons Inc, 3rd
Ed., 2006