Checking the technical condition of the mechanism
Very often, the implementation of a control system in a mechanism is limited by the need to develop a new concept for monitoring the technical condition of the mechanism, as standard solutions are not suitable.
We specialise in solutions involving the selection, combination or creation of special versions of sensors to solve such non-standard tasks.
And if necessary, we combine these technologies with artificial intelligence based on various neural networks.
Control system development services:
algorithms, measurement methods, sensor adaptation
As a rule, the method of creating a new control system depends on the type of device/mechanism and the combination of controlled parameters with the sensors used.
For popular and mass-produced types of mechanisms, it is advisable to use variants of mass-produced control systems with individual modifications, which are offered by integrator companies.
We specialise in cases where there is no simple and available-to-purchase solution. In this case, it is necessary to ensure parallel development: the general concept of the measurement system, the development of control and measurement algorithms, the combination of sensors and the achievement of the required technical parameters with performance.
Further on this page, you can find some examples of our work.
System for monitoring wheelsets of cargo trains
Freight railway wagons are usually not equipped with communication lines connecting them to the locomotive. There is only a pneumatic line between the wagons, which unclamps the brake shoes to allow the train to move freely.
Railway staff regularly inspect the wheelsets, but this process is time-consuming, costly and not very reliable. For example, a damaged bearing or jammed brakes on one of the wheelsets will very quickly (a few tens of minutes) cause damage to the wheelset, causing the train to derail while travelling.
We developed a special electronic module that is mounted directly on the wheelset hub assembly. This assembly contains the fixed section of the body and the rotating shaft of the wheelset, which we use to transmit the rotational motion to the electric generator built into the device.
The electronic module itself contains acceleration and temperature sensors and rotational speed sensors. Sensor parameters are processed by this module and, if an anomaly is detected, are transmitted via radio channel. All sensors of one train are united in a single wireless network and sequentially transmit messages to the central control panel, to the train driver.
This technical solution makes it possible to equip any railway carriages by sensors without laying additional power supply and communication lines for them.
Development of motor control system for Jet-surf
This work included several areas at once: electronics and software of the motor thrust control system, physical interface of thrust level adjustment for the pilot, digital interface for real-time display of the motor performance parameters, temperature check of the main modules.
Jet surf is a board similar to a traditional surfboard, but equipped with motor and water-jet, which allows you to ride on the water at speeds of up to 50-60 km/h.
We made two variants of the system: for internal combustion engine and for electric motor. The motor with a water-jet is placed inside this board, and our central control unit, which controls the parameters of the motor, battery and temperature, is placed there in a hermetically sealed case. The main tasks are to ensure that the motor operates in the mode that the pilot sets, and to protect it from exceeding the limits of permissible performance levels.
The pilot controls the thrust using a handheld controller, which also displays real-time performance data such as motor load, temperature, and speed.
Monitoring system for football field stitching machine
Our client needed to develop an electronic system that would monitor the mechanism and stop operation if the needles in the mechanism on his machine got damaged.
The machine drives along the field and uses many long needles to insert artificial grass bundles into the ground. Problem - stones are sometimes hidden in the ground and the needles or their miniature tips break on them.
We designed and built a monitoring system that combined physical position sensors with a computer vision system. This combination made it possible to detect even small spalling of the needle tips, to detect distorted geometry of individual needles and to inform the operator about the problem in a timely manner with indication of the numbers of damaged needles for their quick replacement.
Creating remote control systems
Our core competences are the development of inspection robots for industry, small space satellites and research planetary rovers.
These topics are united by similar remote and semi-automatic control tasks that we solve.
Space exploration has many similarities with the exploration and industrial exploration of our own planet - unmanned vehicles and industrial equipment must perform their tasks safely, productively and continuously, even in conditions of unstable communication, loss of connectivity or complete lack of communication with the operator.
Do you have similar challenges for remote control?
Human-machine interfaces for control systems
Control systems without user interfaces are very rare, even if they are fully automated systems. Since we work primarily with physical products, machines, and tools, we do not limit our focus only to digital interfaces in software form.
Ergonomics and user experience are not just words when it comes to controlling large mechanisms. It is precisely good human-machine interface design that provides the ability to control large mechanisms.
Ergonomics and user experience are not just words when it comes to controlling a large mechanism. Good human-machine interface design enables quick and accurate assessment of abnormal situations and effective decision-making.