Abstract:
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are one
of the most used controllers for automated facilities nowadays.
Hence, knowledge of PLC programming and system implementation
is essential for automation related education curricula.
This paper proposes an Interactive Learning Platform (ILP)
for PLCs. The design specifications of the proposed ILP have
been identified based on the background study conducted. The
proposed ILP for PLCs has been designed using Siemens S7-
1200 as the main controller. An object sorting mechanism that
includes diverse types of sensors and actuators is proposed as
laboratory exercises that could be performed using the proposed
ILP. A web interface has been designed to control the object
sorting process. This is the major value addition of the proposed
ILP for PLCs compared to the existing learning facilities for
PLCs. Simulation has also been carried out using SIMATIC
STEP 7 Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal V14 software
to validate the operation of the ILP. Furthermore, laboratory
exercises and tutorials have been designed to facilitate challenging
learning goals. A prototype of the proposed ILP for PLCs has
been developed and experiments have been conducted to evaluate
the performance of the proposed ILP. Based on the results, the
proposed ILP for PLCs facilitates better learning.
