Design and realization of networked control experiments in a web-based laboratory

This paper introduces a novel Web-based laboratory for the design and real-time implementation of networked control experiments. By adopting a three-tier architecture, i.e. Webbrowsers, server clusters and test rigs, the laboratory connects experiment device located globally and provides control experiment options such as local control structure, Intranet-based control and Internetbased control structure. Users can design networked control algorithms in a diagram-based way and validate their algorithms using test rigs easily on the laboratory with a simple Web browser. Networked control blockset is developed to facilitate the configuration of network and the design of controller in the lab. Web-based simulation and practical experiments of networked predictive control scheme are performed to illustrate the functionality of the Web-based lab and the effectiveness of networked predictive control method.