ERDF 082: Modernizing the University of Malta's Control Systems Engineering Laboratory

The project aims to modernize the infrastructure of the Control Systems Engineering Laboratory at the University of Malta through provision of state-of-the-art equipment that is not available in the lab, and replacement of the largely obsolete equipment currently in use. This investment will build up the university’s capacity to address modern teaching and research activities in Automatic Control Engineering.

Supporting Malta’s target of expanding its human capital base in science, engineering and technology; and contributing towards a growing and knowledge-based, competitive economy through the provision of tertiary education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as advanced RTDi activities in collaboration with industry and international research institutions.

The project will result in a modern equipment infrastructure for the Control Systems Engineering Laboratory at the University of Malta to be used for teaching and research in this important area. Such an objective will be achieved through the installation of modern equipment that addresses the needs of the laboratory in the following principal sectors of Automatic Control Engineering:• Industrial automation• Robot control• Process control• Servo control• Computer-aided tools for control design and simulation• Vision-based automationThe equipment planned for acquisition is listed below:1. Control systems software2. Educational modular robot assembly kits3. A set of laboratory benches and chairs4. A set of standard desktop computers5. Educational Programmable Logic Control units with HMI interface 6. Mobile robot platforms7. Mobile robot units for teams8. High-end PC interface control boards with onboard processing9. A set of educational servomotor and process control units with PC interface boards10. Electronic test and measurement instruments11. Robotic manipulators12. Robot laser mapping unit13. Biometric sensors for automated access control14. 6 degrees of freedom torque/force sensor15. Stereo cameras with pan/tilt mount16. Analogue and digital cameras17. Digital image grabber18. Standard image grabber19. Camera multiplexer20. Smart camera21. Embedded PC boards22. A set of tablet PCs23. LED camera illumination24. Inertial navigation sensors

• Modernization of the equipment infrastructure in the Control Systems Engineering Laboratory at the University of Malta.• The provision of engineers educated through practical exposure to state-of-the-art technologies in Automatic Control Engineering.• Execution of R&I activities in Automatic Control Engineering through the provision of relevant modern equipment for research staff and students.