Quanser real-time control software in LongPen demo

An ACTC: Applied Control Technology Consortium product story

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Jun 18, 2008

Dr Michael Grimble endorsed a new control systems technology presented at the 2008 American Control Conference, in an open demonstration of the Quanser-enabled LongPen using an advanced control system

Celebrated UK-based engineering professor, Michael Grimble, today put pen to paper in a way he has never done before at the 2008 American Control Conference (ACC) the premier annual gathering of the world's foremost thinkers in the realm of advanced control.

In an ACC first, Grimble, a professor of industrial systems at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland, and founder of the UK-based Industrial Control Centre, played a critical role in an open demonstration of the Quanser-enabled LongPen, the Unotchit global breakthrough in advanced control systems that realised author Margaret Atwood's vision for remote book signing technology.

The LongPen is designed using Quanser real-time control software which is seamlessly integrated with The MathWorks Simulink graphical design environment.

Grimble signed several copies of his latest book, Industrial Control Systems Design: Approach for Advanced Polynomial Systems, using the famous LongPen, as a crowd of onlookers watched the famous device at work.

"It gave me great pleasure to be a part of the demonstration," Grimble said, "not only to demonstrate the LongPen system's obvious capabilities to help out authors, but also to illustrate to my peers in education and research that such technology is capable of many other applications, from medical to industrial in nature".

"We are so pleased to have had Professor Grimble play such a big part in the demonstration," said Paul Gilbert, CEO of Quanser.

"To have such a highly regarded name play a role in showing off the technology validates our commitment to developing industry-relevant curriculum and control systems for education or research".

Over 1,200 universities worldwide have implemented the Quanser industry-relevant curriculum and cutting-edge workstations to teach introductory or advanced controls to students in a wide range of engineering disciplines, from mechanical to mechatronics to aerospace and civil engineering.

When he finished demonstrating the LongPen device Grimble, who also acts as director of the Industrial Club on Advanced Control Technology, which is supported by the UK's Department of Trade and Industry, was presented live and in-person by the Quanser Director of Business Development, Keith Blanchet, and engaged the audience in a Q+A session about all things control.

Founded in 1990, Quanser is a world leader in the innovation and development of advanced control systems for industry, education and research.

Quanser develops control systems for educational laboratories and research.

Their flexible, hi-performance control solutions also help take concepts from design to manufacture to OEM implementation.

Quanser flexible state of the art control technology is currently employed worldwide for teaching, research and industrial applications including aerospace, robotics, medical assistive devices and the emerging field of haptics.