The integration of hardware with free software to implement advanced control algorithms, is the proposal of the research project called: "Predictive Control Strategies for Industrial Processes" carried out by UPS researchers from Guayaquil, Pablo Parra and Nino Vega.

The research, conducted since 2016 and presented at the IEEE International Congress Chilecon 2017 (indexing in Scopus database), presents a low-cost embedded platform to program advanced control algorithms in industrial processes, allowing greater accessibility to technological tools that benefit this sector by reducing work time and costs generated by the use of large machinery. "This prototype will allow the implementation of advanced control circuits in an abbreviated form or with a certain degree of ease," Parra said.

Open source operating systems such as LINUX and free software such as SCILAB were used for this research. This allowed the programming of multiple controllers for different types of processes, facilitating the development of complex systematizations. "We have used commercial cards to see their response, demonstrating their proper functioning in the industrial area," he concludes.

For the professors of the Industrial Processes Research Group (GIPI in spanish), these activities empower and motivate the academic growth of the students, for this reason it is necessary that students be part of these investigative processes inside and outside the classrooms.

Read the paper: "Temperature Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller (NMPC) for a Dryer Plant of Cocoa Beans"