Hardware in the loop
In most industrial processes, there has always been the need to evaluate the quality and behavior of the devices that will become a final product and reach the users.
For this reason, complex and costly tests are performed on the devices, which — in some cases — result in processes that are difficult to carry out; this represents a limitation for the improvement of control systems in industries.
The Hardware in the Loop (HIL) method consists of being able to measure (in a control process) the performance of the implemented systems with an interaction of real and virtual components, this results in safer tests with verifiable results.
Hardware in the Loop allows connecting the actions of a controller to a system that performs tests simulating real critical cases in order to behave as if the final product were ready for production, which is optimal to validate the device.
In order to consider the use of the HIL method, the following factors are mainly taken into account:
- The tests are to recreate limit states of the final product and this results in them being very expensive or may cause significant wear damage to the device.
- The control software has a high complexity.
However, the HIL method can be used from the control of simple systems such as managing water pressure in a tank, to more complex systems such as the motion of an aircraft.
The HIL method, as discussed, has an advantage over real tests as it reduces the cost of production, allows for simpler tests and decreases implementation time. In addition, the HIL method represents an advantage over simulation, because although the time and cost decrease in simulation, the accuracy of the target can be compromised.
Author: Rocío Rojas
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