Rapid controller prototyping is the ability to use automatic code generation tools to move rapidly and seamlessly from functional design, through architectural design, to implementation on real-time test beds using commercial off-the-shelf components. In this paper two independent benchmarks—a radar and a sonar beam former—are used to compare the rapid prototyping process with a conventional process. The work reported was part of a transactional project called rapid controller prototyping.

rapid controller prototyping article

In modern computer aided design technology, it is relatively easy to describe a 3D representation of a given design in computer code. It is less easy to visualize such 3D computer models. The computer screen has only two dimensions. Often, real "see and feel" models can be helpful, even essential, in visualizing things. Until the last ten years or so, most of these prototypes were made by laboriously removing material from a block, generally on a milling machine under computer numerical control (CNC). In recent years, new methods have been developed in which a prototype can be built up directly from the CAD-description (instead of milled down). Most of these technologies are quick and easy.

They are grouped under the general header "rapid prototyping". Starting point for a rapid controller prototyping is "a CAD description". Worldwide, quite a number of different types of CAD software are used. A good rapid prototyping machine ought to be able to communicate with all major CAD systems.

To this end, most machines use their own language, adding software converters to translate conventional CAD-files as required. These conversions frequently are a source of problems. During rapid prototyping, various deforming effects - such as shrinkage - (can) occur. Modern rapid prototyping machine software automatically modifies manufacturing parameters to compensate for these distortions. Rapid prototyping on the Internet Searching the Internet for "rapid prototyping" gives hundreds of web pages.

And these are just the English ones! Lucky for us, there are some sites that (try to) keep up with developments and offer pages of relevant links, often nicely categorized. They also regularly check for 404-errors, so it usually is a good idea to start a search from such indexes. I list two interesting ones with rapid controller prototyping