Educational and Industrial Control Systems

• Real-time signal analysis, synthesis, processing and visualization
  
• Parameter tuning and optimization
  
• Modeling, analysis and design of control systems
• Real-time control
• Hardware-in-the-loop simulation
• Real-time rapid control prototyping
  
• Teaching concepts and carrying out experiments in signals and systems labs
• Real-time data acquisition

• Power supply: 6 − 15 V, minimum 0.15 A, regulated
• Interface: 115200 baud, 8 bit data, no parity, 1 stop bit
• Analog inputs: A0 – A7, 0 − 5 V analog, 12 bit resolution
• Capture inputs: C0 – C1, 0 − 5 V digital, 16 bit resolution
• Digital inputs: D0_d0 – D0_d7, 0 − 5 V digital, 8 lines
• Encoder inputs: E0 – E1, 0 − 5 V digital, 16 bit resolution
• Frequency outputs: F0 – F1, 0 − 5 V digital, 16 bit resolution
• Analog outputs: B0 – B1, 0 − 5 V analog, 12 bit resolution
• Digital outputs: G0_g0 – G0_g7, 0 − 5 V digital, 8 lines
• Pulse outputs: H0 – H1, 0 − 5 V digital, 16 bit resolution
• Filtered pulse outputs: L0 – L1, 0 − 5 V analog
• H-bridge outputs: P0 – P1, 0 − (supply voltage) V digital, 5 A
• Voltage regulator output: VDD, 5 V, 0.25 A, regulated power supply
• Sampling rate: up to 3.8 kHz
• Size: 4.0'' x 3.0''

• PC with Windows XP or later and an available serial port or an expansion slot for a serial card
  
• Serial crossover (null modem) cable
  
• Matlab R2007b or later with Simulink, Real-Time Workshop (Matlab Coder and Simulink Coder for Matlab R2011a and Matlab R2011b) and Real-Time Windows Target
  
• HILINK hardware (real-time control board) 1.3 or later
  
• HILINK software 1.3 or later
  
• Power supply (regulated, 6 − 15 V, at least 0.15 A excluding the current requirements of the external loads)
  

• Input: 100 − 240 V, 50 / 60 Hz, AC (universal)
  
• Output: 12 V, 5 A, DC
  
• USA power cord (universal use with a suitable power cord / plug adapter)

Crossover Cable

• 6' (1.83 m) crossover cable
• DB9F to DB9F

        $7.50

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PCI Serial Card

• 2 x serial ports for desktops
  
• 16C550 compatible UART
  

       $30.00

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CardBus (PCMCIA) Serial Card

• 1 x serial port for laptops
  
• 16C550 compatible UART

       $35.00

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ExpressCard Serial Card 

• 1 x serial port for laptops
  
• 16C550 compatible UART

       $40.00

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PCIe (PCI Express) Serial Card 

• 1 x serial port or 2 x serial ports for desktops
  
• 16C550 compatible UART

       $40.00

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Magnetic Levitation and DC Motor Systems 

Due to overwhelming demand, the magnetic levitation system and the DC motor system seen in the above videos are now available for purchase. These systems are fully compatible with the HILINK and RAPCON platforms. Each system comes with a Simulink model to control the system.

Magnetic Levitation	DC Motor with Encoder
Coil: 15 mH coil with ferrite core Magnet: 40 g magnet with 2.54 cm diameter Sensor: 50 V/T linear Hall effect sensor Air gap: ~ 2 cm Size: ~ 2.5'' x 2.5'' x 6.0'' (6.4 cm x 6.4 cm x 15.2 cm) Weight: ~ 1.1 lb (500 g) $97.50	Motor: 12 V PM motor with carbon brushes Encoder: 1024 cpr encoder with index Shaft: 3 mm shaft diameter No-load speed: ~ 4400 rpm Size: ~ 1.7'' x 1.3'' x 3.3'' (4.2 cm x 3.2 cm x 8.3 cm) Weight: ~ 0.7 lb (320 g) $102.50

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Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) with Simulink Library 

Accelerometer 3-axis (x, y, z) accelerometer On-board 3.3 V voltage regulator 2.2 V to 16.0 V voltage range, 0.5 mA operating current ±1.5g or ±6g range, 800 mV/g or 206 mV/g sensitivity Output: v = 0.082 * a + 1.65, v in V, a in m/s^2 (±1.5g mode) Size: 0.5'' x 0.9'' x 0.09'' (13 mm x 23 mm x 2.3 mm) Weight: 0.025 oz (0.7 g)	IMU Simulink Library Real-time tilt and rate measurement Up to 1.5 kHz sampling rate Kalman filter (time-varying and time-invariant) Complementary filter (first and second order) 24 library blocks
Gyroscope 2-axis (pitch, roll) gyroscope On-board 3.3 V voltage regulator 2.7 V to 16.0 V voltage range, 7.0 mA operating current ±100 °/s or ±400 °/s range, 10 mV/°/s or 2.5 mV/°/s sensitivity Output: v = 0.14 * w + 1.23, v in V, w in rad/s (±400 °/s mode) Size: 0.5'' x 1.0'' x 0.09'' (13 mm x 25 mm x 2.3 mm) Weight: 0.042 oz (1.2 g)

      $100.00

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Hobby Servo (RC Servo) Control

With the Servo Output Extension Pack, the HILINK platform can be used to control hobby servos (RC servos). Please see the user manual at the end of this page for more information.

• Servo outputs: S0 – S1, 0 − 5 V digital, 16 bit resolution
• Frequency range: 7.0286 – 1.7993.1641 Hz
• Pulse width resolution: 2.1710 μs

       $50.00


RC Servo 

Metal or plastic gears

• Standard size servo
• Requires external 5 V power supply
  
• 0.8'' x 1.6'' x 1.7'' (20 mm x 40 mm x 44 mm)
• 2 oz (58 g) metal gears, 1.3 oz (38 g) plastic gears
  

       $20.00


Power Supply (12 V and 5 V outputs) 

• Input: 100 − 240 V, 50 / 60 Hz, AC (universal)
  
• Output: 12 V, 2 A and 5 V, 2 A, DC
  
• USA power cord (universal use with a suitable power cord / plug adapter)

       $20.00

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Temperature Sensor 

$2.00

Temperature sensor with cable and connector $6.00

• 3.1 V to 5.5 V operating voltage range, 6 μA operating current
• 19.5 mV/°C sensitivity
  
• ±1 °C  accuracy
• Output: v = 19.5e-3 * T + 0.4, v in V, T in °C

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Hall Effect Sensor 

$2.00

Hall effect sensor with cable and connector $6.00

• 4.5 V to 5.5 V operating voltage range, 5.6 mA operating current
• 50 V/T sensitivity
  
• Ratiometric rail-to-rail output
• Output: v = 50.0 * B + 2.5, v in V, B in T

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Infrared Distance Sensor 

• 4.5 V to 5.5 V operating voltage range, 30 mA operating current
• 10 cm to 80 cm (4" to 32") range
• Output: v = 27.0 / d, v in V, d in cm
  
• 1.16'' x 0.5'' x 0.53'' (29.5 mm x 13.0 mm x 13.5 mm), 0.12 oz (3.5 g)

       $20.00

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Hall Effect Current Sensor 

• 4.5 V to 5.5 V operating voltage range, 10 mA operating current
• -5 A to +5 A range, 1.2 mΩ internal resistance, 0.185 V/A sensitivity
  
• Output: v = 0.185 * i + 2.5, v in V, i in A
  
• 1.22'' x 0.51'' x 0.39'' (31 mm x 13 mm x 10 mm), 0.12 oz (3.3 g)

       $20.00

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Incremental Encoder 

• 4.75 V to 5.25 V operating voltage range, 30 mA operating current
• 100 pulses per revolution, 0.9 deg accuracy
• 1'' x 1'' x 1'' (2.54 cm x 2.54 cm x 2.54 cm) with 0.125'' (3.175 mm) shaft, 39.2 g
  

       $25.00

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Cables 

1-wire straight cable, UL1007, 26 AWG, 30 cm $1.99	2-wire twisted cable, UL1007, 24 AWG, 30 cm $2.99
3-wire straight cable, UL1007, 26 AWG, 30 cm $3.99	4-wire straight cable, UL1007, 26 AWG, 30 cm $4.99

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• Credit Cards, PayPal or Money Order
• Shipment is via USPS Priority Mail worldwide
• Orders typically ship within the same day
• For 10 or more orders, please contact us for a discount

Q: Why did you use the serial port but not USB?
A: Although USB is faster than the standard serial port, it is incompatible with real-time applications. It is currently impossible to achieve our current speed with USB in real-time.

Q: I do not have built-in serial port. Can I still use the HILINK platform?
A: Yes, you can with a serial expansion card, which is separately available if requested.

Q: Can I use a USB to serial adapter/cable for connecting the HILINK platform to my PC?
A: No, USB is not compatible with real-time applications. You may, however, use a serial expansion card to have a "true serial port" and then connect the HILINK platform to your PC through it.

Q: The HILINK platform achieves real-time operation with sampling rates up to 3.8 kHz. Is this not slow?
A: It is more than adequate for most practical control systems. Similar systems on the market can not achieve one-forth of this speed even with FireWire interface.

Q: Are there other similar systems on the market?
A: There are some products on the market with a similar intended target. However, none of them can achieve the performance of our system. Please note that the serial port does not work in real-time under Matlab or Simulink without our system.

Q: Why is the cost of your system so low? Have you compromised quality?
A: The cost of our system is low because we are a small company owned and operated directly by the developers. We have made every effort to minimize its cost and maximize its functionality without compromising quality. Please compare our system with other similar products on the market that cost almost a small fortune.

Q: Is there any difference between the educational and regular versions of the HILINK platform?
A: The educational and regular versions of HILINK platforms are exactly the same. We sell the HILINK board for a lower price to educational institutions to support education and make them more affordable to students and educators. If you are affiliated with any educational institution, then you are entitled to get the Hilink board with the educational price, which is 10% lower than the regular price.

• Hilink User Manual for version 1.4
• Hilink Quick Reference for version 1.4
• Hilink User Manual for version 1.3
• Hilink Quick Reference for version 1.3
• Hobby Servo (RC Servo) Control with HILINK 1.4-s
• Magnetic Levitation Control with HILINK 1.3
• Magnetic Levitation Control with HILINK 1.2
  
• DC Motor Control with HILINK 1.3
• DC Motor Control with HILINK 1.2

• Matlab, Simulink and Real-Time Windows Target
• Control Systems and Digital Signal Processing