sdowns
Member
I teach in a public high school with grades 9 and 10 students (average age 15/16 years). We are not a trade school. The classes offered in our Technology Education department are electives for the students. We have a two semester course offerings titled “Robotics I & II”. These classes have evolved from a “Power Tech” and “Automation” background. We view robotics as an aspect of automation. We are currently involved in a curriculum rewrite and are in need of some advice.
A few weeks of the course has the students programming PLCs with ladder logic through a teach pendant. The PLCs control sensors and pneumatic cylinders to perform functions in a simulated assembly scenario. The PLCs used are GE Fanuc series one juniors and a GE Fanuc 90-30.
An “expert” in the field of robotics education has recommended we drop the PLCs and ladder logic in lieu of an assembly type project using the VEX robotics system and roboC programming http://www.robotc.net/vex_full/ . VEX was developed by CMU and is a highly configurable erector set type kit with a programmable “brain” and numerous input/output options. We currently have a number of the VEX kits used in other parts of the curriculum. My fear is that we should not remove the PLCs and ladder logic components because of what a fundamental niche of automation they fill. Please remember that we are not a trade school and our courses are designed to fulfill the needs of students who will pursue a wide variety of higher education and career options.
Remove the PLCs? Remove the ladder logic? Update PLCs? If we should update the PLCs can you recommend a replacement PLC? If we should update the PLCs can you recommend inexpensive but intuitive software that utilizes ladder logic?
Thank you in advance for sharing you expertise. Scott Downs
A few weeks of the course has the students programming PLCs with ladder logic through a teach pendant. The PLCs control sensors and pneumatic cylinders to perform functions in a simulated assembly scenario. The PLCs used are GE Fanuc series one juniors and a GE Fanuc 90-30.
An “expert” in the field of robotics education has recommended we drop the PLCs and ladder logic in lieu of an assembly type project using the VEX robotics system and roboC programming http://www.robotc.net/vex_full/ . VEX was developed by CMU and is a highly configurable erector set type kit with a programmable “brain” and numerous input/output options. We currently have a number of the VEX kits used in other parts of the curriculum. My fear is that we should not remove the PLCs and ladder logic components because of what a fundamental niche of automation they fill. Please remember that we are not a trade school and our courses are designed to fulfill the needs of students who will pursue a wide variety of higher education and career options.
Remove the PLCs? Remove the ladder logic? Update PLCs? If we should update the PLCs can you recommend a replacement PLC? If we should update the PLCs can you recommend inexpensive but intuitive software that utilizes ladder logic?
Thank you in advance for sharing you expertise. Scott Downs
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