Ball and Beam Apparatus

Ball and Beam Apparatus

•    The Ball and Beam Apparatus shows the control problems of unstable systems, for example a rocket or missile during launch, which needs active control to prevent the missile going unstable and toppling over.
•    The apparatus has a steel ball which is free to roll on two parallel tensioned wires.
•    The wires are on a beam that pivots at its centre.
•    The system is a double integrator, so it is naturally unstable.
•    It needs active feedback control using phase-advance methods.
•    A servo motor controls the beam angle and sensors measure the beam angle and ball position.
•    The basic control problem is to vary the beam angle to control the ball position.

Ball and Beam Apparatus ALTEC Laboratory Equipments and ALTEC Laboratory Instruments Tenders.