ACE-Lab | Application-Led Control Engineering Application-led control engineeringFrom application to implementation.
ACE-Lab connects real engineering applications, control theory, MATLAB & Simulink, and low-cost practical hardware so students can model, design, implement and refine real control systems.
Open learning resources MATLAB & Simulink Real hardwareBase + Sense
ACE-Lab (Base + Sense)
Microcontrollers · sensors · measurement · data acquisition
Actuate
ACE-Lab (Actuate)
Motors · encoders · actuation · closed-loop control
ACE-Lab supported by
MathWorksDevelopment funding · 2025–2026
EUCAWorkshop support · 2026
The ACE-CORE learning journeyA complete route through control engineering.
Students move from understanding a real system to engineering and validating a complete control solution, with the application remaining visible throughout.
CComprehend
Understand the application, system behaviour, block diagrams and the control problem.
→OOperate
Acquire data, work with sensors and actuators, and make the physical system operate.
→RRefine
Improve performance through feedback, tuning, measurement and engineering judgement.
→EEngineer
Model, design, implement and validate advanced control solutions using Model-Based Design.
→↻ The aim is not to climb a theory pyramid. It is to complete an engineering journey and return to the same real application with a better solution.Open learning resourcesExplore ACE-CORE, ACE-Lab and ACE-Apply earlier.
Bring the resource links forward so visitors can immediately move from the ACE-CORE framework to the relevant learning material, hardware and application-facing content.
ACE-CORE learning resources
Browse the main learning resources, framework content and teaching material.
Explore ACE-CORE →ACE-Lab
See the rigs, exercises and practical pathway that support the learning journey.
Explore ACE-Lab →ACE-Apply
Link the framework back to applications, implementation and applied examples.
Explore ACE-Apply →One platform · progressive learningStart simple. End with a real closed loop.
The hardware grows with the learning, from embedded I/O and measurement to motors, encoders, feedback and controller implementation.
ACE-Lab (Base + Sense)
Microcontroller skills, breadboard circuits, sensing, measurement and data acquisition.
Explore Base + Sense →ACE-Lab (Actuate)
Add motors and actuators to progress into feedback, system modelling and closed-loop design.
Explore Actuate →For educatorsBuild a practical control curriculum around the time you actually have.
ACE-Lab can be used as a short practical activity, a workshop, or the backbone of a complete control engineering module. The same application-led journey scales with the available teaching time.
Single practicalFocused exercise around sensing, actuation or feedback.2–3 hoursWorkshopApplication-led hands-on introduction to ACE-Lab and control.Half dayModule pathwayProgress through measurement, actuation, feedback and modelling.10 weeksExtended pathwayFull progression into advanced control and Model-Based Design.20 weeksCommunity, workshops & researchACE-Lab is more than a box of electronics.
The website should also make the wider educational activity visible: workshops, invited talks, teaching methodology, open resources and the evidence behind the approach.
See the ACE-Lab philosophy, hardware and Model-Based Design workflow used together in a practical teaching session.
Give visitors a clear route into the educational rationale, publications, invited talks and the development of the ACE-Lab approach.
Ready to teach control differently?
Learn. Model. Build. Test. Refine.
