ACE-Lab | Practical First. Theory Follows. Project
funded by
Workshops
funded by
Practical First.Theory Follows.
Start with practical control engineering labs, then connect hands-on experience to applications and fundamental control theory through the ACE-CORE learning guides. Using MATLAB & Simulink, develop and test control algorithms with robust, affordable, portable ACE-Lab hardware.
Theory Led.Practically Proven.
Take models, controllers and identification methods from theory to real hardware. Using MATLAB & Simulink, implement and validate your research experimentally on robust, affordable, portable ACE-Lab hardware, with results that others can reproduce.
Get started with ACE-Lab rigs and lab guides
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Lab GuidesGet your ACE-Lab rigs + Lab Guides
Order ready-built boxes, or print and assemble your own. Every rig comes with free, step-by-step lab guides.
Then learn by doing: work through the lab guides on your rig, from microcontroller basics and sensors to driving actuators and closing the loop with MATLAB & Simulink.
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Rigs, lab guides and ACE-CORE, designed together
Lab Guides
CORETeaching methodLearn with ACE-CORE
The ACE-CORE learning guides explain the theory behind each lab and link to its matching lab guide, step by step from practical control to model-based design. Use them to teach in class or to test your own controllers on real hardware.
Explore ACE-CORE
ACE-Lab (Base + Sense) Start here
Develop microcontroller basics, build breadboard circuits and explore measurement.
Start the labsACE-Lab (Actuate) Add-on
Adds your choice of DC motor with encoder, fan, servo or stepper motor, the actuators needed to close the loop.
Actuator labsComplete closed-loop control
See it in action DC motor speed PI control with MATLAB & Simulink
Explore the rigs and practical exercisesCourse Levels
See all learning guides →Level 1Start herePractical Control Engineering
Understand feedback, run controllers on real ACE-Lab hardware, then tune and assess their performance.
CComprehendOOperateRRefineStart Level 1 →Level 2Next stepModel-Based Design
Model the system, design from the underlying mathematics and verify in simulation before running on hardware.
EEngineerGo to Level 2 →Level 3AdvancedOnline Control Methods
Re-identify the system while it runs and re-tune the controller automatically, with adaptive and learning-based methods.
EEngineerGo to Level 3 →Practical Exercises
See all practical exercisesACE-CORE Learning Guides
See all learning guidesBuild Your Own ACE-Lab
Choose your route
Workshops & Updates
See all updates
Join the Global Community
Join the communityWhat industry says
ACE-Box provides an exceptional bridge between classroom learning and real-world control engineering practice. The platform is intuitive, easy to use, and highly flexible – enabling students and educators to explore complex control concepts with confidence. ACE-Box helps students move beyond theory, developing the hands-on skills and professional insight essential for modern engineering careers.
Dr Ehsan AzadiCambridge Mechatronics, UK What academia says
Attended the ACE Lab workshop in London and had a positive experience. ACE Lab is a great introductory platform for seeing how theories work in practice. From modelling and control design through to implementation, each step is clearly presented, making it easy to understand how everything comes together. The Simulink-based materials were particularly helpful. Simulink’s graphical approach makes the implementation process intuitive and accessible, even for those with limited practical experience. Overall, ACE Lab provides an engaging and effective way to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Dr Mathias FooUniversity of Warwick, UK Global communityEducators, researchers and engineers from 24 members in 9 countries, including people at:
Meet the community- Harper Adams UniversityUK
- Aston UniversityUK
- University of WarwickUK
- Lancaster UniversityUK
- University of DundeeUK
- Loughborough UniversityUK
- UWE BristolUK
- TEDI-LondonUK
- MathWorksUK
- GE VernovaUK
- TU DublinIreland
- Uşak UniversityTurkey
- AVLTurkey
- IIT GuwahatiIndia
- Swami Vivekananda UniversityIndia
- Bahria UniversityPakistan
- RMUTK BangkokThailand
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