Stage 2: ACE-Box

What is the ACE-Box?
A portable tool kit enabling students and engineers to learn and apply automated control engineering (ACE) without needing a full-scale laboratory.
It compactly packages all the required hardware, sensors and actuators so it can be set up on a desk or even at home.
The ACE-Box is available as an open-access resource (with the option to purchase the physical set-up for a small cost), and comes with an initial set of laboratory exercises. Thanks to its open-source design, this library of exercises will continue to expand over time.
Introductory Lab Exercises
(Coming September 2025)
1. Digital I/O, Deboucing and Event Timing
2. Analgue Sensing (Temperature Sensor) and Calibration
3. LDR Characterisation and Linearisation (Voltage Divider)
4. Closed-Loop Brightness Control (LDR Feedback, LED PWM)
5. Ultrasonic Ranging and Ditial Filter
6. Distance-Reactive LED with Proportional Control (Human-in-the-Loop Plant)
7. Control on an LED -> LDR Plant
Actuator Lab Exercises
(Coming December 2025)
1. Closed-Loop Speed Control of a DC Motor
2. Closed-Loop Position Control of a DC Motor
3. Temperature-Responsive Fan Control System
4. Obstacle Avoidance via Ultrasonic Sensing
5. Servo Motor Angular Positioning
6. Frequency Response of a Servo System
7. Phototropic Light Tracker using Servo Motor
8. Closed-Loop Control of a Stepper Motor
9. Closed-Loop Control of a Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor
Components
(manufacturing and purchasing details coming soon)
ACE-BOX (3D printing)
Microcontroller:
Arduino Uno
Sensors:
Light Dependent Resistor (LDR)
TMP36 Temperature Sensor
Ultrasonic Distance Sensor
Input Devices:
Linear Slide Potentiometer
Rotary Potentiometer
On/Off Toggle Switch
Mini Push-button Switch
Indicator and Passive Components:
Breadboard with jumper wires
USB Type-B cable
LED
1 kΩ Resistor
Actuator Lab Exercises (Add-Ons):
DC Motor with Encoder + Driver
DC Motor with Fan + Driver
Servo Motor
Stepper Motor + Driver
Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor + Driver

What is the ACE-Box?

A portable tool kit enabling students and engineers to learn and apply automated control engineering (ACE) without needing a full-scale laboratory.

It compactly packages all the required hardware, sensors and actuators so it can be set up on a desk or even at home.

The ACE-Box is available as an open-access resource (with the option to purchase the physical set-up for a small cost), and comes with an initial set of laboratory exercises. Thanks to its open-source design, this library of exercises will continue to expand over time.

Introductory Lab Exercises

(Coming September 2025)

1. Digital I/O, Deboucing and Event Timing

2. Analgue Sensing (Temperature Sensor) and Calibration

3. LDR Characterisation and Linearisation (Voltage Divider)

4. Closed-Loop Brightness Control (LDR Feedback, LED PWM)

5. Ultrasonic Ranging and Ditial Filter

6. Distance-Reactive LED with Proportional Control (Human-in-the-Loop Plant)

7. Control on an LED -> LDR Plant

Actuator Lab Exercises

(Coming December 2025)

1. Closed-Loop Speed Control of a DC Motor

2. Closed-Loop Position Control of a DC Motor

3. Temperature-Responsive Fan Control System

4. Obstacle Avoidance via Ultrasonic Sensing

5. Servo Motor Angular Positioning

6. Frequency Response of a Servo System

7. Phototropic Light Tracker using Servo Motor

8. Closed-Loop Control of a Stepper Motor

9. Closed-Loop Control of a Brushless DC (BLDC) Motor

Components

(manufacturing and purchasing details coming soon)