We at ECP are committed to continuously expanding and refining our product line. To this end, we regularly incorporate feedback from our customers and are engaged in a rigorous development and test program. The following are some of our recent developments. If you currently use ECP equipment, some or all of these new developments may be used to enhance your existing system.

	High-speed DSP Board. Our recently upgraded DSP board has an increase in processing throughput of up to 4x over earlier versions. This is particularly beneficial for those customers interested in our optional software offerings: the "User-Written Control Algorithm Package" and Real-Time Simulink. This new PCI-compatible board allows you to implement even more complex control algorithms at fully synchronous sample rates up to 1.1 kHz.
	LabVIEW ECP Real-Time Control Option. In addition to the fully integrated ECP Executive� programs, National Instruments LabVIEW and NI data acquisition hardware can be used to develop and deploy real-time control algorithms to control select ECP electromechanical plants. The LabVIEW� environment allows for the design and simulation of control algorithms with seamless real-time deployment and execution. This approach allows for multiple levels of learning by allowing students to simply modify controller parameters on a graphical user interface or to design and create their own controller. It allows students to gain familiarity with the LabVIEW software and NI hardware that is widely used in industrial control applications
	Simulink Desktop Real-Time®. This interface capability allows you to operate any ECP system in a Simulink Desktop Real-Time� environment. This approach uses Real-Time Windows Target (RTWT) and RTWT-ECP Extension to provide "hard" real-time control of the system. It allows the user to directly utilize the mathematical and simulation tools of MATLAB�/ Simulink�. This option may be used in conjunction with new ECP systems or retrofit to existing ones without hardware modification. See available Interface Software options. (Simulink interface capability was earlier provided through third party software and has been developed in-house for improved ease of integration and reliability of support.)
	Executive USRTM 5.0 Multivariable. This new release has the same broad operating system and DSP board compatibility as our basic Executive� 5.0 described above. It provides multi-input, multi-output controller specification and real-time control. It allows you to easily write control laws of virtually any form. Whether its simple SISO PD control or complex nonlinear MIMO this option combined with our proven high quality systems Executive USR� is your fastest way to general control implementation. It contains the many user-friendly functions of our basic Executive program including data acquisition, input specification library, real-time plotting, advanced data management features, and much more. This version provides multi-trajectory input generation for complete MIMO characterization. See available Interface Software options.
	ECP ExecutiveTM 5.0. This latest revision of our system interface software runs on all current versions of Windows. It incorporates many new features including an expanded input trajectory library, enhanced frequency response plotting, enhanced real-time data plotting, MATLAB�; control design download and much more! The Executive� is our standard interface software with a library of linear control forms plus a generalized linear control form. It also provides a "quick run" selection of input trajectories to rapidly characterize system performance and stability, and advanced plotting and data processing features. It has been extensively tested to assure robust function and ease of use. Go to Executive Program. See available Interface Software options.
	New Accessory! The Classical Inverted Pendulum accessory is a cost effective way to enhance your existing ECP system. It adds entirely new experimental capability and provides visually stimulating and theoretically rich demonstrations. It has a variety of easily adjustable dynamic parameters (more than any other commercially available experimental pendulum!), and open loop stable (noninverted) and unstable (inverted) operating modes with self-inverting capability. It may be added to any of the Model 205, 210, and 220 plants (it will soon also be available for Model 750).
	New Plants! ECP has added two exciting new plants to its family of field-proven systems. The Magnetic Levitation utilizes laser feedback and high flux magnetic circuits to provide dramatic closed loop control demonstrations. It is easily set up to perform open loop stable and unstable control experiments in both SISO and MIMO configurations. The Control Moment Gyroscope. graphically demonstrates rapid, precise, control using high authority gyroscopic torque. The plant features four axes of rotation each with two drive inputs and precision sensors on at each gimbal. It is readily set up to perform both SISO and MIMO control. Go to Family of Plants.
	Disturbance Drives. An optional disturbance drive is now available for the Model 205 and 210 systems. It includes a servo motor, amplifier, and an easy-to-use function of the ECP Executive interface software that lets you command the disturbances. The user may select from a library of disturbance shapes that includes step and sinusoidal forms (position or time dependent), or an arbitrary disturbance may be specified. The drive may be placed at any output location (e.g. at any of the disks on the torsional system). Disturbances may be generated either while the control is regulating about a constant reference or when the system is following an input trajectory. A programmable viscous friction may be effected via the disturbance drive and may be set to operate either alone or concurrently with any other specified disturbance. A similar disturbance drive is standard equipment on the Model 220 system.