Laboratory Experiments > Tandem Pendulum > Brief Description

PC60 Tandem Pendulum

The laboratory experimental setup “Tandem Pendulum” contains the technical realization of an unstable, complex plant together with an actuator. The laboratory setup is based on the plant “Position Control PC60”.


The basic system includes an actuator as well as the mechanical setup (PC60) with a premounted tandem pendulum extension kit (Option 60-40). The plant is represented by two revolving pendulums with different lengths mounted on top of a moving base. One pendulum (length 50 cm) is mounted on a sleeve shaft. An inner shaft is fixed to the second pendulum (length 10 cm). Both pendulums are pivoted independently from each other. By a three-phase synchronous drive, a toothed wheel, a toothed belt and a clutch, the moving base can be driven along a guiding bar over a length of approximately 1.5m such that both pendulums are stabilized in upright positions at a preassigned position. The stabilization of the pendulums is accomplished by an arbitrary external digital controller. Based on measurements, the controller may generate a suitable signal which controls the integrated electronics of the synchronous drive. The measurements are the pendulum angles and the cart position obtained by incremental encoders. The documentation includes sections for assembly and start-up, the technical data, the theoretical background with the mathematical model of the plant.

Technical data are subject to change (Date 9-March-2024)