Dredge Automation Project
The main part of the design is the physical hardware of the system which is seen in the diagram of the hardware on the dredge. The designed portion of the diagram includes everything but the four motors and the on shore power supply. The basic idea behind the design is that the user will send input signals into the PLC using the wireless device. After receiving these signals the PLC will process the information and send out control signals which will be used to control the various motor starters and the VFD. Once the user has set up the operation of the dredge using the wireless system the dredge will continue operating until another input will tell the PLC to change the current state of the motors. The inputs to change the current state to a new state will either be the limit switches or the wireless system. The operation of the dredge after the dredge has been set up will depend on the programing of the PLC. The entire system is then housed in an on board stainless steel control panel which will have connections coming from the on shore power supply and going to each of the motors.