2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

This paper presents an innovative approach to teaching Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) using open-source software and low-cost hardware in an engineering curriculum. The OpenPLC software and a variety of affordable hardware platforms, such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi, are employed to provide students with hands-on experience in programming PLCs. The incorporation of PLC content in the second year of the curriculum prepares students for summer internships, better satisfying industry demands and enhancing their careers. This approach is also beneficial for multidisciplinary project-based learning courses throughout the engineering program. Although a formal assessment of the approach's effectiveness is yet to be conducted, anecdotal evidence suggests positive outcomes. Overall, this paper demonstrates the value of using free software and low-cost hardware in teaching PLC concepts, paving the way for more accessible and cost-effective education in this crucial area of engineering.