Rapid-Control-Prototyping as part of Model-Based Development of Heat Pump Dryers

Today’s products are characterized by a highly interdisciplinary level. Likewise, household appliances are affected to this evolution. Mechanical structures, actuators, sensors and distributed control units can be found in modern tumble dryers, as well as in other mechatronic systems. The main challenge in the development process of such systems is to ensure the functionality which contains the proper interaction within the components of the tumble dryer. Mechanical knowledge, thermodynamical expertise, control-engineering competence and knowledge in software have to be managed and brought together. Apart from the interdisciplinary challenge, the rising functionality of modern tumble dryers leads to a further challenge, which appears in the development. Intelligent processes within their components have to be tested intensively, to ensure the benefit they promise. Time-consuming iterations during the development are inacceptable, to guarantee a specified start of production.