Diseño e implementación de un sistema genérico de control en red basado en el protocolo modbus rtu

Abstract

The development and implementation of a low-cost generic networked control platform based on Arduino microcontrollers and Modbus RTU communication over RS-485 is presented, oriented toward both academic applications and small-scale industrial scenarios. The system integrates one master node and multiple slave nodes, each featuring dedicated hardware for analog and digital data acquisition, signal conditioning, and power stages, enabling the implementation of distributed control strategies over different plants. The methodology includes schematic and PCB design of the master and slave modules, implementation of communication and control firmware using Modbus libraries, and the development of PC- and MATLAB-based supervision and analysis tools to evaluate the network’s temporal performance and recommend appropriate sampling times. The platform is experimentally validated through an ON–OFF temperature control application involving four laboratory electric ovens interconnected via an RS-485 bus, analyzing communication stability, dynamic response, and behavior under disturbances. The results show that the network maintains stable Modbus RTU communication and allows temperature regulation of the ovens within acceptable bands, confirming the technical feasibility of the proposed solution for applications with moderate temporal requirements. Cost analysis indicates that the master and slave modules remain within the range of a low-cost academic solution, while the modular and scalable architecture facilitates the integration of new nodes and adaptation to other plants, positioning the platform as a didactic tool and a basis for future developments in networked control.