A programmable logic controller (PLC) is an Industrial computer that receives inputs from switches and Sensors evaluates these inputs in accordance with programmed instructions, and Controls output devices based on the results of this evaluation (Bern and Olsen, 2002). According to Gustafson and Morgan (2004), PLCs “have replaced hard-wired relay-based Control Systems in most industries because of their compact size, ruggedness, and, most importantly, their ability to be reprogrammed” (p. 277). Reprogramming a PLC allows changes to be made in the functional operation of a machine system without major physical changes in the control or output system components or wiring (Cox, 2001). Thus, labor, equipment, and downtime costs are reduced.

The use of PLCs and similar devices in the agricultural industry is widespread and growing. Example applications include food processing (Rywotycki, 2003), building environmental control (Gates, Overhults, and Turner, 1992), grain drying (Cox, 1997), aquacultural production (Kolkovski, Curnow, and King, 2004), and tractor and machinery systems (Goering, Stone, Smith, and Turnquist, 2003).

Schumacher, Ess, Strickland, and King (2002) determined that electricity and electronics was perceived by university coordinators as being the most important area of study for agricultural systems management students. Given the prevalence of PLCs in the agricultural industry, undergraduate agricultural systems management students should receive hands-on experience with these devices as a component of these electricity and electronics courses.

The cost of commercially available PLC trainers (from $1600 to $5000 and more per unit) (AIT Training & Technology Farmersburg, IN; TEC Trainers, Jordan, MN) makes it difficult for agricultural systems management programs to provide class quantity trainers for student laboratory study. Thus, a need existed to develop a low-cost PLC trainer that would allow programs with limited budgets to provide multiple units for student use.

Source: http://www.aste.usu.edu/JASTM/mar2006.pdf

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Amazon Books

	Creative Projects with LEGO Mindstorms by Benjamin Erwin Buy new: $20.64 / Used from: $13.00 A good place to start, especially for kids, with Lego Mindstorms
	A Practical Guide to Behavior-Based Robotics by Joe Jones Buy new: $20.67 / Used from: $15.13 Very good for programming not so much behavior as control. Language and controller agnostic