A simulation platform for automation teaching

This paper presents a simulation platform that was developed for Automation teaching to 3^rd year students of Mechanical and Electronics Engineering. All the steps, for the development of the platform, are presented and, also, used formalisms and tools are described. A case study is presented, in order to illustrate all steps performed in this context. The main advantage of the simulation platform is that the associated methodology of development can be reproduced to other illustrative examples and, this way, students have more possibilities for learning using new strategies and teaching methodologies related with laboratorial practice.