Course Overview

[Course description] Control is the action of causing a system variable to approach some desired value. It is also a fundamental and universal problem-solving approach in many traditional and interdisciplinary fields. A control system, in a very general sense, is a system with an (reference) input that can be applied per the desired value and an output from which how well the system variable matches to the desired value (e.g., errors) can be determined. It can be found in daily life, almost all engineering disciplines, and even biological and social studies. For examples, bicycle riding involves with a control system comprising of a bicycle and a rider, with inputs and outputs associated with the desired attitude, speed, and direction of the bicycle. Temperature control systems have applications in household, automobile, aerospace, office, factory, and agriculture environments. Motion control systems are critical to factory automation and precision instruments, such as industrial robots, atomic-force microscopes, and step-and-scan photolithography exposure systems. Many modern cameras equip with autofocus and vibration compensation systems to minimize image blur. Many kinds of circuits such as phase lock loops, operational amplifiers, and voltage regulators rely on control to ensure their functions and performance. A living body is a complex control system where many critical variables such as heart beat rate, blood pressure, and body temperature are regulated constantly for health. Central banks of most countries around the world set interest rates as a way to control inflation. This undergraduate course is designed for junior and senior (3rd/4th yr.) students to apprehend basic modeling, simulation, analysis, and design techniques for control systems. It intends to cover fundamentals of "classical control" that primarily focuses on frequency domain feedback control approaches for single-input-single-output linear dynamical systems. When time permits, some essential elements in modern-day control engineering such as state-space approaches, discrete-time digital control, and numerical methods will also be introduced.

Learning Achievement

[Course goals] Basic: - Awareness of the strength and the importance of control systems, especially the effectiveness of feedback - Ability of deriving dynamic models and simulating dynamic responses - Ability of analyzing and designing feedback controllers for linear SISO systems in the frequency domain using root locus and frequency response techniques Bonus: - Awareness of some advanced control topics (e.g., state-space methods, digital control, and nonlinear systems) - Development of technical writing skills in English

Competence

Course prerequisites

[Prerequisites] Linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, Laplace transforms, fundamental circuit and mechanics analysis -- which should have been well covered by several freshman and sophomore (1st/2nd yr.) courses in most electrical and mechanical engineering curriculums. Prior exposure to the analysis of signals and systems will be beneficial but not absolutely required.

Grading Philosophy

Course schedule

Course type

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Kuen-Yu Tsai

Other information

Non-degree Program: Education Program For Agricultural Automation,
(College of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) Department of Electrical Engineering,
Non-degree Program: Transprotation Electrification Technology Program

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