Unit information: Systems and Control Engineering 3 in 2012/13

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Unit name Systems and Control Engineering 3
Unit code MENG30202
Credit points 10
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director Dr. Harrison
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

The Systems and Control Engineering component of MENG22200 or equivalent
Co-requisites

None
School/department Department of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Faculty of Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This unit extends your knowledge in Systems and Control Engineering in the following ways: by introducing the general Roots' Loci method of control system design, by formally introducing discrete-time system dynamics and control, by providing a clear understanding of the Nyquist Stability Criterion for SISO systems, and then by using this understanding in the design of practical single-input/single-output (SISO) control systems, via frequency domain techniques. The course includes a Matlab/Simulink exercise which enables you to design and simulate control systems via frequency domain techniques.

Aims:

To extend the students’ Year II knowledge in Systems and Control Engineering in the following ways:

  • introduce the general (PB) Roots’ Loci method of control system design.
  • formally introduce (PB) discrete-time system dynamics and control.
  • provide a clear understanding of FD techniques and the Nyquist Stability Criterion for SISO systems. Use this understanding in the design of practical SISO control systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Construct and use Roots’ Loci diagrams to characterise simple dynamical systems
  • Derive gains for simple SISO controllers using Roots’ Loci diagrams
  • Understand the concept of a discrete-time system
  • Derive difference equations that correspond to an equivalent continuous-time system using the principle of the Zero-Order-Hold Discrete Equivalent (ZOHDE)
  • Design simple discrete-time controllers based on the indirect and direct methods
  • Determine sampling intervals for controllers based on the indirect and direct methods
  • Understand stability margins
  • Design a closed loop controller based on Bode plots of the plant and controller (open loop transfer function).
  • Estimate the closed-loop step response (steady-state error, settling time, number of overshoots) from the OLTF Bode Plot.

Teaching Information

The lectures will be backed-up by extensive use of computer simulations of control systems.

Assessment Information

The course will be assessed (100%) by a 2 hour examination in May/June with 2 sections (PB and FD, 3Q per section; candidates to answer 3 questions out of 4).

Reading and References

Modern Control Systems, 7th edition, R.C. Dorf & R.H. Bishop, (Addison-Wesley), 1998.

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