IntermediateTopic 43 of 101Signals, Control & Comms
Introduction to control systems
Use feedback to make a system behave as desired.
In depth
Control systems manipulate inputs to make outputs follow references despite disturbances and uncertainty. Objectives: stability, accuracy, speed, robustness. Domain examples: temperature control, cruise control, robot arms, flight control and process plants. Methods: classical (frequency) and modern (state-space).
Key points
- Reference, error, control
- Disturbance rejection
- Design trade-offs
ExampleA home thermostat keeps room temperature near a setpoint.
What is Introduction to control systems?
Use feedback to make a system behave as desired.
Why is it important to understand introduction to control systems?
Control systems make outputs follow desired values despite disturbances, which is the basis of almost all automated machines.
What is the goal of a control system?
To make the output track a reference and reject disturbances while keeping the system stable and within limits.
Why is feedback so important?
Measuring the output and correcting errors allows the system to cope with uncertainty that an open design could not handle.
How is Introduction to control systems used in practice?
Typical applications include holding a room at a set temperature with a thermostat, keeping a drone level in wind with an attitude controller and controlling the speed of a motor under changing load.
What should I learn before Introduction to control systems?
Study "Wiener and Kalman filters" first (topic 42 of 101 in Signals, Control & Comms). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
What are the key points of Introduction to control systems?
Reference, error, control. Disturbance rejection. Design trade-offs.
Can you give an example of Introduction to control systems?
A home thermostat keeps room temperature near a setpoint.
What comes after Introduction to control systems?
The next topic is "Open-loop vs closed-loop", which builds directly on this one.
How difficult is Introduction to control systems?
It is classed as Intermediate in Signals, Control & Comms (topic 43 of 101). It is an intermediate topic. Work through the beginner topics in Signals, Control & Comms first.