I am currently developing a 14-week course for computer science undergraduate students that focuses more on the application of control systems and the design and implementation of simple controllers using microcontrollers. The ability to simulate such controllers using Matlab is thought to be essential as well. Can you recommend the core topics needed in order to develop such course? Assumptions are that students have basic knowledge on 1) computer science and engineering mathematics; 2) basics on signals and systems, and 3) basics on microcontroller system design.
Dear Professor Emmanuel Gonzalez, why not to go for 'Embedded System Design' course. You can access the curriculum of Electrical and Computer Engineering department of any university. Further, if you need any information please donot hesitate. My email ID is ([email protected]).
In my experience, computer science students don't use much calculus and quickly get rusty, which hampers them from working with differentiable models (such as continuous-time control systems). It may be helpful to them to make the connection that a control system is a "differentiable version" of a Finite State Machine: the transition function in the FSM corresponds to the right-hand side of the ODE.
I would start with a concrete engineering problem (e.g., thermostat) with a discrete state space (integer-valued temperatures allowed) and write out the appropriate controlled difference equation. Now allow the temperature to vary continuously, take the limit, arrive at the ODE.
The key here is not a specific topic, but a modeler's intuition: an ability to map a "real-life" problem to a mathematical system. So, a well-chosen collection of specific, instructive examples--illustrating, in particular, counterintuitive behaviors hard to grasp without math--seems best.
Consider noise sources, both within the loop, as well as from environmental sources. Exposure to some signal processing would be good. Both analog (typically anti-aliasing) and digital filtering. De-bouncing techniques. Though leaning more hardware, Galvanic isolation. When to consider these techniques in initial planning to mitigate risk.
Some treatment of real world hardware complications like backlash, hysteresis, stiction and how age and use may affect those over time. A mention of parasitic loops and interference (e.g. crosstalk from other loops).
(1) Quote Emmanuel Gonzalez's comment "The ability to simulate such controllers using Matlab is thought to be essential as well."
The following book is primarily intended as a reference for a first course in systems control for undergraduate engineering students. It is also suitable for graduate students, researchers, engineers, and scientists who are NOT familiar with control systems.
D. Xue, Y. Chen, and D.P. Atherton, Linear Feedback Control: Analysis and Design with MATLAB, Springer-Verlag, 2009.
http://www.amazon.com/Linear-Feedback-Control-Analysis-Advances/dp/0898716381/ref=la_B001JP8KQQ_1_2/178-1285813-4589951?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1382996844&sr=1-2
The above book has been recommended by Matlab Inc. as MATLAB and Simulink Based Books.
http://www.mathworks.com/support/books/book48905.html?category=3&language=1
(2) Recent discussions on control system design approaches can be found in the following RG link.
"What are trends in control theory and its applications in physical systems (from a research point of view)?"
https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_trends_in_control_theory_and_its_applications_in_physical_systems_from_a_research_point_of_view2
@Emanuel, as I did like a proposal of @Afaq Ahmad, I will be free to recommend You the folowing paper PROPOSAL FOR AN EMBEDDED CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY ACTIVITY. In my opinion, it is a right one for undergraduate CS students.
Good luck!
Ljubomir Jacic
Article PROPOSAL FOR AN EMBEDDED CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY ACTIVITY
We had a 21 day workshop on embedded control systems at our company for a group of students who had finished 2 years of engineering. They learnt sensors, filters, PID controller tuning and did a hands on Matlab/Simulink, Labview, and aurdino boards. They enjoyed it and learnt a few things. As an exercise I had given them a sealed plant model. They had to analyze and design a controller for this.
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