BASIC CONTROL ENGINEERING

This course is one of the compulsory educational activities of the Bachelor Degree Course in Physics Engineering, and allows the student to acquire the basics of the analysis of dynamic systems (models) and their stability, as well as automatic control systems. The first part of the course provides the theoretical foundations and introduces the mathematical tools for modeling linear dynamic systems in the time and Laplace domains. The second part of the course, on the other hand, is dedicated to the analysis of stability, through the theory of control. Some of the topics covered are multidisciplinary, therefore the knowledge acquired is also useful for other courses addressed by the student.

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basic elements for the design of control systems, with particular reference to dynamic engineering models.

Knowledge and understanding
- Knoweldge about the basic principles of the functioning of the main components of a linear dynamic model
- Knoweldge about the basic principles of the operation of a feedback control system

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Ability to perform a static / dynamic analysis of control systems for linear systems
- Ability to design control systems based on specific stability performances

Autonomy of judgment
- Ability to evaluate, among various possibilities, how to configure and design the structure of an automatic controller, based on the operating requirements imposed

Communication skills
- Ability to describe the main functions of a control system with technical and formal language

Learning skills
- Ability to use and interpret reference texts on dynamic and control systems

Having achieved the educational objectives of the previous Mathematics courses. In particular, the student should be able to master the concepts and methods related to the study of differential equations, functions of complex variables and elements of linear algebra

Introduction to the course and problems of interest for automation.
Modeling problems of dynamical systems: objectives of automatic control (examples in the engineering field); Derivation of linear and nonlinear state space models; Balance points and linearization around them; Block diagrams; Open-loop and closed-loop control systems and the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.
Analysis of linear systems: Dynamics of linear systems (transient and steady state); Principle of superposition of effects; Laplace transforms; Canonical signals and their transforms; Transfer functions; Bode plots; Frequency response; Stability of equilibrium points; Step response for first and second order systems and time-frequency relationship; Interconnections.
Requirements and design of control systems: stability, precision (steady-state error, speed and overshoots), sensitivity to disturbances, robustness; Analysis of the stability of control systems and stability criteria; PID controller design.
Notes on digital control: Discrete-time systems and signals, and discretization of systems and controllers; Notes on the choice of sampling frequency.

Notes on the use of programming languages (Matlab or Python) for the analysis of dynamic systems and for the design of control systems.

Bolzern, Scattolini, Schiavoni: "Fondamenti di controlli automatici", McGraw Hill Libri Italia, IV Edizione.

Other texts you can refer to:
Ferrante: “Appunti di Automatica per Ingegneria Biomedica”, Edizioni Progetto Padova, 2023.
Bisiacco, Valcher; “Controlli Automatici”, Edizioni Libreria Progetto Padova, III Edizione.
In addition, lesson notes and exercises will be provided to do at home on moodle.

The achievement of the teaching objectives is assessed through participation in the activities and exercises assigned during the course and a final written exam (the oral exam is not mandatory and the professor will give indications about it).

The final written exam consists of problems similar to those carried out in the classroom during group work. During the task, the use of notes, books and other teaching materials is not allowed (the professor, eventually, will give details about the set of equations and formulas that can be used during the task). A facsimile of the task will be made available.

Lectures and exercises to do at home.

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