MSc Advanced Control and Systems Engineering / Course details

The unit has two different parts:

Part A: Control Fundamentals

• Laplace transform and inverse Laplace transform
• Analysis of single-input single-output control structures, including open-loop, closed-loop, feedforward and two-degree-of-freedom control structures
• Analysis of step/impulse responses of first and second order dynamic systems
• Design and tuning of proportional control, PI control, PD control and PID control
• Interpretation of root locus
• Frequency response, including direct measurement of responses
• Nyquist plot and the Nyquist stability test 
• Understanding of gain margin and phase margin and their representation on both Bode plots and Nyquist plots
• Design of phase lead and phase lag feedback compensators using Bode plots and Nichols charts.
• Case studies including controller design for mechanical and electrical systems and evaluation of control performance in relation to environmental and society impact
• Analysis of open and closed loop systems in Matlab and Simulink

Part B: Process Automation

• Internal Model Control
• Cascade control, feedforward control, Smith Predictor.
• Multi-loop interaction analysis using Relative Gain Array,
• Static and dynamic decoupling design for minimum phase and non-minimum phase systems
• MV zeros and poles 

The unit aims to:

• Give all students a common starting point on the topic of control systems by covering classical techniques for the analysis and design of feedback control systems.
• Enable students to analyse the response of dynamic systems in MATLAB. 
• Give students a sound understanding of classical robustness measures.
• Introduce students to the fundamental concepts of applied industrial process control, including cascade and feedforward control structures as well as the use of de-couplers.

On successful completion of the course, a student will be able to:

ILO 1: Design feedforward and cascade controllers, internal model control for process control applications.

ILO 2: Describe the principal features of SISO and MIMO linear systems.

ILO 3: Design decoupling controllers for both minimum phase and non-minimum phase MIMO systems.

ILO 4: Design and implement proportional, phase lead and phase lag control systems.

ILO 5: Determine the stability of specific open and closed loop systems and analyse the control system performance for reference tracking and disturbance rejection.

ILO 6: Determine and analysis the time response and frequency response of linear systems to input signals.

Form of exams: Four questions, answer all questions. Feedback is provided after exam board

One lab assessment related to control fundamentals, which is the hardware-based laboratory assessed by marking a report submission. (10%)

Another lab is for process automation. Online submission in Blackboard, individual performance 

Feedback systems : an introduction for scientists and engineers by Åström, Karl J. Princeton University Press, 2008. 
Modern Control Systems : Introduction to Total Quality by Dorf, Richard C. Pearson Education UK, 2014.  
Process dynamics and control b Seborg, Dale E. Wiley, 2017.