Module Aims
- This module aims to develop an understanding of the techniques for modelling, analysis and design of practical continuous-time control systems.
- It covers the concepts, principles, components, analogue systems and digital systems for industrial measurements and process control.
- Building on mathematics, electrical and mechanical modules, it discusses the basics of control theory, linking it with component and system modelling in both time-domain and frequency domain.
- Then it equips students with knowledge on how different sensors, controllers and actuators, with their limits, can form various measurement, open-loop and closed-loop control systems.
- Examples and case studies underpin the learning of simple and moderately complex control systems: analogue, ON/OFF, PWM, multi-level, digital, proportional, integral, PI, PID.
- Their purpose is to demonstrate the use of analytical techniques for estimating the behaviour of single-input single-output systems under both steady-state and transient conditions.
By the end of this module students will be able to:
- Show knowledge of sensors and appropriate electronics for typical control purposes.
- Discriminate between different sensor types for taking measurements to allow effective control of machines and processes.
- Compare structures of simple and moderately complex process control circuits, both analogue and digital.
- Apply mathematical skills to model the dynamic behaviour of electromechanical and electronic systems using Laplace transform and then predict their stability, steady-state behaviour, and transient response.
- Analyse a number of analogue and discrete-time control schemes common in automated systems.
- Compare the main characteristics of different control systems with respect to functionality and performance.
