Lecturer: Lalo Magni  

Course name: Automatic control
Course code: 502477
Degree course: Ingegneria Informatica
Disciplinary field of science: ING-INF/04
University credits: CFU 12
Course website: http://sisdin.unipv.it/labsisdin/teaching/courses/tscal
t/tscalt.php

Specific course objectives

The course aims to provide students with the basic elements for analysis and control of dynamic systems. After an introduction, which highlights the key issues of automatic control and the importance of mathematical models for the study of dynamical systems, the main results concerning the continuous-time dynamic systems are proposed. Particular attention is given to the concepts of "state, movement, stability, controllability, observability". The study of linear time-invariant dynamical systems is then conducted in the domain of transformation, introducing the concepts of "transfer function, block diagrams, frequency response". In the second part of the course the problem of how to act on the input variables of a plant, appropriately described by a mathematical model to obtain a specific behavior of the process will be addressed. The main criteria for analysis and synthesis for single input single output linear systems are proposed. Both stability properties of the controlled system and its ability to atenuate noise and to follow the appropriate references will receive particular attention. The course is complemented by a series of exercises during which the physical systems of different nature (electrical, mechanical, etc..) are described in precise mathematical terms and analyzed using methods learned in class.

Course programme

1. Continuous-time dynamic systems - classification of dynamic systems, linear systems, linearization, stability. 2. Linear systems and stationary continuous-time - stability, equilibria and stability of nonlinear systems, reachability, observability. 3. Transfer functions - definition and properties, representation and parameters of the transfer function, step response. 4. Block diagrams - a block diagram of components, processing rules, stability of interconnected systems. 5. Frequency response - identification of frequency response, Bode diagrams. 6. Analysis of continuous-time control systems - regulation of an equilibrium, general scheme of feedback control, requirements of a control system, Bode criterion, Nyquist criterion, gain margin and phase margin, sensitivity analysis. 7. Summary of continuous-time control systems - requirements and specifications, methods of synthesis. 8. Root locus - definitions and properties, use of root locus analysis and synthesis, outline of the roots. 9. Industrial controllers - model of PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative). 10. Simulation and control using Matlab / Simulink

Course entry requirements

Knowledge acquired in the course of Mathematical Analysis, Geometry and Algebra, Mathematics, Circuit Theory, Physics I.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 64
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 20

Suggested reading materials

P. Bolzern, R. Scattolini, N. Schiavoni. Fondamenti di controlli automatici. McGraw Hill Italia.

Testing and exams

The examination has a written test