Control Engineering (871H1)

15 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Autumn teaching

This module covers two fundamental topics in control engineering:
  • the modelling, analysis and control of discrete-time systems
  • the state-space analysis and control design of continuous and discrete systems.
You’ll complete practical activities, designing feedback controllers with Matlab/Simulink for physical systems to achieve desired performance specifications.
We aim to support you for further study in subjects such as industrial automations mechatronics, robot design and implementation. We provide the tools and methods for you to develop your own control systems during MSc projects.
Topics include:
  • modelling and control of linear systems including transfer functions, block diagrams, PID algorithm
  • modelling of discrete-time systems: discrete transforms
  • discrete systems analysis: Jury criterion, performances of discrete systems
  • synthesis of discrete controllers for continuous systems
  • analysis of system and control design using state-space (continuous and discrete): controllability, observability, stability, full state feedback, pole placement method
  • nonlinear systems: linearized model of nonlinear systems around equilibrium points
  • introduction to modern control strategies: State estimator, optimal control (LQR).

Teaching

48%: Lecture
52%: Practical (Laboratory, Project, Workshop)

Assessment

50%: Coursework (Group submission (written), Test)
50%: Examination (Unseen examination)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 46 hours of contact time and about 104 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.

We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.