Syllabus

Professor: Frank Owen, http://www.calpoly.edu/~fowen/, 756 1346, Office: Bldg 13, Rm 223
Texts:
1) Control Systems Engineering: A Practical Approach, Owen, 2011, (available from Prof. Owen)
2) Handbook and Reference for the ME422 Laboratory, Ridgely, 2011 (available at SLO Textbooks)
Prerequisites: ME 318 (this is not a co-prerequisite, i.e. it must be completed before taking ME 422)
Check website and emails regularly for updated information.

No	Date	Topic	Quiz	Reading	Homework (due date)
1	9/19	Intro, Prep for 1st lab		Lab Risks, Introductory Lab in Lab Manual
2	9/21	Introduction to controls		Chapter 1	All problems in Chapter 1
3	9/23	Laplace transforms, ODEs		Chapter 2
4	9/26	Examples, transfer functions, Final Value Theorem		Chapter 2
5	9/28	System modeling, mck-system, PID structure		Chapter 3	All problems in Chapter 2
6	9/30	Block diagrams, electrical systems, multi-loop systems		Chapter 3
7	10/3	Tank systems, linearization		Chapter 3
8	10/5	Fluid power systems, units, OL vs. CL transfer functions	1	Chapter 3	All problems in Chapter 3
9	10/7	First- and second-order step response		Chapter 4
10	10/10	Complex plane and 2nd-order response, char. eq., poles and zeros		Chapter 4	All problems in Chapter 4
11	10/12	Stability		Chapter 5	All problems in Chapter 5
12	10/14	Steady-state error		Chapter 6	All problems in Chapter 6
13	10/17	Root locus - basics, brute-force RL		Chapter 7
14	10/19	Approximate root locus	2	Chapter 7
	10/21	No class - Dr. Owen to conference
15	10/24	Approximate root locus (continued)		Chapter 7
16	10/26	Complex functions - magnitude and angle criteria		Chapter 7
17	10/28	P, PI, PD controllers via RL		Chapter 7
18	10/31	PID via RL		Chapter 7	All problems in Chapter 7
19	11/2	Frequency response - introduction		Chapter 8
20	11/4	Bode plots, Bode from known transfer function	3	Chapter 8
21	11/7	Bode of common components		Chapter 8
22	11/9	Bode of unknown systems, filters		Chapter 8
	11/11	No class - Veterans Day
23	11/14	Gain and phase margins, e_ss from Bode		Chapter 8
24	11/16	PID design via Bode		Chapter 8	Chapter 8
25	11/18	PID design via Bode (cont.)	4	Chapter 8	All problems in Chapter 8, Part 1, Part 2
26	11/21	PID design - practical considerations		Chapter 9
	11/23	No class - Thanksgiving
	11/25	No class - Thanksgiving
27	11/28	PID actions considered separately		Chapter 9
28	11/30	Various forms of PID		Chapter 9	No HW due for Chap 9, Solutions
29	12/2	Review

Homework format: Use 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Write only on one side. Start each problem on a new page.

Note: Homework counts 5% if it is done and handed in on time. No late homework is accepted. It is unacceptable not to do homework and will count severely against you if it is not completed and turned in.

Learning any topic in Mechanical Engineering is a partnership between the professor and student. The amount learned and the degree of retention depends primarily on your involvement in the subject matter. You should be aware already that if your level of effort in a course is low, you are not likely to learn much. To maximize your absorption and retention of material, I require that you read the above class assignments and attempt to do the assigned homework prior to coming to class for that day. Homework assigned for a particular class will be collected at the first of the class period following that for which it is assigned. Occasionally I may check your homework the day it is assigned to make sure that you are attempting to do the homework prior to class. It is your responsibility to make a good attempt at doing your homework prior to the class for which it is assigned.

It is good for you to stay prepared for class, to come to class having read what material is to be covered in the class. When reading the material, if you encounter points that you do not understand, make a note of them--better yet, formulate a question conserning them--and bring that to class in order to pose questions about the points you do not understand. Homework is assigned by chapter. Homework problems are turned in by chapter, the day after the chapter coverage ends. So, for example, you would turn in the homework problems from Chapter 1 on Friday, 23 September, the day we start Chapter 2. Do not wait until the night before they're due to undertake the homework problems for a chapter. Do some work on homework every day.

The lab for this course is mandatory. If you miss lab, you are responsible for what is covered in it. There is a hands-on lab final at the end of the course that is very time-constrained. That is, you must know precisely and immediately how to perform certain tasks, since there is no time to fumble around or experiment to try to discover how one performs the desired task.

Students learn to model physical systems with linear differential equations and transfer functions.
Students understand the errors involved in the linearization of system models.
Students can determine system error, response time and stability.
Students understand the benefits derived by the addition of feedback, together with its disadvantages, such as instability.
Students can characterize systems according to order and type and thus to estimate the probable response to transient and sinusoidal inputs and disturbances.
Students can employ classical control techniques in the analysis of controlled systems.
Students understand the effects of proportional, integral and derivative control actions, together with their combinations on system response.
Students can utilize methods such as Bode plots for designing systems.
Students can use the root locus method for system analysis and design.
Students can use system compensation and compensation elements in design.
Students can use digital computers in the assessment of system response and in parameter selection in design.

Dates	Laboratory
9/20, 22; 9/27, 29	Introductory Lab
10/4, 6; 10/11, 13	Velocity Control & Position Control - Motomatic Lab Manual - Appendix B
10/18, 20; 10/25, 27	Two-Tank or Hydraulic Positioner
11/1, 3; 11/8, 10	Hydraulic Positioner or Two-Tank
11/15, 17	Motomatic Position Control with Velocity Feedback/Single-Tank Control Loop
11/29, 12/1	Lab Final