Introduction to ME 446: Automatic Controls 446 - 1

Prof. Neil A. Duffie University of Wisconsin-Madison

Neil A. Duffie, 1996 All rights reserved.

Control Engineering
Control engineering is concerned with the analysis, design and implementation of goal-oriented systems. Goal-oriented systems attempt to either Regulate to maintain systems variables at constant desired values (automobile cruise control, room temperature, etc.) Servo to make system variables follow continually changing desired values (robot motion, missile guidance, etc.)
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What Are Automatic Control Systems?

A control system is an interconnection of components forming a system configuration that will provide a desired system response. [Dorf p. 2] The process is the component (or group of components) to be controlled. The controller is the component (or group of components) that controls the process. Control is automatic if it is accomplished without manual (human) intervention.
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Process
The process outputs are the variables to be controlled. The process inputs are the variables that are manipulated by the controller. Inputs (Manipulations) Process Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output Process
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Outputs

Controller
The controller outputs are the variables that manipulate the process. The controller inputs include the desired values of the process output variables, and may also include the actual values of the process variables (feedback). The objective of the controller is to make the actual values of the process output variables equal to the desired values.
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Single-Input, Single-Output Process Open-Loop Control (no feedback)

Desired Output Manipulation Controller Process Actual Output

Closed-Loop Control (feedback)

Desired Output Manipulation Controller Process Feedback
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Actual Output

Open-Loop Control
Turntable

Desired Speed

Amplifier

DC Motor

(no speed feedback) Desired speed set in terms of amplifier input voltage. (An accurate motoramplifier model is required!)
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Speed errors are not corrected.

Closed-Loop Control
Turntable Desired Speed + -

Amplifier

DC Motor

Tachometer Feedback Desired speed set in terms of tachometer voltage. (An accurate motor-amplifier model is not required).
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Speed errors are corrected.

History of Control System Development

1769 Steam engine governor (Watt) 1868 Governor control analysis (Maxwell) 1927 Telephone amplifier analysis (Bode) 1932 Stability analysis (Nyquist) 1940 Autopilots, gun directors, radar, etc. 1952 Machine tool numerical control (MIT) 1970 State variable models, optimal control 1994 Extensive use of feedback control in automobiles

Why study automatic controls?

Automatic control of industrial processes (chemical, paper, automotive, etc.) is called automation. Automation enables:
less expensive products, more reliable and higher quality products, quick adaptation to changes in markets.

Automatic control is crucial to:

appliances and communication systems, military and aviation systems,
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computer disk drives and printers, etc.

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What is important in a control system?

Response speed Accuracy
dynamic overshoot steady-state error

Stability Robustness
errors in models non-linear and variable process dynamics effects of disturbances
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Course Objectives
Students completing ME 446 should: Understand continuous control theory for analysis and design of control systems. Understand system performance and the influence of control architecture, parameter values, process dynamics. Understand use and utility of computer tools for control analysis and design Understand discrete (computer) control and similarities with continuous control.

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