ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Chapter 1
Introduction to Control Systems

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems
Control engineering is concerned with the analysis and
design of goal-oriented systems.
Control System:
An interconnection of components forming a system
configuration that will provide a desired system response.

Input:
A stimulus, excitation or actuating signal applied to a control
system from an external energy source.

Output:
An actual response obtained from a control system.
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems Applications

The control of an industrial process (manufacturing,
production, and so on) by automatic rather than manual
means is called automation.
Control systems play an increasingly important role in the
development and advancement of modern civilization and
technology.
Practically every aspect of our day-to-day activities is
affected by some type of control systems, including the
following areas:
generation of energy, transmission of energy, communication,
transportation (cars, trains, ships, aircrafts, space crafts), industrial
processes, power systems, instrumentation, Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS), robotics, consumer electronics,
biology, medicine, etc.
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems Examples

Biological Systems: reaching an object (control of
position)
Aircraft Autopilot (control of heading)
Room air-conditioning (Control of temperature)
Vehicles (direction control, speed control)

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems Classification

Open-Loop Control System
This system utilizes an actuating device to control the process
directly without feeding back the output to the system.

Examples: Microwave oven, Ceiling fan, etc.

Conclusion:
Feeding back the output to the control system is then
necessary in a case where there are possibilities of changes in
the output.

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems Classification

Closed-Loop Control System
This system utilizes a measurement of the output and
feedback of this to compare it with the desired response.
Feedback is a method of letting the input know what the
output is doing.
This means feedback can affect the way the control system
works.

Examples: Air conditioner (temperature control),

Automobile (steering control, speed control), etc

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control Systems Classification

A control system is said to be 'closed loop' if it
includes feedback.
A control system is said to be 'open loop' of it does
not contain feedback.
Ref. +
Input

Error
_

Controller

Actuating
signal

Measured output

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Actuator

Process
or
Plant

Actual
Output

Feedback

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Control Systems Components

Process or Plant:
also called the controlled system is the body, process, or
machine, of which a particular quantity or condition is to be
controlled.

Controller: or control device

the component required to generate the appropriate control
signal applied to the plant.

Reference input:
An external signal applied to a control system in order to
command a specified action of the plant.

Actual output: is that quantity or condition of the

plant which is controlled.
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Examples

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Automobile Steering
Control System

Desired +
direction

Error
_

Driver

Actuating
signal

Measured output

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Steering
Mechanism

Automobile

Actual
direction

Visual
sensor

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Fluid Level Control
System

Desired +
level

Error
_

Operator

Actuating
signal

Measured output
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Valve

Fluid Tank

Actual
level

Visual
sensor
Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Human Control System: reaching an object

Desired +
position

Error
_

Brain

Actuating
signal

Measured output
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Muscles

Arm ,
hand

Actual
position

Visual
sensor
Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Watts flyball Governer:

Desired +
speed

Error
_

Flyball
governor

Actuating
signal

Measured output
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

valve

Engine

Actual
speed

Mechanical
linkage
Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Automobile Steering
Control System

Desired +
direction

Error

Driver

Actuating
signal

Measured output

Steering
Mechanism

Automobile

Actual
direction

Visual
sensor

What if there is no driver in the car?

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Control System Example

Autopilot Control System:

Desired +
heading

Error
_

Computer

Actuating
signal

Measured output
ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Rudders,
aileron,
engine

Airplane

Actual
heading

GPS

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Control Systems Examples

Robot control system

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Control Systems Examples

Temperature control system

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Control Systems Examples

Speed control system

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Multivariable Control

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Control Systems Examples

Coordinated Control System for a boiler-generator

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Control System Design

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Control System Design

Control System Design Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Establish the Control Goals

Identify the Control variables
Write the specifications
Establish the system configuration
Obtain a model of the process, the actuator and the sensor
Describe a controller and select key parameters to be adjusted
Optimize the parameters and analyze the performance

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Design Example: Insulin Delivery Control System

Design process:
Control goal: Design a system to regulate the blood sugar
concentration of a diabetic by controlled dispensing of insulin.
Variable to be controlled: blood glucose concentration.
Control design specification: provide a blood glucose level
that closely approximates the glucose level of a healthy person.
Preliminary system configuration:

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali

Chapter 1: Review
Control Engineering
Control systems
Applications
Classification

Components of control systems

Examples of control systems
Design of control systems

ME464-Sys Dyn & Ctrl Spring-2013

Dr. Shaukat Ali