Most engineers can derive a transfer function long before anyone shows them how to actually simulate, tune, and verify the controller that transfer function describes. That gap between mathematical theory and a working system is where much of the knowledge gained in the classroom stops being useful.
This book closes that gap.
Rather than separating control theory from computational implementation, it develops both together. You will learn how to model a physical system, analyze its behavior, design a controller, implement that design computationally, and verify that it meets the required performance.
The book progresses from physical modeling and feedback fundamentals through time and frequency domain analysis, classical controller design, state space methods, digital control, state estimation, advanced control, and practical engineering applications.
After working through this book, you will be able to:
- Model translational, rotational, electrical, and electromechanical systems using transfer functions and state space representations.
- Analyze stability and performance using Routh Hurwitz, root locus, Bode plots, and Nyquist methods.
- Design and tune PID, lead, lag, and lead lag compensators from practical specifications.
- Design state feedback controllers using pole placement and build full order and reduced order observers.
- Implement continuous time designs digitally using the Z transform and verify discrete time stability.
- Estimate unmeasured states using Kalman filtering, including the extended Kalman filter for nonlinear systems.
- Apply linear quadratic and robust control methods when systems must perform despite model uncertainty.
Every major method is developed from first principles, demonstrated through complete numerical examples, and paired with its computational implementation at the point where it is introduced. Practice problems include fully worked answers, while clickable cross references connect related concepts throughout the book.
Applied examples include robotic manipulators, autonomous vehicle lateral control, industrial process control, electric motor drives, wind turbine pitch control, and solar maximum power point tracking.
Additional reference material includes a list of symbols, glossary, index, computational quick start guidance, and transform and design specification tables.
This book is designed for upper level undergraduate and graduate engineering students, as well as practicing engineers seeking a computationally grounded reference covering classical, modern, digital, and advanced control methods.
A background in differential equations, the Laplace transform, and linear algebra is assumed. No prior experience with the computational environment used in the book is required.
Learn the theory. Build the model. Design the controller. Implement it. Verify that it works.
