System and Control Theory

6 ECTS credits
160 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1004220BNR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st and 2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

Om te kunnen inschrijven voor Systeem- en controletheorie (6 SP) moet men geslaagd zijn voor Lineaire algebra: stelsels, matrices en afbeeldingen en ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor Complexe analyse: residurekening en integraaltransformaties ofwel ingeschreven zijn in het Voorbereidingsprogramma tot de master in de fotonica. Bachelorstudenten ingenieurswetenschappen, afstudeerrichting elektronica en informatietechnologie (generiek programma en profiel computerwetenschappen) moeten tevens ingeschreven of geslaagd zijn voor het technologieproject Informatie en Communicatietechnologie en voor 1 van de 3 overige technologieprojecten.

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculteit Ingenieurswetenschappen

Department

Electricity

Educational team

Yves Rolain (course titular)
John Lataire

Activities and contact hours

42 contact hours Lecture
24 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

The course consists of two parts.

Part 1: Introduction to system theory. Describing the behaviour of linear dynamic systems (continuous time, discrete time) in the time domain and in the frequency domain. It is also shown how these descriptions can be combined with information from measurements (sampling, discrete Fourier transform, reconstruction).
Part 2: Introduction to control theory considers the analysis (calculus with block diagrams, state-space equations, time response, frequency response, root locus, Nyquis diagram, Bode plot) and design of feedback controllers (state feedback controllers, compensation regulators such as PD, lead, PI, lag, and PID). The concepts introduced in this course are illustrated on a number of practical examples. The course ends with an introduction to digital and nonlinear control.

Course material

Course text (Required) : Systeem- en controletheorie, Deel II: controletheorie, Pintelon, VUB, 2220170010281, 2023
Course text (Required) : System and control theory. Signal and systems, Deel 1: systeemtheorie, Rolain, VUB, 2220170019994, 2023

Additional info

This course is not taught in English!

The course notes are made available in Canvas and printed at the Standaard student shop:

System theory (Inleiding tot de systeemtheorie)
Controletheorie

Literature is mentioned and available at the library of the university.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

General Aims and objectives

Understanding the behaviour of linear dynamic systems and verify this insight by experiments.
Knowing the basic aspects of control theory

Exam requirements

System theory
1. The student understands the behaviour of linear dynamic systems and can describe it in the continuous and discrete time
2. The student masters the relationship between the time and the frequency domain
3. The student understands the sampling process and is able to use the discrete Fourier transforms
Control theory
1. The student understands the basic components of a feed forward and feedback controller and knows their pros and cons.
2. The student can simplify block diagrams.
3. De student kan bode diagrams en Nyquist diagrams interpreteren en aan de hand ervan de stabiliteit van de gesloten lus regelkring voorspellen.
4. The student can interprete Bode diagrams and Nyquist diagrams and use them to predict the stability of the closed loop controller
5. The student can calculate the static error on the step response of a feedback controller and knows how the error can be set to zero
6. The student can draw the root locus and knows how to interprete it for the design of PID controllers.
7. The student understands the pros and cons of the proportional, the derivative and the integral action of a PID controller and how these actions contribute to the control performance and disturbance rejection.
8. The student can design a PID controller conceptually.
9. The student understands the concepts observability and controllability of state-space models and can determine if they are satisfied for a given system.
10. The student can design an observer for a given state-space model.

This course contributes to the following programme outcomes of the Bachelor in Engineering Sciences:

The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences has a broad fundamental knowledge and understanding of

scientific principles and methodology of exact sciences with the specificity of their application to engineering;
integrated design methods according to customer and user needs with the ability to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding of other engineering disciplines to support the own specialisation engineering one;
fundamental, basic methods and theories to schematize and model problems or processes.

The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences can

monitor, interpret and apply the results of analysis and modelling in order to bring about continuous improvement;
apply an horizontal broadening and vertical deepening of the discipline within a continuously changing society and industrial context, in a multi-disciplinary environment;
reason in a logical, abstract and critical way;

The Bachelor in Engineering Sciences has

a creative, problem-solving, result-driven and evidence-based attitude, aiming at innovation;

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Oral exams incl. lab & exerc. with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: Het examen over het deel systeemtheorie + bijhorende oefeningen wordt afgenomen in de zittijd van het 1e semester. Let wel: afwezigheid op één of meer van de drie onderdelen resulteert in een afwezigheid van het ganse opleidingsonderdeel.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam, closed book,
Emphasis on understanding, reproducing is not enough.

Oral exam System theory	1/3
Oral exam Control theory	1/3
Oral exam Labo+exercises	1/3

Remark: 1/3 of the score on the part Labo+exercises can be set by evaluations during the sessions.

The exam on the part system theory and corresponding exercises are taken in the 1st semester session, the part on control theory and corresponding labo's are taken in the 2nd semester session.

Important note: absence at one or more parts of the exam results in an "absence" evaluation of the whole course.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context