ECE 360 Course Information

ECE 360 Control Systems I (Winter 2024, B1)

Instructor

Dr. Tongwen Chen, Professor in Systems and Control
Office: ICE 11-279
Phone: 780-492-3940
Email: tchen AT ualberta.ca
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 2:00 - 2:30 pm

Prerequisites

ECE 203 (EE 250) Electrical Circuits II and ECE 240 (EE 238) Continuous-Time Signals and Systems

Time Schedule

Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 1:00 - 1:50 pm (NRE 1-001)
Labs: Monday (H11), Tuesday (H21), Wednesday (H31), Thursday (H41), Friday (H51), 2:00 - 4:50 pm

Textbook and References

R.C. Dorf and R.H. Bishop, Modern Control Systems, 14-th Edition, Pearson, 2022. This is the primary text.
G.F. Franklin, J.D. Powell, and A. Emami-Naeini, Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems, 7-th Edition, Pearson, 2014.
N.S. Nise, Control Systems Engineering, 6-th Edition, Wiley, 2010.

MATLAB Software

MATLAB is a popular computation and visualization software package developed by the MathWorks, Inc. In this course, MATLAB will be used together with its Control System Toolbox. The best way to learn MATLAB in the control context is through the web-based Control Tutorials for MATLAB (https://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~tchen/ctm/). The tutorials were developed by Professor D. Tilbury at the University of Michigan and Professor W. Messner at Carnegie Mellon University. The tutorials combine explanatory text with sample MATLAB commands and illustrative plots and graphics. The outline of the tutorials closely follows that of most undergraduate control textbooks, and should be a useful on-line tool for all control stream courses.

Sequence of Topics

TOPIC	TIME IN WEEKS	CONCEPTS TO BE LEARNED
Linear System Models	2	Mathematical models of physical systems, linearization, transfer functions representation.
Time Response and Stability	2	Pole-zero plots, first and second order transient responses, bounded-input, bounded-output (BIBO) stability, Routh-Hurwitz stability criterion.
Block Diagrams and Signal Flow Graphs	1	Block diagrams of systems, block diagram reduction, signal flow graphs of systems, Mason's formula.
Feedback Control System Characteristics	2	Transient response, system specifications and performance analysis, effect of feedback, robustness, error analysis and steady-state analysis.
Dynamic Compensation	1	Effect of adding poles and zeros, feedback compensation, lead-lag compensation.
Root Locus Analysis and Design	1.5	The root locus method, rules for root locus plotting and construction of root locus, root locus design.
Frequency Response Analysis and Design	2.5	Frequency response, polar plots, Bode plots and Nyquist diagrams, stability criterion, gain and phase margins, compensator design in the frequency domain.

Grading Scheme

The overall performance is calculated based on the following:

Assignments	Labs	Midterm Test	Final Exam
15%	25%	20%	40%

Final grades are assigned according to the University of Alberta letter grading system, based on relative class standing in terms of overall performance. Suggested grade distribution will be considered.

Assignments

Weekly assignments are to be given and are due the following Wednesday by 4:00 pm; please scan your solutions into a single PDF file and submit through the eClass Page.
Please note that late assignments will not be accepted unless a legitimate reason (illness, religious conviction, etc.) exists and is discussed with the instructor.
Solutions to the assignments will be prepared by the instructor, but your assignments will be marked by TAs. Solutions will be available on the course eClass Page.

Labs

There are five labs. The lab schedule is as follows:

	H11/Mon	H21/Tues	H31/Wed	H41/Thurs	H51/Fri
Lab 1	Jan 29	Jan 30	Jan 31	Feb 1	Feb 2
Lab 2	Feb 12	Feb 13	Feb 14	Feb 15	Feb 16
Lab 3	Mar 4	Mar 5	Mar 6	Mar 7	Mar 8
Lab 4	Mar 18	Mar 19	Mar 20	Mar 21	Mar 22
Lab 5	Apr 8	Apr 2	Apr 3	Apr 4	Apr 5

All labs are conducted in-person in ETLE5-006 during the period 2:00-4:50 pm by the lab instructors and lab TAs.
The lab instructors and TAs are responsible for marking the lab reports.
Lab reports are due by 4:00 pm, one week after the lab, and should be submitted through the Lab eClass Page.
Lab reports should be neat and clear. They should be collected in a single PDF file.

Test and Exam

There are a midterm test and a final exam:

In the test and exam, you can bring one two-sided formula sheet (8 by 11 in); but no books, class notes, or other materials are allowed.
In the test and exam, only non-programmable calculators (with faculty yellow stickers) are permitted.
The midterm test will be conducted on Friday, March 1, 2024, during the lecture period, namely, from 1:00 pm to 1:50 pm.
The final exam is two-hour long and is scheduled by the Registrar's Office at 9:00 am, Thursday, April 25, 2024.

Plagiarism and Such

The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behavior (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca/) and avoid any behavior which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offense. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar.

Faculty of Engineering Statement on Safety During Learning Activities

"In all Faculty of Engineering courses, labs, seminars or other learning activity, safety is of paramount importance. In some cases, laboratory work in a program requires high standards for risk management to keep potential hazards safely under control. Anyone found to be unable to function safely, due to intoxication, behaviour, or other reasons, in the class, lab, seminar or other learning activity may be asked to leave or be removed for their and the safety of other participants and instructors. As members, or prospective members, of the engineering profession, it is your responsibility to identify and inform the proper authorities of an unsafe work/learning environment."

Last updated January 5, 2024.