17998 - Automatic Controls

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Gianni Bertoni
  • Credits: 9
  • SSD: ING-INF/04
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Gianni Bertoni (Modulo 2) Gianni Bertoni (Modulo 1)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 2) Traditional lectures (Modulo 1)
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Aerospace Engineering (cod. 0207)

Learning outcomes

The course intends to discuss the fundamental principles of functioning of open-loop automatic control systems and feedback automatic control systems.

Elementary techniques will be introduced, as to:

-analysis of the characteristics of the SISO stationary linear dynamic systems

-synthesis of feedback control systems with examples referring to the control of an aircraft's attitude and route.

-methods of utilization of the main components (actuators and sensors) in control loops.

Course contents

1 General concepts:

-         Historical notes. What automation is

-         Concepts of material manipulation and symbolic manipulation

-         Automatic control systems: open loop control and feedback control

-         Examples of automatic control systems: position, velocity, level and temperature regulators.

2        Mathematical Models:

-   The identification problem

-         Parametric and non parametric identification techniques

-         Differential equations (and equation systems); transformers and anti-transformers

-         Transfer function and impulsive response function

-         Mathematical models of linear and stationary systems of input-output and of input-state-output type.

3        Analysis in the time domain:

- Stability: Lyapunov and Routh criteria

-         Controllability and observability

-         Techniques of reduction of the order of the model

-         Steady state errors

-         Insensitiveness to disturbances and parameter variations.

-         Parameters of the response to a step input

4        Synthesis in the time domain:

-         State observers: identity observer and reduced order observer

-         Pole assignment

-         Root locus; examples

-         Standard regulators: analytic synthesis, Ziegler and Nicols techniques

5        Harmonic response function:

-         Definition; link with  impulsive response function

 Representations: polar diagrams and Bode diagrams; examples.

6        Harmonic analysis:

-         The Nyquist stability  criterion for the stability of feedback systems

-         The  width margins and the phase margins for the analysis of dynamic behaviour

-         M and N constant loci, resonance peak and band width.

7        Control systems components:

-         collector motors: series and independent excitation

-         brushless and step motors

-         Transducer devices:

Position and velocity transducers

Flow and velocity transducers

Temperature transducers.

8        Example of synthesis of an aircraft's autopilot:

      -     Reference systems

-         Mathematical model of an aircraft

-         Autopilot for latero-directional dynamics

-         Autopilot for longitudinal dynamics.

Readings/Bibliography

1)   G. Bertoni, M.E. Penati, S. Simonini: I componenti dell'automazione. Esculapio, Bologna, 2001

2)   M.E. Penati, G. Bertoni: Automazione e sistemi di controllo Vol.I, II. Esculapio, Bologna, 2000

3)   M.E: Controlli automatici. Esercizi e test commentati e risolti. Esculapio, Bologna, 2000

Teaching methods

Classroom lessons with individuation of the fundamental subjects of the course.

Practice sessions during the discussion of the relative theoretical subjects.

 

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

The exam consists of a series of oral questions aimed at verifying the student's understanding of the material presented during lessons and an exercise similar to the exercises presented during lessons.

Teaching tools

Overhead projector and PC

Office hours

See the website of Gianni Bertoni