Episode 1 - Introduction to Control

In this episode we’re joined by Mitch, who wrote the content in the PID chapter of Experience Controls. We delve into all of the parts that make up this popular control method, starting with On-Off Control and moving through to the proportional, integral, and derivative components. We also discuss some of the issues that you might run into when designing a PID controller, and include a few methods to compensate for them.

In this episode we’re joined by Quanser colleague and friend Thuvishan, who had recently used the Experience Controls app to learn about stability. We discuss the different types of stability, from BIBO to Pole Placement and the Routh-Hurwitz criterion, and give a few real-world examples to cement the theory.

In this episode we discuss how to characterize the response of first-order and second-order systems, from their transfer functions to their general shape. We get into the nitty-gritty of steady-state error, damping ratio, and percent overshoot, and give you a few examples of common systems.

In this episode we discuss how to characterize systems from their inputs and outputs. We go over the different types of systems, and give examples for each type. From simpler SISO systems to more complex examples with multiple inputs/outputs and coupled dynamics, we’ll let you know why identifying what sort of system you’re working with informs your design decisions.

In this episode we discuss one of the fundamental aspects of controls engineering: modelling. From block diagrams and Laplace Transforms to Linearization and experimental techniques, we fill you in on exactly what you need to know about this integral step in the control design process.

In this episode we talk about the essentials of connecting the theory of control systems to hardware. From sensors and actuators, to computers and everything in between we fill you in on what you need to know to create a controller that meets your needs.

This episode presents an introduction to controls systems and what they do. We discuss the key concepts presented in the Experience Controls textbook introduction section including what they are, feedback loops, and the design of controllers.