UF EDGE: Control Systems Certificate

Control Systems Certificate

This certificate is designed to prepare for careers related to control systems technologies. Areas
of emphasis include advanced control engineering concepts, state-space representation of
dynamic systems, advanced analytical techniques, linear, optimal, and nonlinear control design
methodologies, state and parameter estimation, as well as robust and adaptive control
synthesis.

Who Should Participate?

Distance Learning Professionals: Working professionals, military members, and students
at other universities worldwide can participate in the Control Systems Certificate through the UF
EDGE distance learning platform. There are no campus visits required to earn this UF graduate
level certification, all course content is online, and the certification and UF transcript earned are
the same online or on-campus.

Campus Students: UF campus students can earn the same certification offered to distance
learning professionals. Campus students wishing to earn the Graduate Control Systems
Certificate on their transcript need to earn a B or better in the required Graduate level courses
on-campus (note: cannot substitute undergraduate courses). Campus students on internship
outside of Gainesville can participate in distance course options; contact the UF EDGE office for
more information.

Application Requirements: Generally to participate, you need a bachelors degree in

engineering, science, technology, or closely related field with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA for
admission to the certificate. All participants must apply online for admission to the certificate.
There is no fee to apply, and no GRE exam is required to earn certificates. The application link
is found on the UF EDGE website at www.ufedge.ufl.edu (look for Certificate Application).

Completion Requirements: Certificate participants must apply for certificate admission,

have to earn a B or better in each certificate course, and fill out a separate free online form with
the UF graduate school during their last semester in a certificate course to earn certification.

Contact Information
For information on how to participate, distance or campus, please contact the UF EDGE office:
Email: edge-admin@eng.ufl.edu Phone: 352-392-9670
For information on course content and professional development outcomes, please contact:
Warren Dixon, Professor, Dept. of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Email: wdixon@ufl.edu

www.ufedge.ufl.edu

UF EDGE: Control Systems Certificate

Certificate Structure
The certificate consists of a total of 3 courses (9 credit hours). Students must earn a B or better
in each of the 3 courses they complete to earn the certificate and must apply for the certificate
by a set deadline during their last semester taking certificate courses.

Course Descriptions
Students choose 3 of the following courses for the Control Systems Certificate:

Control System Theory analyzes dynamic mechanical engineering control systems and also
gives introduction to classical, digital, and state space techniques; modeling, stability, transient
response, and frequency response; considers implementation.
Computer Control of Processes is the introduction to digital computers, sampled data
systems and Z-transforms, control of multiple input-multiple output systems, optimal control,
state estimation and filtering, and self-tuning regulators.
Introduction to Nonlinear Control introduces nonlinear analysis and control systems theory,
Lyapunov-based analysis and design techniques.
Adaptive Control demonstrates control methods for uncertain nonlinear systems, Lyapunovbased robust, adaptive, learning, and estimation-based methods.
Optimal Estimation demonstrates the mathematical basis of parameter and state estimation
methods with applications to mechanical and aerospace systems.
Robust Control Synthesis provides the application of uncertainty modeling and robust controls
to dynamic systems for both analysis and synthesis.
Optimal Control demonstrates that optimizing the performance of a dynamic system is a
problem of great interest in many branches of engineering. In such systems it is desired to
determine the particular input (that is, the optimal control) that optimizes the system
performance subject to constraints on the motion. This course develops the mathematical
framework for optimal control. In addition, an introduction is given on numerical methods for
solving practical optimal problems that typically arise in engineering.

www.ufedge.ufl.edu

UF EDGE: Control Systems Certificate

Intro to Random Dynamical Systems lays the foundation for treatment of various stochastic
systems encountered in science and engineering beginning with the fundamentals of the
axiomatic theory of probability as popularized by Kolmogorov. Emphasis will be laid on the
practice of uncertainty analysis in nonlinear dynamical systems, including the exploration of
numerous existing tools: from statistical linearization and moment closure to the Fokker-Planck
equation.

Distance Learning Option

For worldwide distance learning professionals (or student outside of Gainesville), all courses in
the Control Systems Certificate are offered through the UF EDGE (Electronic Delivery of Gator
Engineering) Program. UF EDGE makes continuing your education possible no matter where
you live or work.
Lectures are available online in streaming and downloadable video, all semester, making it easy
for students to go back and review lectures before exams. Certificate students view courses
online, submit coursework online, and interact with professors using e-mail, phone, and course
websites. Students are never required to travel to campus, and any course exams are
proctored at their place of work and are emailed in for grading. For any questions about the
distance learning process, please contact:
UF EDGE Phone: 352-392-9670 Email: edge-admin@eng.ufl.edu

www.ufedge.ufl.edu