Effects of Addition of Poles and Zeros

Figure: Effect of Adding Poles

Figure: Effect of Adding Zero

1. Addition of poles pulls the root locus to the right
2. Additional zero pulls the root-locus to the left

Controller Design
A compensator or controller placed in the forward path of a control system will modify the
shape of the loci if it contains additional poles and zeros.
In compensator design, hand calculation is cumbersome, and a suitable computer pakage is
generally used.

Compensator
PD
PI
PID

Characteristics
One additional zero
One additional zero and a pole at origin
Two additional zeros and a additional pole at origin

Example
A control system has the open-loop transfer function,
A PD compensator of the form Gc ( s )
achieve the performance specification:

G f ( s)

K
; k 1.
s ( s 2)( s 5)

K1 ( s a) is to be introduced in the forward path to

Overshoot less than 5%, settling time less than 2seconds

Determine the values of

K1 and a

to meet the specification.

Original Controller

0.5, P.O. 16.3%

For 0.7, P.O. 4.6%
For

0.7, corresponds to the

controller gain of K 7.13 .
Settling time condition is not
met.

PD compensator design
When PD compensator is used, we actually add a zero in the open-loop transfer function.
Potential locations of zero include:
1. At s 1 ,

2. At s 2 ,

3. At s 3

G (s) H (s)

K1 ( s 1)
s ( s 2)( s 5)

0.7, K1 15, t s 3.9 sec,

Here, the closed-loop pole in the
root locus branch between 0 and -1
dominate the time response with
oscillatory 2nd-order response
superimposed.

G (s) H (s)

K1 ( s 2)
s ( s 2)( s 5)

0.7, K1 12.8, ts 1.7 sec,

P.O. 4.1%

G (s) H (s)

K1 ( s 3)
s ( s 2)( s 5)

0.7, K1 5.3, ts 3.1 sec,

P.O. 5.3%

Summary
Of the three compensators considered, only option 2 meets the performance specifications. The
recommended compensator is therefore, Gc ( s ) 12.8( s 2) .
The time-domain responses for the four conditions are shown in Figure below.

Realization of Compensator using Passive Components

It is not possible to design isolated zero or pole at origin using passive components. In that case
a pair of pole and zero is produced. Compensators may be of four types: Lead compensator, Lag
compensator, Lag-lead compensator, and feedback compensator.
[Cascade compensator]*
A. Lead Compensator

where R1C and

R2

1.
R1 R2

Eo ( s )
R2
R1Cs 1

R
/
Cs
Ei ( s ) R 1
R1 R2Cs R1 R2
2
R1 1/ Cs

s zc
s 1/ R1C
s 1/

s [( R1 R2 ) / R2 ] / R1C s pc s 1/
;

zc

pc

The pole-zero configuration is shown in figure above on the right side. The zero frequency gain
is cancelled by an amplifier of gain 1/ .
B. Lag Compensator

Gc ( s )

R2 1/ Cs
1 R2Cs

R1 R2 1/ Cs 1 ( R1 R2 )Cs

s 1/ R2C
R2
s 1/ R2C

R R2
R2
1/ R2C 1
s R1 R2 s
/ R2C
R2
R1 R2
1 s 1/

s 1/

The pole-zero configuration is shown in figure (a) above.

where, R C and
2

R1 R2
1
R2

C. Lag-lead Compensator

Gc ( s )

1
1
s

R1C1
R2C
2

1
1
1
1

s
R1R2C1C2
R1C1 R2C2 R2C1

s2

s 1/ 1
s 1/ 2

;
s 1/ 1 s 1/ 2

where, 1, 1.
Comparing left and right side we get,

And,

R1C1 1 ; R2C2 2 ; R1 R2C1C2 = 1 2 . Therefore, 1 .

1
1
1
1
1
1

.
R1C1 R2C2 R2C1 1 2 1 2

The pole-zero configuration is shown in figure below.

j

zc2

zc1
pc1

pc2

Cascade Compensation in Time Domain

Here the design specifications are converted to and n of a complex conjugate pairof closedloop poles based on the assumption that the system will be dominated by these two complex
poles and therefore its dynamic behavior can be approximated by that of a second-order system.
A compensator is designed so that closed-loop poles other than the dominant poles are located
very close to the open-loop zeros or far away from the j -axis so that they make negligible
contribution to the system dynamics.
Lead Compensation
Let us consider a unity feedback system with a forward
path transfer function G f ( s ) . Let, sd be the location of
dominant complex closed-loop pole. If the angle
condition at that point is not met for uncompensated
system, a compensator has to be designed so that the
compensated root locus passes through sd . Let the
compensator has transfer function Gc ( s) . Applying angle
condition we get
Gc ( sd )G f ( sd ) Gc ( sd ) G f ( sd ) 180o
or, Gc ( sd ) 180o G f ( sd )

For a given there is no unique location for the pole-zero pair.

Procedure for designing lead compensator is as follows:
1. From specification determine sd .
2. Draw the root-locus plot of uncompensated system and see whether only gain adjustment
can yield the desired closed-loop poles. If not, calculate the angle deficiency, . This
angle will be contributed by the lead compensator.

1
T ; 1
3. Gc ( s ) K c
1
s
T
z
p
4. Locate c and c so that the lead compensator will contribute necessary .
5. Determine K of the compensated system from magnitude condition.
s

If large error constant is required, cascade a lag network.

K

Example 01 Let, G f ( s ) s 2 ( s 1.5) . Compensate the system so as to meet the transient

response specifications: settling time 4 second. Peak overshoot for step input 20% .

2
This specifications imply that, 0.45 and n 1 . M P e / 1 and ts 4 / n
j 1 2
sd 1 j 2.
The desired dominant roots lie at
n
n

-line

sd
2

-19.8

-1.5

The angle contribution required for the lead compensator is,

180 (2 117 75) 129o .
As is large, a double lead network is appropriate. Each section of double lead network will
then contribute an angle of 64.5o at sd .
Let us now locate compensator zero at s 1.7. Join the compensator zero to sd and locate the
compensator pole by making an angle of . The pole is found to be at -19.8.
The open-loop transfer function of the compensated system thus becomes,
8.30( s 1.7) 2
G(s) 2
.
s ( s 1.5)( s 19.8) 2
Dominance of the closed-loop poles (-1 j2) is preserved.

K
. 0.5, n 2.
s ( s 1)( s 4)
The desired dominant closed-loop poles are located at, sd 1 j1.73 . The angle condition
required from the lead compensator pole-zero pair is, 180 (120 90 30) 60o.
G f (s)

Example 02

Place a compensator zero close to the pole -1 at s = -1.2. Join the zero to sd and make an angle of
60 to the left of the line. The compensator pole will be found at -4.95. The open-loop transfer
function of the transfer function becomes,
K ( s 1.2)
G(s)
.
s ( s 1)( s 4)( s 4.95)
The gain K can be evaluated using magnitude condition at sd .
s s 1 sd 4 sd 4.95 1 j1.73 j1.73 j1.73 3 j1.73 3.95
K d d
=
sd 1.2
j1.73 0.2
1.99 1.73 3.463 4.312
K
29.527 30
or,
1.741

zc 1/
pc 1/

0.833
zc
0.2424

0.202
pc

We can select R1 , R2 , C to any suitable value.

Lag Compensation
A lag compensator is used to improve the steady-state behavior of a system while preserving
satisfactory transient response. This compensation scheme is useful where there is satisfactory
transient response but unsatisfactory steady-state response. Let us consider a unity feedback
system with a forward path transfer function of
m

G f (s)

K ( s zi )
s

i 1
n

(s p )

j r 1

The desired closed-loop pole location sd is indicated in figure below. It is required to improve
c
the system error constant to a specified value K e without impairing its transient response. To
accomplish this a lag compensator with pole-zero pair close to each other is required such that it

contribute a negligible angle at sd . Apart from being closed to each other, the pole-zero pair is
also located close to origin.
The gain of the uncompensated
system at sd is given by
sd
j
n
r
Less than 10
sd sd p j
j r 1
K uc ( sd )
.
m
sd zi

a
i 1
For the compensated system, the
system gain at sd is

sd

K ( sd )
c

j r 1
m

s
i 1

sd p j
zi

a
g
b

.
c
uc
As a b , K ( sd ) K ( sd ) . The error constant of the compensated system is given by
m

K K ( sd )
c
e

zi
i 1
n

j r 1

Following the above equation,

zc
K uc ( sd )
pc

z
i 1
n

j r 1

zc
z
K euc c
pc
pc

zc
Kc
uce . Thus, of the lag compensator is nearly equal
pc K e

to the ratio of the specified error constant to the error constant of the uncompensated system.
Procedure for designing lag compensator is as follows:
1. Draw the root locus plot of uncompensated system.
2. Translate the transient response specifications into a pair of complex dominant roots.
Locate these roots in the uncompensated root locus plot.
3. Calculate the gain of the uncompensated system at the dominant root sd , and also
evaluate the error constant.
4. Determine the factor by which the error constant of the uncompensated system should be
increased to meet the specified value. Select a larger value.
5. Select zero of the compensator sufficiently close to the origin. As a guide we may
construct a line making an angle less than 10 with the -line from sd .
6. The compensated pole may be located at pc zc / . The pole-zero pair should
contribute an angle less than 5 at sd .
K

Example Consider the system with G f ( s ) s ( s 1)( s 4) . The system is to be compensated

to meet the following specifications: Damping ratio = 0.5, Settling time ts = 10 sec.,
-1
Velocity error constant K v 5 sec .

4
0.8 rad/sec . Thus, the desired dominant closed-loop poles
10 0.5
are required to be located at, sd n jn 1 2 0.4 j 0.7 .
Using the above data, n

sd
Uncompensated system

-4

-1
compensated system

uc
Now, K uc 0.8 0.9 3.7 2.66 ; and K v lim sG f ( s)
s 0

2.66
0.666 .
1 4

5
7.5 . We take as 10.
0.666
Locate zc on the root locus taking an angle of 6 from sd. From plot, zc 0.1 .
Thus, pc 0.1/10 0.01.
Now, for the compensated system locate the point sd that lies on the -line and the compensated
Now,

c
root locus using angle criterion. For the compensated system at sd K ( sd ) 2.2.
Thus, the open-loop transfer function of the compensated system is,

G(s)

Feedback Compensation

2.2( s 0.1)
.
s ( s 1( s 4)( s 0.01)

Though cascade compensation is quite satisfactory and economical in most cases, feedback
compensation may be warranted due to the following factors:
1. In nonelectrical systems, suitable cascade devices may not be available.
2. Feedback compensation often provides greater stiffness against load disturbances.
The net effect of applying feedback is to apply a zero to the open-loop transfer function, which
is the principal of lead compensation.

Example Consider the system with open-loop transfer function,

K K K
K
G f (s) 2 A f m 2
.
s ( s 10) s ( s 10)

KA

Km
s2

Kf
s 10

(a)

K
s ( s 10)
2

(b)

M P 10%,
ts 4sec.

Reducing the minor feedback loop we get, G ( s )

K
.
s ( s 10 s K )
2

The characteristic equation of the system is 1

K
0.
s 10s 2 K s
3

K ( s 1/ )
0.
s 2 ( s 10)
K ( s 1/ )
.
From this equation we have, G ( s ) 2
s ( s 10)
The previous equation shows that the net effect of rate feedback is to add a zero at s = -1/.
The root locus plot of the uncompensated system is shown in figure below.
It may be rewritten as,

84

-1.1

The desired dominant roots from the given specifications are calculated as, -1 j1.34. (sd- )
The angle contribution of the open-loop poles at this point is -2 x 128 - 8 = -264. Therefore
for the point sd on the root locus, the compensating zero should make an angle of
180 (264) 84o. The 84o line cuts the real axis at s = -1.1. Thus the open-loop transfer
function of the compensated system becomes,
K ( s 1.1)
G(s) H (s) 2
.
s ( s 10)
The value of K at sd is found as, 17.4. The velocity error constant K v is given by,
K
K v lim 2
1/
s 0 s 10 s K
If this K v is acceptable, then the design is complete; otherwise an amplifier is to be introduced
in the forward path outside the minor feedback loop.

KA
A

Km K f
s 2 ( s 10)