CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING,(Second 10 gives a brief account of compensator design
Edition), 1. J . Nagrath and M. Gopal, 725 pp, using classical techniques such as Root Locus and PBK, Wiley Eastern, 1982 Price: E7.50 Bode diagrams. Chapter 1 I discusses sampled The book is a typical introductory text on control data systems where basic principles are followed engineering, directed primarily at undergraduate by a brief account of stability analysis. The students and engineers. The authors have attemp- extension of the classical design methods to ted to integrate topics from conventional and sampled data systems is however, given little modern control theory with interdisciplinary attention. readers in mind. This has been partially achieved State space analysis is introduced in Chapter at the expense of depth and at times an in- 12. The design techniques via state space are not complete presentation of the subject is given. treated in any detail except for a brief account of In Chapter I , a brief introduction is followed pole placement. At the end of this chapter the dif- by historical background and examples of typical ference equation model of discrete systems and its applications. Sampled data and multivariable relation with z operator is presented. An systems are mentioned while nothing is said about introduction to optimal control is given in the role of computers with regards to the develop- Chapter 13. Transfer function approach is first ment of control applications. Chapter 2 deals very discussed for both continuous and discrete briefly with mathematical modelling of con- systems. The state variable approach is then used tinuous time systems by differential equations. A to deal with regulator and tracking problems via brief discussion for common physical systems is Pontryagin principles and dynamic programming followed by the introduction of the transfer func- techniques. This chapter is concluded by for- tion, signal flow graph and the block diagram. mulating the Riccati equation for finite-time The role and properties of feedback are discussed regulator problems. Chapter 14 discusses the in Chapter 3 where a brief account of sensitivity nonlinear systems, again in much the same way as analysis is also given. Chapter 4 really contains other standard text books in this field. The complementary material to Chapter 2. Pointing bang-bang type system is mentioned in the con- out the linearization about the operating point, text of nonlinear systems rather than the opti- electrical components such as Servomotors, mality context, Lyapunov and Popov stability Tachometer, Amplidyne and Stepper motors are methods are also presented in the chapter. described. The remainder of Chapter 4 describes This book is on much of the same lines as the hydraulic and pneumatic valves and pumps books written by Ogata, Dorf and DAzzo and followed by an insight into the operation of gyro Houpis. Apart from the typographical errors, the systems. Chapter 5 deals with time response list of references given at the end of each chapter analysis in an unusual manner. Time domain is not sufficiently up to date to make the book specification and simple performance indices are attractive to postgraduate and research students. defined and effects of 3-term control on the time Several interesting examples are given at the response is discussed hence optimum response is end of each chapter which are very suitable for defined. Concepts of BIB0 and asymptotic undergraduate tutorial and laboratory exercises. stability are explained in Chapter 6 by using some Attempts have been made to stress the inter- carefully chosen words and emphasizing the im- disciplinary nature of the subject and indeed the pulse response without mentioning convolution. book could be adopted for a wide range of Mathematical arguments tend to be avoided. A engineering courses. description of Routh-Hurwitz criterion con- On the whole the book is adequate for intro- cludes this chapter. Classical Root Locus and its ducing the students and practical engineers to the properties are presented in Chapter 7. basic principles of control theory. It certainly Chapters 8 and 9 deal with frequency response deserves a place on the shelf and is well worth analysis: basic definitions are followed by the considering when selecting a text book for a first introduction of the Polar and Bode Plots. course in control. The low price of the book is Chapter 9 discusses Nyquist stability criteria, and also an added attraction. the concepts of gain and phase margin. M and N S. D. KATEBI circles are introduced and the Nichols Chart is Shiraz University presented and used for gain adjustment. Chapter Shiraz, Iran