Introduction to control system

Prepared by
MD. AHSANUL HOQUE
Asst. Professor, EEE, IIUC

Reference Book: “Control System Engineering” by

Norman S. Nise
Chapter 1, Topics 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
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World: A controlled creature

Control systems are an integral part of modern
society. Numerous applications are all around us:
The rockets fire, and the space shuttle lifts off to
earth orbit; in splashing cooling water, a metallic
part is automatically machined; a self-guided vehicle
delivering material to workstations in an aerospace
assembly plant glides along the floor seeking its
destination. These are just a few examples of the
automatically controlled systems that we can create.
 Definition of Control System EEE-4701
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• A control system consists of subsystems and processes(or plants)

assembled for the purpose of obtaining a desired output with desired
performance, given a specified input. Figure 1.1 shows a control system
in its simplest form, where the input represents a desired output.
• For example, consider an elevator
In figure 1.2

FIGURE 1.2 Elevator response

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Advantage of control system

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We build control systems for four primary reasons:

1.Power amplification: For example, a radar antenna,
positioned by the low power rotation of a knob at the
input, requires a large amount of power for its output
rotation. A control system can produce the needed power
amplification, or power gain.
2.Remote control: a remote-controlled robot arm can be
used to pick up material in a radioactive environment.
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3.Convenience of input form: Control systems can

also be used to provide convenience by changing the
form of the input. For example, in a temperature
control system, the input is a position on a
thermostat. The output is heat. Thus, a convenient
position input yields a desired thermal output.
4.Compensation for disturbances: consider an
antenna system that points in a commanded
direction. If wind forces the antenna from its
commanded position, or if noise enters internally, the
system must be able to detect the disturbance and
correct the antenna’s position.
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Design Process of feedback control system

• Two major configuration of control system are:
 A) open loop system

Figure 1.6 (a)

 B) close loop system

Figure 1.6 (a)

Page: 15, chapter 1, read design process

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• A generic open-loop system is shown in Figure 1.6(a). It starts

with a subsystem called an input transducer, which converts the
form of the input to that used by the controller. The controller
drives a processor a plant. The input is sometimes called the
reference, while the output can be called the controlled variable.
Other signals, such as disturbances, are shown added to the
controller and process outputs via summing junctions, which yield
the algebraic sum of their input signals using associated signs.
Distinguishing Characteristics of open loop system
it cannot compensate for any disturbances that
add to the controller’s driving signal
Example of open loop systems
toasters are open-loop systems
Mechanical System consisting of mass, spring and
damper with a constant force positioning the mass.
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Disadvantage of open loop system-sensitivity to disturbances

and inability to correct for these disturbances
• In close loop system the input transducer converts the
form of the input to the form used by the controller. An
output transducer, or sensor, measures the output
response and converts it into the form used by the
controller. For example, if the controller uses electrical
signals to operate the valves of a temperature control
system, the input position and the output temperature
are converted to electrical signals. The input position can
be converted to a voltage by a potentiometer, a variable
resistor, and the output temperature can be converted to
a voltage by a thermistor, a device whose electrical
resistance changes with temperature.
 Some definitions EEE-4701
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• Transient response: The response which signifies the behavior of a system

starting from initial point to certain duration where system output is almost at
desired level. (see elevator response)
• Steady state response: The response which signifies the behavior of a
system at our desired level.
• Stability: We can give the definition of stability in different point of view. Like
• Definition a : 
A system is stable if its impulse response approaches zero as time approaches
infinity.. 

The system stability can also be defined in terms of bounded (limited) inputs..

Definition b:
A system is stable if every bounded input produces a bounded output.

• We know that, total response of a system is the sum of the natural response
and the forced response. For any linear differential equation their solution
may be as homogenous solution & particular solution.
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• For a control system to be useful, the natural

response must eventually approach zero,
thus leaving only the forced response, or
oscillate. That is, their natural response must
decay to zero as time approaches infinity, or
oscillate
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Design Process of a Control system

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• Now we will discuss what should be the way to

design a system which can be controlled. In this
course we will proceed following the below
steps:
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Step 1: Transform Requirements Into a Physical System

Step 2: Draw a Functional Block Diagram

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Step 3: Create a Schematic

Step 4: Develop a Mathematical Model (Block Diagram)

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• Step 5: Reduce the Block Diagram

Step 6: Analyze and Design