Electronics and Control

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• demonstrate a good grounding in the subject area of electronics
• understand the use of design methods applicable in a range of situations other than electronic circuits
• analyse time and frequency domain response characteristics from plots, determine stability and predict responses for modified plots.
• demonstrate a working knowledge of fundamental mathematical tools used in system analysis and design
• demonstrate a working knowledge of the advantages, problems and limitations associated with a range of common digital and analogue circuits.
• appreciate the methods used in experimentation involving electronic circuits
• derive a model, making justifiable assumptions, from a description of a physical system
• apply standard design techniques to achieve satisfactory closed-loop performance
• understand the sensing, elementary machine and control issues surrounding closed loop motor speed control

Electronics

1. Basic AC circuit theory: introduction of frequency response (magnitude and phase) of passive circuits. Introduction of Laplace notation (s=d⁄dt=jω) for system transfer functions.

2. Feedback amplifiers, detailed operational amplifier characteristics (e.g. GBP, phase shift, slew rate). Op Amp circuit designs: amplifiers, integrators, differentiators, simple first order filters (low, high and band pass). Comparison of time and frequency domain analysis of signals and circuits.

3. Review of power supply design. Voltage regulation and protection diodes.

4. Active filter circuit analysis and design, effects of damping, comparison of transfer functions with mechanical system analogies.

5. D to A converters (binary weighted, R-2R ladder). A to D converters (successive approximation, tracking, integrating, examples of algorithm implementation in hardware and software). Introduction to sampling and aliasing.

6. Digital systems: Introduction to microprocessors, interfaces and common digital devices.

Control

1. Introduction to control: open-loop and closed-loop system definitions. Test input functions and their attributes (step, ramp etc.). Design criteria (steady-state error, disturbance rejection, sensitivity, transient response).

2. Modelling of dynamic systems: differential equation.

3. Transfer functions & block diagrams: Laplace transforms/inverse Laplace transforms. Response to initial conditions. Block diagram reduction and manipulation.

4. Transient response: first & second order systems. Simple lags and quadratic lag characteristics (effect of n and ). Pole location and transient response. Partial fractions/graphical solution. Performance criteria .

5. State-space: transformation of transfer functions to state-space form and vice-versa. Draw state-variable diagrams from state equations. Two-input, two-output state-space equations from transfer function block diagrams.

6. Stability: stability criteria, Routh-Hurwitz criterion & gain at crossing of imaginary axis.

7. Controllers: proportional/integral/derivative control action. Steady-state error, system type number, transient response vs. steady-state error. PID controller tuning & velocity feedback.

8. Root locus method: rules for sketching root loci, determination of K for a particular  (closed-loop pole locations), additional zeros and poles (compensation) effect on breakaway points and loci angles.

9. Frequency domain response: magnitude and phase contributions for gain, integrator (differentiator) simple lag and quadratic lag. Plotting of simple systems and gain and phase margin determination, plots for compensators, e.g. lead-lag, lag-lead, PI, choice of K for gain/phase margin.

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching methods employed in the delivery of this module include:

• Lectures, tutorial problems, question sheets, worked examples.
• Supervision for problem solving classes supporting lecture materials.
• Laboratory exercises and reporting

The learning activities include:

• Individual reading of background material and course texts, problem solving and worked examples, supported by material in lectures.
• In-class tests and other formative assessments covering core techniques and principles.
• Problem solving supervision in lectures.

Assessment strategy

Verbal feedback in lectures on tests/examples.

Discussions in tutorials and lab classes.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External