OVERVIEW

Automatic control systems represent the fundamental technology for the construction of machines and systems, in all fields of engineering, capable of operating automatically with precision and reliability, without the direct intervention of human operators.

The automatic control systems are based on the concept of feedback and its properties. All systems, both natural (biological, social systems, etc.) and artificial (machines, devices, processes, etc.) perform their function on the basis of feedback mechanisms which, if properly managed, make their functioning effective.

The Automatic Controls subject provides the fundamental elements necessary to understand the operation and properties of feedback control systems and the basis for engineering control systems.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The Automatic Controls Course aims to provide students with: the fundamental concepts underlying the regulation and control of dynamic systems, the basic tools for analyzing the behavior of feedback control systems and for designing simple analog regulators.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This subject aims to provide students with: the fundamental concepts underlying the regulation and control of dynamic systems, the basic tools for analyzing the behavior of feedback control systems and for designing simple analog regulators.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to analyze the characteristics of stability, precision, noise rejection and robustness of linear time-invariant feedback systems with single controlled variable (LTI-SISO). It will also be able to synthesize the regulation function (regulator) for the control of simple LTI-SISO systems.

UNO AGENDA
Automatic Controls and all the disciplines connected to them contribute in a unique, fundamental, and indispensable way to achieving all 17 objectives of the UN Agenda 2030 and are supported by the University of Genoa (see list below).

Quoting Aristotle (Politics, I, 4)

εἰ γὰρ ἠδύνατο ἕκαστον τῶν ὀργάνων κελευσθὲν ἢ προαισθανόμενον ἀποτελεῖν τὸ αὑτοῦ ἔργον [...], οὕς φησιν ὁ ποιητὴς αὐτομάτους θεῖον δύεσθαι ἀγῶνα, οὕτως αἱ κερκίδες ἐκέρκιζον αὐταὶ καὶ τὰ πλῆκτρα ἐκιθάριζεν, οὐδὲν ἂν ἔδει οὔτε τοῖς ἀρχιτέκτοσιν ὑπηρετῶν οὔτε τοῖς δεσπόταις δούλων.

which theorizes the social value and equality connected with the development of automatic systems and automation, it is immediate to conclude that automation in all its forms, based on the foundations of the Theory of Automatic Systems and Controls, provides engineering students with the tools for:

• the development of machines, systems and methodologies that can immediately, directly or indirectly, be used for the sustainable food production and the rational use of water (UN Goals 1, 2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13). 
• the development of machines, systems and methodologies for medicine, welfare and social inclusion (UN Goals 3, 5, 6, 10)
• the establishment in the minds of students of fundamental and unique knowledge that allows them to make decisions, also with the support of data management and organization systems, in complex contexts (UN Goals 4, 9, 16)
• the immediate understanding that knowledge is gender neutral like the tools characterizing the knowledge related to Automatic Controls that are largely agnostic concerning applications (UN Goal 5)
• the development of machines, systems and methodologies for sustainable production, beneficial for society, and respectful of the role of people in the industrial context (UN Goals 1, 3, 7, 9 10, 11, 12, 13)
• the development of machines, systems, and methodologies for the study and sustainable use of resources in extreme environments (UN Goals 1, 2, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15)
• the establishment in the minds of students of fundamental knowledge that allows them to integrate their expertise with that deriving from other disciplines to promote the development of transdisciplinary knowledge intended to strengthen the achievement of all the objectives of the agenda (UN Goal 17)

PREREQUISITES

The technical tools of this subject are based on

•             Fundamentals of Mathematical Analysis and Algebra of Complex Numbers
•             Fundamentals of Systems Theory

Understanding the concepts presented in this subject requires at least a vague idea of how the world around the student works. For this purpose, at least an understanding of the basics of the following disciplines is considered useful

•             Elementary physics (mechanics / electromagnetism)
•             Electrical engineering / circuits
•             Other basic engineering disciplines

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures to introduce the conceptual tools and exercises carried out in the classroom to apply the concepts to case studies and facilitate learning.

Attendance is recommended.

Furthermore, exercises and problems are proposed during the lessons, the development of which is the responsibility of the students. The teacher is constantly available to discuss the solutions proposed by the students.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

•             Introduction to the course
•             Definition of the control and regulation problem
•             Review of complex number algebra and systems theory
•             Examples of open loop and closed loop systems
•             Analysis of the response of LTI-SISO systems in the time domain
•             Analysis of the response of LTI-SISO systems in the frequency domain            
•             Nyquist criterion
•             Root placement method
•             Precision analysis of the response of closed-loop systems
•             Analysis of disturbance and noise rejection in closed loop systems
•             Robustness analysis of closed loop systems
•             Standard controllers (PID)

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Modern Control Engineering, K. Ogata, Prentice Hall

Automatic Control, B. Kuo, Prentice Hall

Course handouts and video lectures (TEAMS code: k0jc71b)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/9273/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written exam consisting in the solution of some simple exercises followed by questions (multiple choice quizzes) relating to the exercises carried out in the first part of the exam.

Students with specific learning disabilities (DSA) will be allowed to adopt specific methods and supports that will be established on a case-by-case basis in agreement with the Delegate of the Engineering courses in the Commission for the inclusion of students with disabilities (as described in the section on Teaching Methods).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The learning outcomes are assessed by means of the exam described in the section "exam methods".

The educational objectives are considered achieved to the extent that the student:

• highlights their knowledge and understanding of the topics taught
• proves capable of correctly communicating one's thoughts in relation to the discussion of problems related to the teaching topics
• demonstrates the ability to correctly use the conceptual and technical tools introduced during the lessons to analyze the behavior of feedback control systems of various kinds and to design simple analog regulators
• knows how to motivate his own statements and choices