Analysis of Dynamic Systems

Schedule:

  • Getting started
  • Introduction
  • Mathematical bases
  • Bode diagrams
  • Modeling with linear elements
  • State variables
  • Block diagrams
  • Time response
  • Frequency response
  • Stability
  • Root Locus
  • Final project
  • Course evaluation

Introduction

Course Notebook

Download the master file, unzip it to a place on the hard disk easy to find (I recommend the root of the hard disk, or a folder called c:/temp), and from inside the folder run:

ipython notebook

You'll be fine from there...

Control Systems

A system can behave in many ways, output variables can have different goals, for example:

  • Get to the destination in the shortest time.
  • Get to the destination in the shortest time and with the minimum consumption.

In [1]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig1.svg')


Out[1]:
image/svg+xml Control system Goals Inputs Outputs Results u c

Almost every aspect of everyday life is affected by some kind of control system.

The basic elements of a control system are:

  • Control goals
  • System components
  • Results

Purpose of the control: To control the outputs c in a predetermined way, by means of the inputs u and the control system.

Feedback: Its function is to reduce the error between the reference input and the output. It also ensures stability.

Plant: is the combination of process and actuator. A plant is often referred to with a transfer function (in the s-domain) which indicates the relation between an input signal and the output signal of a system without feedback, commonly determined by physical properties of the system.

Open-loop control systems


In [2]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig2.svg')


Out[2]:
image/svg+xml Control u c Plant r Reference Controlsignal Controlledvariable

Example: A washing machine. The wash cycle is determined by the user's criteria. There are no sensors that measure the degree of cleaning of clothes.

Closed-loop control systems


In [3]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig3.svg')


Out[3]:
image/svg+xml Control u c Plant r Reference Controlsignal Controlledvariable Transducer Disturbances Error e + _

Uses feedback from the output to the input.


In [4]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig4.svg')


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image/svg+xml t r Open-loop Variable Disturbance Closed-loop

For example, what happens in an elevator in both cases? And in the system of opening and closing of a door?

The feedback has the following goals:

  • Reduce error between reference input and output.
  • Ensure stability.

Many times a physical plant can have feedback when analyzed in detail. When the variables of a system exhibit a closed sequence of cause and effect relationships, the system has feedback (input and output are related). For example, for the system:


In [5]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig5.svg')


Out[5]:
image/svg+xml c G r H e + _

It can be shown that its transfer function is:

$$\frac{c}{r} = \frac{G}{1+GH}$$

Effect of feedback on gain: From the above equation it is observed that the gain of the system is affected by a factor of $1+GH$. $G$ and $H$ are functions of the frequency, so that the gain can increase in some frequencies and decrease in others.

Effect of feedback on stability: Stability is a concept that indicates the ability of a system to follow a control input. A system is unstable when its output is out of control or increases without limits. Again let's look at the equation when $GH = -1$. The output of the system is infinite for any finite input. Therefore, it can be said that feedback can cause instability in a system. It should be noted that this is not the only condition of instability.

If the plant has $GH = -1$, and it is inevitable, it is possible to add another feedback loop, obtaining a new transfer function. Therefore, the global system can be stable if $F$ is properly selected.


In [6]:
from IPython.display import SVG
SVG('img/intro_fig6.svg')


Out[6]:
image/svg+xml c G H e + _ F r + _
$$\frac{c}{r} = \frac{\frac{G}{1+GH}}{1+\frac{GF}{1+GH}} = \frac{\frac{G}{1+GH}}{\frac{1+GH+GF}{1+GH}}$$
$$\frac{c}{r} = \frac{G}{1+GH+GF}$$

In general feedback has effects on performance, bandwidth, impedance, time response and frequency response.

Types of control systems

  • According to the method of analysis and design
    • Linear: A system based on the use of a linear operator.
    • Nonlinear
    • Time-invariant (TIV): System whose output does not depend explicitly upon time.
    • Time-variant (TV): Its outputs depend explicitly upon time.
    • If a time-invariant system is also linear, it is a LTI system (linear time-invariant).
  • According to the types of signals:
    • Continuous systems
    • Discrete systems
  • According to the components of the system
    • Electromechanical
    • Hydraulic
    • Biological
    • ...
  • According to its main purpose
    • Position system
    • Speed system
    • ...