Introduction to Control Systems Design Using Matlab

Control systems theory is a wide area covering a range of artificial and physical phenomena. Control systems are systems that are designed to operate under strict specifications, to satisfy certain aims, like safety regulations in the industry, optimal production of goods, disturbance rejection in vehicles, smooth movement and placement of objects in warehousing, regulation of drug administration in medical operations, level control in chemical processes and many more. The present work provides an introduction to the fundamental principles of control system's analysis and design through the programming environment of Matlab and Simulink. Analysis of transfer function models is carried out though multiple examples in Matlab and Simulink, analyzing the dynamics of 1st and 2nd order systems, the role of the poles and zeros in the system's dynamic response, the effects of delay and the possibility to approximate higher order systems by lower order ones. In addition, examples are given from the fields of mechanical systems, medically induced anesthesia, neuroprosthetics and water level control, showcasing the use of controllers that satisfy certain design specifications.