Course detail

Automatic Control Equipment

FSI-VPR Acad. year: 2026/2027 Summer semester

The course provides a basic overview of instrumentation and software tools used in the automatic control of technological processes. Throughout the course, students will become familiar with electrical, pneumatic, and software tools used in automation, as well as with the transmission of information between these tools, control systems, and visualization and operator interface devices.

Supervisor

doc. Ing. Pavel Škrabánek, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Automation and Computer Science

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Prerequisites

Prerequisites include basic knowledge of automatic control, programming, mathematics, and physics, all at the level covered in previously completed university courses.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Knowledge and skills are assessed through credit and examination.

Requirements for credit: Attendance at exercises, completion of assigned laboratory tasks, and preparation of a written report based on measurements. Attendance at exercises is mandatory; if this condition is not met, each case is assessed individually by the course instructor. Laboratory exercises are evaluated by the instructor based on student activity, and the laboratory report must be submitted and approved.

Requirements for the examination: Completion of a written test covering knowledge gained in lectures and exercises, followed by an oral examination. Answers to questions are graded with points, and the examination is evaluated according to the A-F scale.

Participation in lectures is recommended, while attendance at exercises is monitored. The method of compensating for missed classes is at the discretion of the exercise supervisor.

Language of instruction

Czech

Aims

The aim of the course is to introduce students to electrical, pneumatic, and digital technical tools used for the control of technological processes, as well as to tools for human–machine interaction, data storage, information transfer, and information processing. After completing the course, students will be able to use, configure, and appropriately integrate these tools into control and regulation systems.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-STR-P: Engineering, Bachelor's
branch AIŘ: Applied Computer Science and Control, 5 credits, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Syllabus


  1. Introduction to automation components. Hierarchy of control levels in industrial automation. Signals for transmission and processing of information. Pulse modulation.

  2. Active sensors (thermoelectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, inductive) and passive sensors (inductance-based, Hall-effect, capacitive, resistive).

  3. Electrical signal conditioning using passive and active circuits.

  4. Analog controllers based on operational amplifiers. Digital controllers.

  5. Control elements and actuators. Types of electric motors and servomotors.

  6. Transmission paths and their connectivity. Transmission of analog signals over metallic lines. Digital signal transmission and standards for serial communication over metallic conductors.

  7. Serial communication interfaces for connecting sensors and actuators. Industrial communication buses.

  8. Human–machine interfaces (HMI).

  9. Principles and properties of compressed air. Pneumatic circuit diagrams. Components for the generation and distribution of compressed air.

  10. Pneumatic actuators and control. Types of pneumatic cylinders, motors, and valves.

  11. Electropneumatic components and circuits.

  12. Practical applications of pneumatic technologies.

  13. Review.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Syllabus


  1. Working with electronic measuring instruments (multimeters, generators, oscilloscopes).

  2. System identification.

  3. Passive and active filters.

  4. Various operational amplifier configurations (voltage follower, voltage amplifiers, PID controller).

  5. Control of electric motor speed using pulse-width modulation.

  6. A/D and D/A converters.

  7. Serial signal transmission (e.g., RS-232 and RS-485).

  8. Design of a printed circuit board for a given task.

  9. Basics of pneumatic components, properties, and calculations.

  10. Pneumatic mechanisms and their control.

  11. Practical design and simulation of pneumatic circuits.

  12. Practical design and simulation of pneumatic circuits.

  13. Course credit (assessment).