Course detail
Theory of Automatic Control
FSI-VZR Acad. year: 2026/2027 Winter semester
Supervisor
Department
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Prerequisites
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
In order to be awarded the course-unit credit students must prove 100% active participation in laboratory exercises. The exam is written and potentially oral. In the written part a student compiles two main themes which were presented during the lectures and solves three examples. The oral part of the exam will contain discussion of tasks and possible supplementary questions.
Attendance and activity at the seminars are required. One absence can be compensated for by attending a seminar with another group in the same week, or by the elaboration of substitute tasks. Longer absence can be compensated for by the elaboration of compensatory tasks assigned by the tutor.
Language of instruction
Czech
Aims
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
The study programmes with the given course
Programme B-MET-P: Mechatronics, Bachelor's
branch ---: no specialisation, 5 credits, compulsory
Programme B-STR-P: Engineering, Bachelor's
branch AIŘ: Applied Computer Science and Control, 5 credits, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
39 hours, optionally
Syllabus
Introduction to automation. Logic control, logic functions, Boolean algebra, expression of Boolean functions, minimization using Boolean algebra rules and Karnaugh maps.
NAND and NOR logic functions, combinational and sequential logic circuits, programmable automata.
Continuous control circuit, Laplace transform, mathematical description of control systems, differential equations, transfer functions.
Impulse and transition functions and characteristics, classification of control terms. Frequency transfer, frequency characteristics in the complex plane and in logarithmic coordinates, poles and zeros, block algebra.
Transport-delay systems, controllers and their dynamic properties.
Stability of the control circuit in general, stability criteria. Steady-state control accuracy.
Cascade control, controller design using the optimal modulus method and the symmetric optimum method.
Quality of control and controller tuning, Ziegler–Nichols method.
Discrete control circuit, sampler, shapers, Z-transform, differential equations.
Z-transfer, discrete impulse and transient functions and characteristics, frequency transfer and frequency characteristics of discrete systems.
Block algebra of discrete systems, digital controllers (positional and incremental algorithms), stability of discrete control circuits in general.
Stability criteria of discrete control circuits.
Review.
Laboratory exercise
8 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
- Logic control (Siemens LOGO!Soft, control of the combination circuit using a programmable logic controller).
- Logic control (control of the sequential circuit using a programmable logic controller).
- Control of a DC motor.
- Tuning of cascade control of the drive.
Computer-assisted exercise
18 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
- Logical Control (Boolean Algebra, Algebraic Minimization of Logical Functions, Block Diagrams, Introduction to Siemens LOGO!Soft).
- Logical Control (Word Problems, Truth Tables, Minimization Using Karnaugh Maps, Combinational Logic Circuits – Simulation).
- Introduction to Simulink.
- Continuous Linear Control (Differential Equations, Transfer Functions, Impulse and Step Responses, Impulse and Step Characteristics, Simulation in MATLAB).
- Continuous Linear Control (Frequency Transfer, Frequency Characteristics in the Complex Plane, Frequency Characteristics in Logarithmic Coordinates, Simulation).
- Continuous Linear Control (Block Algebra, Controllers, Control Loops, Stability Simulation).
- Discrete Control (Discrete Control Loop, Z-Transform, Difference Equations).
- Discrete Control (Impulse and Step Functions, Stability).
- Final Test.