Course content

• Z-transformation and mappings.
• Sampling of continuous signals and choice of sampling time.
• Stability of discrete systems.
• Discretization.
• Implementation of discrete controllers.
• Challanges associated with practical challanges in digital control systems.
• Subjects related to control systems in real time.
• Analog simulation, and basic IO and AD/DA conversion.
• Shared memory synchronization: mechanisms and common causes of errors.
• Synchronization using message passing.

Other topics are also possible.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate can explain

• the relationship between continuous and discrete systems
• how discretization affects the dynamics of continuous systems
• what aliasing is and how it can be avoided
• the different concepts behind AD and DA conversion.
• why discretization of controllers is necessary.
• challenges with digital implementations of real-time control systems.
• what characterizes real-time programming in contrast to traditional programming
• concepts such as multi-thread programming, shared memory and resource allocation.

Skills: The candidate can

• analyze the stability of time-discrete systems
• select the appropriate sampling time for discrete systems
• discretize different variants of PID controllers.
• implement discrete controller algorithms in software
• write robust and maintainable code to develop simple multi-threaded applications in Python
• use lectured mechanisms to solve common synchronization problems

General competence: The candidate wields a combination of theoretical and practical skills within the subject area, providing a base for solving practical problems in a professional setting - and for further education within the subject area.

Digitization: The course contributes by the candidate being able to use modern computer tools as an aid in all the mentioned skills

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, home exercises, Arduino exercises

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

IELET1002 Computer Engineering and IELET2002 Control Engineering, or similar courses

Required previous knowledge

For applications for credentials, approval and incorporating of courses from previous semesters or other institutions' corresponding education programs, each application will be processed individually and the applicant should expect credit reductions for overlapping courses.

Course materials

Lecture notes. Home and group exercises with suggested solutions. Textbooks:

• Fadali, Digital Control Engineering
• Harder, A Practical Introduction To Real-time Systems For Undergraduate Engineering

Credit reductions