Author Topic: Control Systems Engineers  (Read 10916 times)

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Offline aep9690Topic starter

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Control Systems Engineers
« on: May 13, 2013, 03:26:31 am »
I'm just curious if there are any other control systems engineers out there.  I'm about to graduate in December with my Masters in Electrical Engineering specializing in Control System and I got curious.
 

Offline Kremmen

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2013, 07:56:04 am »
Yes there is, at least one. :-+
Been a while since i actually got paid to do control systems design but i do maintain my IEEE society subscriptions still.
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Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2013, 08:37:43 am »
What do a control engineer?
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline Kremmen

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Nothing sings like a kilovolt.
Dr W. Bishop
 

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2013, 03:43:08 pm »
Yeeeees i know "this" answer.

I would like to know the answer from a system engineer.
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline Kremmen

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #5 on: May 13, 2013, 06:05:55 pm »
Hmm, what can i say that wikipedia did not say already? At least i find wikipedia's text matching my training and job description precisely.
If you wanted to know on a personal level, then i have mostly been involved in designing and applying analog and digital control systems for paper production machines and medium to heavy steel industry (continuous casting, steel and color metal rollers, suchlike) as well as various FMS centers. In the early 80's i worked at Stromberg - now part of ABB -  in the team designing and implementing an embedded processor based drive control system for a Valmet double fourdrinier paper machine - the first such one in the world. A personal achievement was a solo design and implementation of a processor based controller for a flying roll splice system for a Wartsila newsprint coater. The coordination of torque exchange and the various mechanical actions was improved over the earlier analog system such that web breaks went down from 1/100 to 1/1000 making the system very popular among clients.
But maybe this was not what you really asked?
Nothing sings like a kilovolt.
Dr W. Bishop
 

Offline gocemk

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #6 on: May 13, 2013, 06:28:56 pm »
 :-+

3 more exams (somewhere in September 2013), and i will earn my B.Sc degree in Electrical Engineering - Control Systems and Automation.

So, another one here.  ;)

 

Offline dr.diesel

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2013, 08:26:48 pm »
13 year Controls Engineer here.

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2013, 09:03:17 pm »
Hmm, what can i say that wikipedia did not say already? At least i find wikipedia's text matching my training and job description precisely.
If you wanted to know on a personal level, then i have mostly been involved in designing and applying analog and digital control systems for paper production machines and medium to heavy steel industry (continuous casting, steel and color metal rollers, suchlike) as well as various FMS centers. In the early 80's i worked at Stromberg - now part of ABB -  in the team designing and implementing an embedded processor based drive control system for a Valmet double fourdrinier paper machine - the first such one in the world. A personal achievement was a solo design and implementation of a processor based controller for a flying roll splice system for a Wartsila newsprint coater. The coordination of torque exchange and the various mechanical actions was improved over the earlier analog system such that web breaks went down from 1/100 to 1/1000 making the system very popular among clients.
But maybe this was not what you really asked?

No no no it's interesting

In a few year i will be in university, so i'd like to know other opportunity (over EE)
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline ee851

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2013, 09:56:32 pm »
Yes, I am also an American control systems engineer.
 

Offline aep9690Topic starter

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #10 on: May 14, 2013, 01:17:32 am »
Yeeeees i know "this" answer.

I would like to know the answer from a system engineer.

There are a lot of things control systems engineers do.  One area is automation which involves making things move from different states to other dates faster and more accurately.  They also deal with modeling aircraft, marine vehicles, orbital mechanics, and other kinds of vehicle dynamics.  They also make things move from different states in optimal trajectories like spacecraft launches and robot arms.  Not to mention modern control engineers are dealing with machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence.

I've had professors that worked on the James Webb telescope, the F22 raptor control system, and humanoid robotics.  Control systems are really everywhere.
 

Offline IanB

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #11 on: May 14, 2013, 02:35:29 am »
Control systems are really everywhere.

Indeed. Control systems are also found everywhere in the chemical process industries, where some characteristics may be large scale multi-input, multi-output systems, extreme non-linearity, and a wide range of time constants from milliseconds to hours or even days.
 

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #12 on: May 14, 2013, 05:01:19 am »
Yeeeees i know "this" answer.

I would like to know the answer from a system engineer.

There are a lot of things control systems engineers do.  One area is automation which involves making things move from different states to other dates faster and more accurately.  They also deal with modeling aircraft, marine vehicles, orbital mechanics, and other kinds of vehicle dynamics.  They also make things move from different states in optimal trajectories like spacecraft launches and robot arms.  Not to mention modern control engineers are dealing with machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence.

I've had professors that worked on the James Webb telescope, the F22 raptor control system, and humanoid robotics.  Control systems are really everywhere.

Look like work where you MUST work for someone else.

Am i right?
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline Kremmen

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2013, 05:57:31 am »
I've had professors that worked on the James Webb telescope, the F22 raptor control system, and humanoid robotics.  Control systems are really everywhere.
Look like work where you MUST work for someone else.
Am i right?

You can be self employed but i guess that does limit the jobs you are likely to get / be able to do. I did some robotics design work and i can say that the nature of the job is such that one individual can spend his/her entire career solving challenges without ever getting a product out the door. Same with things like space and aviation systems. The magnitude of the task makes it a team effort by necessity. So one way or the other you will be working for a company, whether your own or someone else's. Of course there is the possibility of working as a specialist contractor, but you won't start as one, you will graduate to that status.
But then again, the world is full of gadgets with a clever idea or piece of software inside and which are "easily" doable by one man. Off the cuff, take e.g. solar and wind power controllers. Implementing a good, working MPPT controller is less than trivial. On forums like this at times people announce their intentions to build one, but extremely seldom it amounts to anything. That is because you actually do need to know at least the basics of control theory, and you need to be able to handle the math to implement the control algorithms. And that is just one trivial example of things you can do on your own. But that will be a rocky road because not only do you need to be a good systems engineer, you need to be a marketer as well and that is a combination seldom seen in one person.
Nothing sings like a kilovolt.
Dr W. Bishop
 

Offline aep9690Topic starter

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #14 on: May 14, 2013, 06:08:54 pm »
Its a profession where you will work on much more interesting things if you work with other people.
 

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #15 on: May 14, 2013, 09:57:42 pm »
Can you suggest me some good book about control system algorithm (something a bit practical and hands-on)?
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline IanB

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2013, 10:36:10 pm »
Can you suggest me some good book about control system algorithm (something a bit practical and hands-on)?

Unfortunately text books tend to be a bit expensive unless you can find a student edition or a second hand copy.

This one looks like a good introduction:

http://www.amazon.com/Process-Control-Cambridge-Chemical-Engineering/dp/0521002559

It has practical exercises with MATLAB that you could try out (look for a student edition of that, or investigate free MATLAB alternatives like GNU Octave).

Don't be put off by the title referring to chemical engineering (my favorite branch of engineering) since the fundamentals of control are all the same at the introductory level.

(Also, I note you are 17 at present. A university textbook like this could easily get out of your depth, so beware, and don't be dismayed if you find it hard going.)
« Last Edit: May 15, 2013, 01:57:58 pm by IanB »
 

Offline IanB

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #17 on: May 14, 2013, 10:50:12 pm »
Can you suggest me some good book about control system algorithm (something a bit practical and hands-on)?

I need to come back with another reply, so I don't scare you.

Introductory control courses like the book referenced above are usually introduced in about the third year of a university engineering course. The study of control systems design depends on a lot of fundamental engineering concepts and mathematics that are introduced in the first two years. Much of what is in that book you will find very advanced and difficult.

I'm not quite sure of a simple and practical introductory text, but if I come across one I'll post it.
 

Online Smokey

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2013, 11:02:57 pm »
Anything by Karl Astrom.  Just be ready for a seriously dense book.  I'd say they are extremely practical but only if you have already been doing control systems for years and you like theory.  Oh and you better like math :)
 

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2013, 05:20:30 am »
I hate teory, but i love algorithm that i can use in sw.
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline Kremmen

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #20 on: May 15, 2013, 06:18:50 am »
Can you suggest me some good book about control system algorithm (something a bit practical and hands-on)?
I hate teory, but i love algorithm that i can use in sw.
Well, you can't have the cake and eat it too. Control theory _is_ math, you won't get around that fact. Maybe that is one reason why there are not so many control e's around...
Also, practical control systems are much, much more than just "an algorithm" so only studying clever algorithms won't get you very far.

EDIT: I only now noted that your age is 17. While there is nothing wrong in that - we were all 17 once - you are unlikely to have studied the math needed to cover all of the subjects yet. So maybe this one is for later if you decide to continue on this track...

Regarding books, if there is any possibility then get this (it is expensive as hell, but it will get you very, very far):

William S. Levine (ed): The Control Handbook (3 parts) CRC Press
 Control System Fundamentals ISBN 978-1-4200-7363-8  http://www.amazon.com/The-Control-Handbook-Second-Edition/dp/1420073621/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_2
 Control System Applications ISBN 978-1-4200-7360-7 http://www.amazon.com/The-Control-Handbook-Second-Edition/dp/1420073605/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_4
 Control System Advanced Methods ISBN 978-1-4200-7364-5 http://www.amazon.com/Control-Systems-Handbook-Second-Edition/dp/1420073648/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3

This set of books will contain all the algorithms you are likely to ever need.

I inserted the contents list here (just because i can) so you can see the topics covered:

Fundamentals:
SECTION I Mathematical Foundations
1 Ordinary Linear Differential and Difference Equations
2 The Fourier, Laplace, and z-Transforms
3 Matrices and Linear Algebra
4 Complex Variables

SECTION II Models for Dynamical Systems
5 Standard Mathematical Models
6 Graphical Models

SECTION III Analysis and Design Methods for Continuous-Time Systems
7 Analysis Methods
8 Stability Tests
9 Design Methods

SECTION IV Digital Control
10 Discrete-Time Systems
11 Sampled-Data Systems
12 Discrete-Time Equivalents of Continuous-Time Systems
13 Design Methods for Discrete-Time, Linear Time-Invariant Systems
14 Quantization Effects
15 Sample-Rate Selection
16 Real-Time Software for Implementation of Feedback Control
17 Programmable Controllers

SECTION V Analysis and Design Methods for Nonlinear Systems
18 Analysis Methods
19 Design Methods

Applications:
SECTION I Automotive
1 Linear Parameter-Varying Control of Nonlinear Systems with Applications to Automotive and Aerospace Controls
2 Powertrain Control
3 Vehicle Controls
4 Model-Based Supervisory Control for Energy Optimization of Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
5 Purge Scheduling for Dead-Ended Anode Operation of PEM Fuel Cells

SECTION II Aerospace
6 Aerospace Real-Time Control System and Software
7 Stochastic Decision Making and Aerial Surveillance Control Strategies
8 Control Allocation
9 Swarm Stability

SECTION III Industrial
10 Control of Machine Tools and Machining Processes
11 Process Control in Semiconductor Manufacturing
12 Control of Polymerization Processes
13 Multiscale Modeling and Control of Porous Thin Film Growth
14 Control of Particulate Processes
15 Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Batch Processes
16 The Use of Multivariate Statistics in Process Control
17 Plantwide Control
18 Automation and Control Solutions for Flat Strip Metal Processing

SECTION IV Biological and Medical
19 Model-Based Control of Biochemical Reactors
20 Robotic Surgery
21 Stochastic Gene Expression: Modeling, Analysis, and Identification
22 Modeling the Human Body as a Dynamical System: Applications

SECTION V Electronics
23 Control of Brushless DC Motors
24 Hybrid Model Predictive Control of the Boost Converter

SECTION VI Networks
25 The SNR Approach to Networked Control
26 Optimization and Control of Communication Networks

SECTION VII Special Applications
27 Advanced Motion Control Design
28 Color Controls: An Advanced Feedback System
29 The Construction of Portfolios of Financial Assets: An Application of Optimal Stochastic Control
30 Earthquake Response Control for Civil Structures
31 Quantum Estimation and Control
32 Motion Control of Marine Craft
33 Control of Unstable Oscillations in Flows
34 Modeling and Control of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration System

Advanced Methods:
SECTION I Analysis Methods for MIMO Linear Systems
1 Numerical and Computational Issues in Linear Control and System Theory
2 Multivariable Poles, Zeros, and Pole-Zero Cancellations
3 Fundamentals of Linear Time-Varying Systems
4 Balanced Realizations, Model Order Reduction, and the Hankel Operator
5 Geometric Theory of Linear Systems
6 Polynomial and Matrix Fraction Descriptions
7 Robustness Analysis with Real Parametric Uncertainty
8 MIMO Frequency Response Analysis and the Singular Value Decomposition
9 Stability Robustness to Unstructured Uncertainty for Linear Time Invariant Systems
10 Trade-Offs and Limitations in Feedback Systems
11 Modeling Deterministic Uncertainty

SECTION II Kalman Filter and Observers
12 Linear Systems and White Noise
13 Kalman Filtering
14 Riccati Equations and Their Solution
15 Observers

SECTION III Design Methods for MIMO LTI Systems
16 Eigenstructure Assignmen
17 Linear Quadratic Regulator Control
18 H2 (LQG) and H? Control
19 1 Robust Control: Theory, Computation, and Design
20 The Structured Singular Value (?) Framework
21 Algebraic Design Methods
22 Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) Technique
23 Robust Servomechanism Problem
24 Linear Matrix Inequalities in Contro
25 Optimal Contro
26 Decentralized Control
27 Decoupling
28 Linear Model Predictive Control in the Process Industries

SECTION IV Analysis and Design of Hybrid Systems
29 Computation of Reach Sets for Dynamical Systems
30 Hybrid Dynamical Systems: Stability and Stabilization
31 Optimal Control of Switching Systems via Embedding into Continuous Optimal Control Problem

SECTION V Adaptive Control
32 Automatic Tuning of PID Controllers
33 Self-Tuning Contro
34 Model Reference Adaptive Control
35 Robust Adaptive Control
36 Iterative Learning Control

SECTION VI Analysis and Design of Nonlinear Systems
37 Nonlinear Zero Dynamics
38 The Lie Bracket and Control
39 Two Timescale and Averaging Methods
40 Volterra and Fliess Series Expansions for Nonlinear Systems
41 Integral Quadratic Constraints
42 Control of Nonholonomic and Underactuated Systems

SECTION VII Stability
43 Lyapunov Stability
44 Input–Output Stability
45 Input-to-State Stability

SECTION VIII Design
46 Feedback Linearization of Nonlinear Systems
47 The Steady-State Behavior of a Nonlinear System
48 Nonlinear Output Regulation
49 Lyapunov Design
50 Variable Structure, Sliding-Mode Controller Design
51 Control of Bifurcations and Chaos
52 Open-Loop Control Using Oscillatory Inputs
53 Adaptive Nonlinear Control
54 Intelligent Control
55 Fuzzy Control
56 Neural Control

SECTION IX System Identification
57 System Identification

SECTION X Stochastic Control
58 Discrete Time Markov Processes
59 Stochastic Differential Equations
60 Linear Stochastic Input–Output Models
61 Dynamic Programming
62 Approximate Dynamic Programming
63 Stability of Stochastic Systems
64 Stochastic Adaptive Control for Continuous-Time Linear Systems
65 Probabilistic and Randomized Tools for Control Design
66 Stabilization of Stochastic Nonlinear Continuous-Time Systems

SECTION XI Control of Distributed Parameter Systems
67 Control of Systems Governed by Partial Differential Equations
68 Controllability of Thin Elastic Beams and Plates
69 Control of the Heat Equation
70 Observability of Linear Distributed-Parameter Systems
71 Boundary Control of PDEs: The Backstepping Approach
72 Stabilization of Fluid Flows
SECTION XII Networks and Networked Controls
73 Control over Digital Networks
74 Decentralized Control and Algebraic Approaches
75 Estimation and Control across Analog Erasure Channels
76 Passivity Approach to Network Stability Analysis and Distributed Control Synthesis
« Last Edit: May 15, 2013, 07:12:23 am by Kremmen »
Nothing sings like a kilovolt.
Dr W. Bishop
 

Offline RjSa

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2013, 06:52:28 am »
Another Control Systems Engineer here
Check out this book that i think is excellent because it has digital controller implementations based on microcontrollers.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://uc-njavan.ir/MaXUpload/89/0470863358.pdf&sa=U&ei=2zKTUeysEo2Q8wTrtoG4Dw&ved=0CAkQFjAB&sig2=HvIcrbVqAXk0IarHQdofEQ&usg=AFQjCNElRB61g1ZAhG9Lk5GoT3R9VXewJQ
« Last Edit: May 15, 2013, 07:04:15 am by RjSa »
 

Offline ddavidebor

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Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2013, 01:03:45 pm »
Thank you, it's all very interesting
David - Professional Engineer - Medical Devices and Tablet Computers at Smartbox AT
Side businesses: Altium Industry Expert writer, http://fermium.ltd.uk (Scientific Equiment), http://chinesecleavers.co.uk (Cutlery),
 

Offline nuhamind2

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #23 on: May 15, 2013, 03:59:31 pm »
The name already scare me
 

Offline RjSa

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Re: Control Systems Engineers
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2013, 04:49:16 pm »
There is a case study on page 269 which has both theory and software algorithms. Also, the author implements it and shows schematics, response graphs and the code itself.

 


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