Aerospace Control Systems

Catalog description

Design and analysis of feedback control systems for aerospace applications; stability, root locus, time- and frequency-domain, state-space methods. AERSP 460 Aerospace Control Systems (3) This course is an introduction to the design and analysis of feedback control systems as applied to aerospace systems. The course covers control theory that is commonly used in the aerospace industry and presents practical applications of this theory to aerospace systems. The course does not emphasize rigorous mathematical derivation, but instead emphasizes the application of control theory. It provides a comprehensive overview of classical control theory and single-input/single-output (SISO) design methods. The course also presents an introduction to modern control theory and multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) design methods. Aerospace examples and applications are emphasized throughout the course.The course builds upon a required junior-level course in system dynamics and controls ( AERSP 304 ), which provides students with basic dynamic system theory and a brief introduction to feedback control. The course also supplements required senior-level courses in either aircraft or spacecraft dynamics ( AERSP 413 and 450 ) which provides background on vehicle dynamics. AERSP 460 provides an additional level of depth in dynamics and control theory, and prepares students for entry-level work or graduate studies involving the design of automatic control systems for aircraft and spacecraft.