Computer-aided control system design at Cornell: Student reaction is positive to the incorporation of emerging computer-aided control system design (CACSD) software in the teaching of introductory control systems theory in the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell University

Abstract

The authors report that the availability of CACSD (computer-aided control system design) packages is enriching the practice and teaching of control systems theory. They describe their experience in the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell University in incorporating CACSD tools into the teaching of introductory control systems courses on classical analog control and modern sampled-data control. The students' positive response has encouraged the idea that CACSD tools offer an invaluable reinforcement of the lecture material, an avoidance of the numerical drudgery of many control design problems, and an increase in the simulated `realism' of their homework assignments. The availability of such software and of a classroom video display capabilities has also encouraged an increased number of complex modeling and simulation questions that can now be examined by the students.