Teaching System Modeling and Feedback Control Systems: A Multidisciplinary Course in Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering

Abstract

This paper presents pedagogy and experiences in teaching system modeling and analysis as well as feedback control systems in the engineering curriculum. The course is a required multidisciplinary course to be offered at the junior level for both electrical and mechanical engineering students. In addition, electrical engineering (EE) students and mechanical engineering (ME) students who pursue an electrical engineering (EE) minor are required to concurrently complete a laboratory course. But regular ME students who do not pursue an EE minor are not required to take the laboratory course. The motivation for offering this multidisciplinary course is to increase learning efficiency for ME students pursuing the EE minor, since there is no need for them to take a dynamic system modeling course and a feedback control system course separately, and to efficiently use faculty resources. Furthermore, the course will enhance a collaboration between EE and ME students. This multidisciplinary course consists of two parts. The first part covers modeling and analysis of dynamic systems, including mechanical, electrical, thermal and electromechanical systems with an emphasis on mechanical system modeling, to meet the ME program requirement; and the second part deals with control system theory and applications consisting of both open loop and closed loop system analysis, and feedback control system design to meet the EE program requirement.