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Control of complex and uncertain systems [Book Review]

address. This transition from theory to practice is often unexpected and difficult. The successful engineer will overcome and master these issues via brain power, trial and error, and the advice of more experienced mentors. Less successful engineers will flounder in this “school of hard knocks,” finding it even more difficult than the university. This book assists with the transition from control system theory to practice. A glance through the table of contents would give the impression that the book covers much of the same material as other undergraduate controls texts, but this is not the case. A closer look reveals the book’s practical emphasis: entire chapters on the topics of tuning, filters in control systems, and delay in digital controllers (not only sample-and-hold delay, but also calculation delay). The book is light on theory and heavy on practice, assuming that the student already has industrial experience or has already gained the requisite theoretical background in a traditional controls course. It offers a seven-step method for developing a system model that can be used for analysis and design. The latter third of the book is dedicated to motion control, with chapters on encoders, motors, drives, and the use of all these elements in position/velocity loops for motion control. The appendices cover several useful topics, such as analog implementation of controller components, a review of basic matrix algebra, and Runge-Kutta-based integration of differential equations (including implementations in both Basic and C). Although the author does not provide end-of-chapter problems, he does present numerous practical examples, all based on his free ModelQ software, a PC-based control system simulator. The emphasis on computer-aided analysis and design is reflected in the book’s subtitle: “Using your computer to understand and diagnose feedback controllers.” A Web page devoted to the book and the software is available at www.qxdesign.com. The book bridges the gap between control system theory and application by emphasizing practical approaches and issues (such as troubleshooting, tuning, and design trade-off issues) throughout the text. Industrial engineers find themselves faced with many control system design options and choices, as well as with having to troubleshoot existing control systems. This book addresses both issues and is peppered with discussions, examples, and simulations that explore the advantages, disadvantages, and trade-offs associated with various control system designs. The author provides insights during these discussions that reveal a broad-based experience in the controls industry. In a university curriculum, this text could be best used for a secondary undergraduate controls course that emphasizes the practical implementation of the primary controls course. In any case, the book is a unique and valuable contribution to present control system literature. Practicing control engineers and technicians will find it an indispensable reference.