Digital Feedback Control Tutorial with Arduino

🚀 Digital Feedback Control Tutorial with Arduino 🤖

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Course Headline: 🎓 Bridging the Gap Between Discrete-Time Systems Theory, MATLAB, and Real-Time Hardware Implementation!

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Unlock the Potential of Your Digital Controllers! 🔓

Learn how to implement real-time digital controllers or compensators on Arduino hardware for feedback control applications! This short tutorial is designed to take the theoretical knowledge of discrete-time systems and controls typically taught in undergraduate and graduate engineering curriculum, and apply them to real-life applications of control systems. 🏫✨

Say goodbye to the typical university project experience that ends with MATLAB simulations and never translates to practical skills. In this course, you'll work your way from understanding sampled-time systems and Z-transforms all the way to C implementation on Arduino hardware!

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📚 Course Description

This engaging tutorial will guide you through the process of designing and implementing real-time digital feedback controllers using the popular Arduino platform. It's an ideal follow-up to your studies in discrete-time systems, control theory, and signals and systems. 📚🎙️

• Why Digital Control? We'll kick off with an exploration of the advantages and importance of digital control in various applications.
• Brief Overview of the Z-Transform: Get acquainted with this critical tool for analyzing discrete-time systems.
• Discretization of Continuous-Time Controllers: Learn how to transform your continuous-time controllers into their digital counterparts using Tustin's Method.
• Implementation of Discrete-Time Systems on Arduino: Bring your theories to life by coding them onto an Arduino microcontroller.
• Digital Controller Design Process (6 Steps): A step-by-step guide to designing a digital controller from scratch.
• Brushed DC Motor Speed Control: Apply what you've learned in a practical project, including obtaining the transfer function of a 34:1 12V gearmotor and designing a digital controller for it.
• Real-Time Implementation on the Arduino: Test your design in real-time with an actual hardware setup.

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🛠️ Supplemental Material Included

You'll have access to comprehensive supplemental materials to support your learning journey:

• Laplace and Z-Transform tables for reference
• MATLAB scripts/files to facilitate your design process
• Arduino code/script for the DC gearmotor speed control demonstration project
• Experiment apparatus schematic so you can replicate the setup at home or in the lab
• Useful links to further reading on the derivation and analysis of controllers

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✍️ Course Syllabus

1. Why Digital Control?
2. Brief Overview of the Z-Transform
3. Discretization of Continuous-Time Controllers (Tustin's Method)
4. Implementation of Discrete-Time Systems on Arduino
5. Digital Controller Design Process (6 Steps)
6. Brushed DC Motor Speed Control: Obtaining the Transfer Function
7. Brushed DC Motor Speed Control: Digital Controller Design
8. Brushed DC Motor Speed Control: Real-Time Implementation on the Arduino

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⚠️ Important Note

Before you enroll, it's crucial to understand that this course is an advanced tutorial designed for students, engineers, hobbyists, and DIYers who already have a solid foundation in discrete-time systems theory, control theory, linear systems and signals, electronics, or Arduino coding. 🕹️👩‍💻

This is not an introductory course; I will not be covering the foundational theoretical aspects of controller design via root locus, frequency-domain analysis, etc. There will be no assignments or quizzes, making this a flexible learning experience for those looking to complement their existing knowledge and skills. 🎓

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👩‍🏫 Who Is This Course For?

This course is perfect for:

• Students: Who are looking to apply theoretical knowledge practically.
• Engineers: Seeking to enhance their skills in digital control applications.
• Hobbyists and DIYers: Eager to build their own real-time feedback control systems.

Enroll now to take your understanding of digital feedback control to the next level with Arduino! 🚀🎉

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Please review the syllabus and course requirements before purchasing, ensuring this course aligns with your current skill set and learning objectives. 📝👀

Course Review: Digital Control Systems with Arduino

Overall Rating: 4.85/5

Pros:

• Exceptional Breakdowns: The course provides clear and understandable explanations, making it easy to apply the concepts learned to real-world applications using Arduino.
• Practical Examples: The use of practical examples in demonstration is highly effective for understanding and motivating the material.
• Concise Lectures: The lectures are very concise, providing just enough information without overwhelming students.
• Bridging Theory and Practice: The course effectively connects theoretical knowledge with practical implementation, which is a significant strength.
• Focused Lessons: The lessons stay on topic, keeping students engaged and focused on the essential concepts.
• Motivational Approach: The approach keeps the lesson lively and motivating.
• Real-World Application: The course demonstrates a real example of how to bridge theory and practice, which is a unique advantage over university courses.
• High-Quality Instruction: Instructor Nabil delivers content that is straightforward and to the point, making learning efficient and effective.
• Fills Gaps in Knowledge: The course addresses gaps between continuous time and discrete time implementation, providing valuable insights for students interested in digital control systems.
• Comprehensive Content: The content provided is useful for those studying electronics engineering or related fields that include control engineering subjects.
• Ease of Implementation: The course is well-suited for implementation in various projects, such as self-balancing robots using STM32 MCU.

Cons:

• Simulation Detail: There is a recommendation for the instructor to provide more detailed steps for MATLAB and Simulink simulations, as well as more detailed explanations about sensors, noise, and PID tuning—especially considering the course is about designing controllers.
• Theoretical Foundations: Some students may require a stronger foundation in the background theory before taking this course to fully benefit from its practical implementation aspects.
• Content Clarity: There is a concern that some students might confuse the practical demonstration with the compensator design in chapter 4, which could be clarified both in the lectures and through mathematical explanations (pole-zero, root locus, Bode diagrams).
• Pacing of Lectures: Some students find the pacing a bit too fast, which may prevent full comprehension of the concepts presented.
• Additional Topics: Students express interest in additional topics such as designing control systems for stepper motors, brushless motors, and constructing plane models. These topics could be included in future courses.

Recommendations for Future Improvements:

• Provide more detailed simulation steps using MATLAB and Simulink.
• Offer a deeper dive into the aspects of sensors, noise, and PID tuning.
• Consider including theoretical explanations through pole-zero, root locus, and Bode diagrams.
• Possibly offer additional courses that cover the design of control systems for more complex applications like stepper motors, brushless motors, plane models, etc.
• Review the pacing of lectures to ensure students have time to digest and understand the material presented.

Final Thoughts: This course is an exceptional resource for individuals with a background in control systems looking to apply their knowledge to real hardware, particularly using Arduino. It's highly recommended but should be approached with a foundational understanding of the theoretical aspects of control systems. The practical nature and focus on implementation make it stand out among other courses, both online and often at universities. With some improvements in detailing certain aspects and potentially slowing down the pace slightly, this course could be an even more valuable educational tool for students and professionals alike.