Course Title: Automatic Control Systems

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Automatic Control Systems

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

MANU1174

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

115H Aerospace, Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010,
Sem 1 2012,
Sem 1 2013,
Sem 1 2014,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 1 2016

MANU1174

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

172H School of Engineering

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Ben Cheng

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6009

Course Coordinator Email: ben.cheng@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: B251 F03 R017

Course Coordinator Availability: by appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required Prior Study
You should have satisfactorily completed MIET2134 Engineering Dynamics and EEET2255 Electronics before you commence this course. 

Alternatively, you may be able to demonstrate the required skills and knowledge before you start this course.  

Contact your course coordinator if you think you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning.

 


Course Description

This course develops your capabilities in automatic control systems. You will build on prior knowledge of engineering dynamics and electronics to understand the nature and behaviour of dynamic systems and examine the subsequent design of automatic control systems. The course will have three major components:

  1. The mathematical modelling and simulation of basic engineering processes, components and a variety of physical systems, leading to the nomination of Transfer Functions and time responses to standard inputs for dynamic control systems 
  2. Rapidly predicting a system’s Frequency Response to an incoming frequency spectrum and modifying system parameters to meet basic performance specifications. Subsequent System Identification from Frequency response analysis
  3. Improving system performance by using PID controllers and focusing on tuning PID coefficients

Please note that if you take this course for a bachelor honours program, your overall mark in this course will be one of the course marks that will be used to calculate the weighted average mark (WAM) that will determine your award level. 

This applies to students who commence enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. See the WAM information web page for more information.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for:
BH068P23 Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing & Mechatronics) (Honours)
BH086AMH23 Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing & Mechatronics) (Honours) / Bachelor of Business

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for:
BH068 Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing & Mechatronics) (Honours)
BH086AMHDD Bachelor of Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing & Mechatronics) (Honours) / Bachelor of Business (International Business)

1 Knowledge and Skill Base
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
2 Engineering Application Ability
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering solving
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.  


Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Model and simulate linear and non-linear physical systems using basic laws
  2. Rapidly predict a system’s frequency response
  3. Improve an existing system’s performance by using controller actions such as PID controllers


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will be run in a flipped learning mode. You will be actively engaged in a mix of self-directed online and timetabled, face-to-face learning activities (lectorials, lab sessions, quizzes, and assignments). Key concepts and principles will be explained and illustrated in lectorial sessions. Students will gain hands-on experiences via the online lab sessions. Prior to attending the timetabled, face-to-face sessions you will be expected to have completed the specified online activities. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. You will also use equipment and software package(s) in the laboratory remotely. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks:

Assessment Task 1: Lab reports
Weighting: 15%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1

Assessment Task 2: Online quizzes
Weighting: 20% 
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, & 3

Assessment Task 3: Mid-semester online take-home assignment
Weighting: 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, & 2

Assessment Task 4: End-of-semester online take-home assessment
Weighting: 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, & 3

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.