Pre-requisite: 70320
This unit extends the concepts met within the unit "Linear Systems and Control" to cover more sophisticated applications. Digital control is widely replacing analogue methods in control systems. Whereas the Laplace transform is central to the teaching of continuous control theory, digital control system design requires familiarity with the Z-transform for analysing operation in discrete time. The interface between the real, continuous system and the discrete- time digital controller requires a knowledge of the relationship between Laplace and Z transforms and the appropriate use of the zero- order hold. To derive equations for the system to be controlled, the state-space approach is most effective, enabling the system to be simulated in both 'pseudo-continuous' and discrete time. Alternative state-space representations are discussed. When some of the state variables are not available for feedback, an observer must be used to construct them. Observers based on the Kalman filter are taught for continuous and discrete time systems.