Course Catalogue

Dynamics and Control UESTCHN3007

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Engineering
  • Credits: 12
  • Level: Level 3 (SCQF level 9)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course introduces the general behaviour of first-order and second-order dynamic systems, and shows how systems can be described by block diagrams. It goes on to analyse the characteristics and performance of feedback control systems, and also introduces a range of techniques including root locus and Nyquist.

Timetable

This course will be timetabled in blocks, typically one week in four with tutorials and on-line support available between each block.

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessment

Examination 75%

Laboratory 25%

 

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

 

Due to the nature of the coursework and sequencing of courses, it is not possible to reassess the coursework laboratory.

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

The aim of this course is to impart an understanding of systems within engineering, concentrating on their dynamics and how they are controlled.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of the course students should be able to:

■ use time domain analysis techniques and concept of stability to estimate the behaviour of first and second order dynamic systems;

■ represent control systems as block diagrams, and hence formulate their overall transfer functions;

■ analyse and estimate the performance of proportional-integral-differential (PID) feedback controllers;

■ use frequency domain analysis techniques, including Bode plots, Nyquist diagrams and the root locus method.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions