1.1 A fluid level control system includes a tank, a level sensor, a fluid source and an actuator to control
fluid inflow. Consult any classical control text1 to obtain a block diagram of an analog fluid control
system. Modify the block diagram to show how the fluid level could be digitally controlled.
Reference Water
Level Actuator & Level
Computer DAC Tank
InflowValve
Level
ADC Sensor
Block diagram of water level digital control system.
1.2 If the temperature of the fluid of Problem 1.1 is to be regulated together with its level, modify the
analog control system to achieve the additional control (Hint: an additional actuator and sensor are
needed). Obtain a block diagram for the two-input-two-output control system with digital control.
Reference Water Level
Level Actuator &
DAC InflowValve Tank
Computer
Reference Heater Temperature
Temperature
Level
ADC Sensor Temperature
Sensor
Block diagram of water level and temperature digital control system.
Note that the DAC and ADC can have more than one input and output channel.
1.3 Position control servos are discussed extensively in classical control texts. Draw a block diagram for a
DC motor position control system after consulting your classical control text. Modify the block
diagram to obtain a digital position control servo.
For the angular position sensor we could use a potentiometer, which is often packaged with an ADC to
give a digital output.
1See for example: J. Van deVegte, Feedback Control Systems, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1994.
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, Reference Angular
Position Motor Position
Computer DAC & Load
Angular
ADC Position
Sensor
Block diagram of DC motor digital position control system.
1.4 Repeat Problem 1.3 for a velocity control servo.
For the angular velocity sensor we could use a tachometer, which is often combined with an ADC to
give a digital output. Alternatively, we could use an optical encoder , which has a digital output.
Reference Angular
Velocity Motor Velocity
Computer DAC & Load
Angular
ADC Velocity
Sensor
Block diagram of DC motor digital velocity control system.
1.5 A ballistic missile is required to follow a predetermined flight path by adjusting its angle of attack
(the angle between its axis and its velocity vector v). The angle of attack is controlled by adjusting the
thrust angle (angle between the thrust direction and the axis of the missile). Draw a block diagram
for a digital control system for the angle of attack including a gyroscope to measure the angle and a
motor to adjust the thrust angle .
Fig. P1.1 Missile angle of attack control.
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, Reference
Angle Angle
Computer DAC Thruster Missile
Actuator
Angle
ADC Sensor
Block diagram of digital missile control system.
1.6 A system is proposed to remotely control a missile from an earth station. Due to cost and technical
constraints, the missile coordinates would be measured every 20 seconds for a missile speed of up to
500 m/s. Is such a control scheme feasible? What would the designers need to do to eliminate
potential problems?
If the missile is only observed every 20 seconds with speeds of up to 500 m/s, the missile position
could change drastically between measurements. This makes the control scheme unrealistic. The
missile coordinates need to be measured at a much higher rate.
1.7 The control of the recording head of a dual actuator hard disk drive (HDD) requires two types of
actuators to achieve the required high areal density. The first is a coarse voice coil motor (VCM) with
large stroke but slow dynamics and the second is a fine piezo-electric transducer (PZT) with a small
stroke and fast dynamics. A sensor measures the head position and the position error is fed to a
separate controller for each actuator. Draw a block diagram for a dual actuator digital control system
for the HDD2.
Reference
Position Control Coarse Recording
Computer DAC VCM +
Controller Head
Fine DAC PZT
Controller
ADC Position
Sensor
2J. Ding, F. Marcassa, S.-C. Wu, and M. Tomizuka, “Multirate control for Computational Saving”, IEEE
Trans. Control Systems Tech., Vol. 14, No. 1, January 2006, pp. 165-169.
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