System Dynamics

Why is System Dynamics Important?

 

Stack of Sys D Books

Textbook (not required)

We will not have a required textbook this semester! All the material for this course will be covered during lectures completely. But, if you are like me and would like a book for reference/addition resource than I would suggest any of the books in the picture above (find the cheapest edition that you can find). You will notice that the left column of books are all System Dynamics books and on the right (and center) are either Signal Processing or Control books.

If you would like a book that is primarily a System Dynamics book, that follows closely with this class, than Ogata’s book is probably my favorite but any will work:

  1. System Dynamics by Ogata
  2. Dynamic Systems by Kluever
  3. System Dynamics by Palm

If you think you are interested in Control Theory (of which System Dynamics is the fundamentals) than take a look at these books:

  1. Modern Control Systems by Dorf
  2. Feedback control of Dyanmic Systems by Franklin
  3. Control Systems Engineering by Nise

If you are interested in signal processing and want to know more about digital/discrete (along with continuous) time systems, check out one of these references:

  1. Engineering Signals and Systems by Ulaby
  2. Signal Processing First by McClellan

 

Topics Covered

(not restricted to this order but will following closely)

  1. Modelling
    1. Laplace Transform
    2. Solving Differential Equations Using Laplace
    3. Mechanical (Translation) Systems
    4. Convolution
    5. Electrical Systems
    6. Mechanical (Rotation) Systems
    7. Block Diagrams
    8. Op Amps
    9. Transducers
    10. Fluid/Thermal Systems
  2. Analysis
    1. First/Second/Higher-Order System Response
    2. Performance Measures
    3. Frequency Response Function
    4. Bode Plots
    5. Fourier Series
  3. Control
    1. Intro to Feedback Control
    2. Steady-State Error
    3. PID Control

 

Grading Breakdown

  1. Individual Work (55%)
    1. Midterm (25%)
      • Tuesday Oct 14th from 7-9 PM in TBD
    2. Final (30%)
      • Monday Dec 8th from 7:30 - 10:00 AM in TBD
  2. Group Work (45%)
    1. Labs (20%)
    2. Homework (20%)
    3. Peer Review (5%)

 

Office Hours

Dr. Ruben: TBD

Yusif: TBD

Nick: TBD

Policies

University Wide Syllabus Information

Read the University Syllabus Statement

Labs

  1. The Labs are intended to reinforce the concepts and tools learning in lecture.  
  2. Labs will be conducted in groups
    1. Each student will be put into a group of 3 people (but maybe 2 if needed)
    2. Initially, groups will be self assembled by students themselves, but Prof. Ruben reserves the right to make necessary adjustments.
    3. Each group member is expected to contribute respectfully and constructively to their teams.  A team member that is not doing so may be removed from the team.
  3. There will be approximately 8 labs (but may be subject to change)
  4. You will have a pre-lab video to watch before each lab.
  5. All but the first lab (which is only simulation) will have an experimental portion where you will need to use the oscilloscope and function generator (aka waveform generator)
    1. See this video for an extensive review of the oscilloscope: VIDEO
    2. See this video for an extensive review of the function generator: VIDEO
    3. bring a USB drive to save your data from the oscilloscope.
  6. Typed Reports are mandatory (Word and Equation Editor):
    1. Introduction
    2. Lab Body with Results (including graphs and images)
    3. See Notes and Rubric on Canvas
    4. Describe enough to fully demonstrate your understating.
    5. DUE DATE: Each Lab is due at the START of the next week’s lab (unless otherwise stated).

Homework

  1. Assignments must be neat, organized and legible.
  2. Show your work enough to fully demonstrate effort.
  3. All assignments will be turned in as a group (same group as your Lab group), so your group will decide how to collate the work that individuals have done to create one document.  That said, I highly recommend that you do not "divide and conquer".  Instead, each member should do all the problems and get together as a group to work together and help each other.
  4. I do not grade on correct answers, just effort.  My hope is that this promote learning over getting the correct answer by any means possible.
  5. Based on previous point, it is your responsibility to review the solutions to check your answers even if you get a 100% on the assignment.  
  6. DUE DATE: Each homework is due at the START or END of lecture on Friday  (unless otherwise stated).

Communication

Questions about the material of the course is welcome and appreciated in lecture... please ask questions during lecture.  If you have HW specific questions, please see the TAs or myself during office hours.  If you have any other questions or concerns, please see me after class to chat in person.  I prefer in-person communication, over email, and your questions will be answered more quickly in this manner.  Again, talking to me after class or in office hours should be your first line of communication before sending me an email.

Grading

  1. You only have TWO WEEKS to question grading from the time the homework\exam\project is returned.
    1. Specifically for exam grade questions, students must write up a detailed document (using Word or other word processing tool, not hand-written) describing the question and hand that printed document along with your graded exam to Dr. Ruben.  It is suggested that you make a copy of your exam to keep.
  2. This will be the final grading scale used for the course. There is no curve. You are not competing against classmates, so help them out if you can! I reserve the right to lower the scale (i.e., make it easier), but I will not raise it.
    • A: 90+
    • A-:87-89
    • B+:85-86
    • B : 83-84
    • B-:80-82
    • C+:77-79
    • C : 74-76
    • C-:70-73
    • D+:68-69
    • D : 63-67
    • D-:60-62
    • F : 59 or below

In-Class Expectations

The following expectations will assist us with the creation of a learning community and a high quality of educational experience. The University of Colorado Classroom Behavior Policy will compliment these expectations:

  1. No cell phones (unless we are using them for some reason)
  2. No laptops (unless approved for taking notes)

Academic Integrity

You will be asked to complete group homework assignments in this course, but it is also expected that you will abide by The University of Colorado Honor Code at all times.

Late Work

No late work will be accepted