Is a Mechanical Engineering Degree Enough for Controls Theory Courses?

[Jcampuzano2]

Hello PF,

I have been really interested in controls theory, and the applications of controls. I'm currently pursuing an undergraduate in mechanical engineering and in some places I've heard that controls/dynamical systems has lately been more closely related to Electrical engineering but has been switching more to the mechanical side? I don't know if this is correct, but I was wondering if a degree in mechanical engineering would be decent enough preparation for the type of coursework I would be involved in.

 

[Runei]

Its true that control engineering is used a lot in electrical engineering. In many electrical systems we use feedback to control the output and stabilize it.
If you think about it, in robotics the feedback control system will be electronic.
In most industrial plants the control system will be electronic.
But then again, in both of these cases, we are dealing with mechanical actuators.

I would imagine that most places where you see the application of control theory, there is electronic AND mechanical components. So it really is hard to separate the two.

However, I believe your mechanical engineering courses will provide you with enough preparation.

The cornerstone in control theory is understanding Transfer Functions and State Space Analysis, and these can represent ANY dynamic system (electronic or mechanical). So whether you're working on mechanical systems or electronic systems you will be using the same control theory.

I also believe that you will learn some electrical engineering skills in your mechanical engineering courses (at least that's what we do here in Denmark), so you should be able to grasp it all :)

 

[LabGuy330]

I agree with everything Runei as stated above.

Here is some insight from a controls engineer who graduated as an ME.

Yes, systems are controlled by the use of electrical signals and digital processing. However, as a mechanical engineer, the systems you will be controlling are mechanical. With that being said, you will learn the dynamics and mathematical models for such systems during your ME academic career. Mechanical systems made up of mass, springs, and dampeners. Fluid systems made up of pressure, flow, regulators, and valves. Thermal systems made up of heat transfer, turbines, and engines. All of this should be covered in your ME classes, which are not covered in EE classes. The other benefit of having an ME background as you are taught the skills to design and manufacture parts, fixtures, and other components for your system.

The understanding of these math models play key roles in determining their response, and more importantly how to control their response. But it is still absolutely necessary to understand how electrical circuits and processing plays a part in all of this, the basics of which will most likely be taught in one or two classes as an ME. Motor controllers, pump drivers, signal filtering for sensors/transducers, etc are electronic and if you plan on designing these (even if at a basic, low testing level) it is crucial to have a general understanding of circuit components.

Also, most systems are not controlled solely on electronics/mechanics but monitored and digitally controlled through the use of a software/programming interface. I personally use LabVIEW for my work, but their are other avenues such as PLC and embedded processing using C based processors.

You will not learn everything you need to know from a bachelors degree, mechanical or electrical. Taking a real interest and perhaps personal hobby into understanding basic control systems was the most important decision I made in my academic career. I started by controlling the speed of an inexpensive DC motor using a photo interrupter as a tachometer (some things you can read about) and created a LabVIEW program to control and display the response. This is the "go-to" beginner control project.

Anyways I hope these comments help. If you want to provide more info on what exactly you would like to practice as a control engineers we may be able to advise further.

 

[jim hardy]

The math of control systems is oblivious to what equipment performs it. In 1960's we used pneumatic operational amplifier based analog computers for automatic control of boilers.
Three element PID control of feedwater with compressed air? You bet you ! Plus -- It's absolutely impervious to EMI and internet hackers.

I am trying to remember whether my control theory course required any EE type knowledge of circuit theory.
I think it did not - though in circuits we used transfer functions a lot, so were lulled into a false sense of "This'll be easy".

old jim