Control systems engineering is one of the most difficult topics in engineering because it involves complex mathematical theories. The learning curve is accelerated by laboratory sessions. However, the relevant equipment and software tend to be expensive and complex. This book describes hands-on laboratory sessions using inexpensive equipment. The book is for undergraduate engineering students; all required material is covered. The last section of every chapter explains the laboratory session. The equipment used in the laboratory assignments is inexpensive, readily available, and compact.
Today, almost all controllers are microcontrollers, of which the Arm Cortex-M 32-bit microcontroller is one of the most powerful. The price is falling rapidly, approaching that of 8-bit microcontrollers. Herein, we use the STM32F429 Discovery board manufactured by STMicroelectronics. The board is equipped with a very powerful microcontroller and is inexpensive. Throughout the book, all necessary code is provided and explained.
The book can serve as a textbook for a course that features laboratory sessions. If students have a good mathematical background, the material may be covered in a single semester. Industrial engineers who are interested in control systems featuring Arm Cortex-M microcontrollers may find the book useful.
