One of the most visual and intuitive tools in control engineering, the Root Locus allows engineers to see how the poles of a system move as a parameter (usually gain) changes. The textbook and its solutions guide students through sketching these plots by hand and interpreting them.
Before you can control a system, you must describe it mathematically. Kuo excels in teaching students how to derive transfer functions and state-space models for mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems.
While Kuo’s text is a standard, it is often compared to works by authors such as Norman Nise (Control Systems Engineering) and Richard Dorf.
Semana típica (6–10 horas/semana):
The textbook is organized to guide students from basic concepts to advanced design techniques. Key chapters include:
The 7th edition introduced several updates and refinements over its predecessors:
This is often the most challenging part of the course. The Solucionario is particularly helpful here, as it shows how to design PID controllers, lead compensators, and lag compensators to meet specific performance criteria.