Course overview
Participants will learn to identify opportunities for feedback and control in their professional context and develop the skills needed to effectively use Matlab and Simulink to analyse and design control systems. They will look at performance specifications and theoretical limits on what can be achieved, as well as discuss sensors and actuators.
Although much of the course will centre on the basic workhorse control algorithm known as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control, participants will also go beyond PID control to explore 'loop shaping' and multivariable control, as well as some standard algorithms, including state feedback, linear-quadratic optimal control, state observers and Kalman filters.
Relevant examples will be drawn from a range of applications to give context to conceptual information and participants will be encouraged to apply their learning to their own work through discussions and project work.
What will I learn?
On this course, participants will learn to:
- recognise needs and opportunities for control in their engineering projects or products
- assess which control method and technology is most appropriate to their project or product
- design and analyse a control solution
- select and use appropriate software tools, including simulation software, to test, validate and iterate their control solutions.
Who is this course for?
This course is aimed at the following roles in industry:
- professional engineers faced with a control engineering problem who need to enhance their knowledge of the field
- managers who have control engineers working for them and who wish to better understand their job role
- individuals wanting to broaden their skill set to enhance their career opportunities.
Course delivery
Our certificated courses reflect the Cambridge experience and values, with low student to tutor ratios and academically rigorous standards. Our learning model is designed to help you advance your skills and specialise in emerging areas that address global challenges. We will help you build your network through an engaging and impactful learning journey that encourages collaboration. Courses are delivered in weekly modules, allowing you to plan your time effectively. The assessment criteria will be presented to you at the start of the course, so you can approach your studies with confidence and motivation, knowing what is expected of you and how to meet those expectations.
Throughout your online learning experience, you will have access to your course tutor, who will help facilitate your learning and provide you with support and guidance during your studies. You can interact with your tutor through a range of media, such as live sessions, discussion forums, email or canvas messaging.
Each course includes a balance of:
- interactive learning and real-world application so you can directly apply what you’re learning to your own context
- diverse teaching methods to enhance learning outcomes which will be delivered via learning activities such as University of Cambridge academic led videos, quizzes and group work
- optional live sessions (1 hour) with University of Cambridge academics and tutors to deepen your understanding of the week's material. These sessions may include an informal Q&A, a short lecture or a breakout activity that builds on the content introduced that week. All sessions are recorded and made available to stream so you can catch up whenever suits you
- guided critical thinking via our reflective workbook so you can collect, structure and summarise information and your thoughts as you progress through the course.
What will I get on completion?
Evidence your learning with a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Cambridge on successful completion. InstMC Approved Training.
