Preface

Computers now form an integral part of most real-time control systems. With the advent of the microprocessors and microcontrollers in the last few decades the use of computers in control applications has been ever growing. Microcontrollers are single-chip computers which can be used to control real-time systems. Such controllers are also referred to as embedded real-time computers. These devices are low-cost, single-chip and easy to program. Microcontrollers have traditionally been programmed using the assembly language of the target processor. It is now possible to program these devices using high-level languages such as BASIC, PASCAL, or C. As a result of this, very complex control algorithms can be developed and implemented on the microcontrollers.

This book is about the theory and practice of microcontroller based automatic control systems engineering. A previous knowledge of microcontroller hardware or software is not required, but the reader will find it useful to have some knowledge of a computer programming language.

Chapter 1 of the book presents a brief introduction to the control systems and the elements of computer based control systems. Some previous knowledge of the theory of continuous-time control systems is helpful in understanding this material.

Chapter 2 is about system modelling. Modelling a dynamic system is the starting point in control engineering. Models of various mechanical, electrical, and fluid systems are introduced in this chapter.

Chapter ...

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