Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years (1.8.2018-31.7.2020), which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After completing the course the student:
- understands what a Networked Control System (NCS) is, identifying the building blocks of control and communications comprising NCSs
- recognizes applications of NCSs, identifying their building blocks
- designs and analyzes simple control systems over different communication channels, building further understanding of the interplay between communications and control
- understands the estimation issues of systems with uncertainties having to communicate over noisy communication channels
- learns when control and estimation problems can be decoupled in such systems
- understands the limitations of the current state-of-the-art and trends in NCSs

Through the course, the student will have the opportunity to improve several skills not related to the knowledge of the field, such as:
- Analytical thinking and problem solving
- learn to search for research reports and articles on his/her project topic
- Team working
- Presentation skills

Credits: 5

Schedule: 19.01.2021 - 25.02.2021

Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Themistoklis Charalambous, Kai Zenger, Kai Zenger

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Themistoklis Charalambous, Kai Zenger, Kai Zenger

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

CEFR level (applies in this implementation):

Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):

Teaching language: English

Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    - Overview of NCSs
    - Communication Systems Models
    - Control Systems Models
    - Models of NCSs
    - Applications
    - Analysis and design of simple NCSs
    - Discussion and analysis of current state-of-the-art approaches in NCSs
    - Trends in NCSs

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Teaching methods:
    - Lectures, invited talks, exercises, homework problems, project assignments, discussions

    Grading:
    - Home assignments
    - Individual projects: presentations
    - Team projects: reports, presentations

    Homework and lectures will help the students develop the knowledge decided in the intended learning outcomes (ILOs), whereas the projects aim at helping the students to also improve their soft skills set in ILOs.

Workload
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course is 5 cr. and, therefore, the total workload of the students will be approximately 135 (5x27) hours:
    - For attending the lectures: (1.5hx10)x2=30h (actual time multiplied by 2)
    - Homework: (6hx3)=18h
    - Individual project (develop, report, presentation): 32h (this time is dedicated to approximately 4h of reading, 17h of development, 6h of report writing, 5h presentation)
    - Group project (develop, report, presentation): 55h (this time is dedicated to approximately 10h of meeting, 5h of reading, 25h of development, 10h of report writing, 5h presentation)

    Contact hours: 24 h
    Independent study: 111 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    The course is new in many different aspects and hence there is no book that covers the material of the course. Lecture slides will be prepared by the teacher to cover part of the material of this course. The material will be based on chapters from several books, survey and seminal papers in the field. More specifically, the following list will constitute the core material for this course:
    - [2015,Book] Analysis and Design of Networked Control Systems (Chapters 1-8)
    - [2015,Book] Communication and Control for Networked Complex Systems (Chapters 1,2)
    - [2012, Book Chapters] Distributed Decision Making and Control (Chapter 3)
    - [2011,Journal paper] The Wireless Control Network- A New Approach for Control Over Networks
    - [2005,Book] Handbook of Networked and Embedded Control Systems (Parts I,IV)

    Exercise sheets will serve for covering case studies and are considered as part of the material of the course. Finally, the students will have to read, implement and present the results of seminal papers in the field. These results are part of the material of the course as well.

Prerequisites
  • Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:

    Basic course in Automation and Control Engineering. Programming skills in Matlab.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Description

Registration and further information