This list of graduate courses is current as of January 12, 2007. Please check the Virginia Tech Timetables and the Banner system for up-to-date prerequisite information.
5404: MULTIVARIABLE CONTROL
An introduction to state space control design. The solutions to the linear-quadratic regulator problem, Kalman filtering problem, and the linear-quadratic-Gaussian problem will be examined. The robustness of the resulting control system will be analyzed and the loop-transfer recovery technique introduced. Pre: 5704. (3H,3C) II.
5704: LINEAR SYSTEMS THEORY
Introduction to the theory of linear systems represented by state equations; solutions to state equations, stability, relationship to transfer functions, observability, controllability, state feedback, observers. Pre: 4405 or 4624 or 4634 (3H,3C) I.
5714: ROBUST ESTIMATION & FILTERING
An introduction to the analysis and design of robust estimators and filters. Robustness concepts: qualitative robustness, breakdown point, influence and change-of-variance functions; Robust estimators: M-estimators, bounded influence and high breakdown point estimators: Robustification of the Kalman filter with application to system identification, spectral analysis, and electric power systems. Pre: STAT 4714. (3H, 3C). I.
5724: NEURAL & FUZZY SYSTEMS
Introduction to various structures of artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic systems, as well as special learning mechanisms such as generalized back-propagation, clustering and genetic algorithms. Applications will be made to classification problems, binary associative memories, self-organizing maps, and nonlinear system modeling and control including on-line adaptation. Pre: 5704. (3H,3C). I.
6404: OPTIMAL CONTROL SYSTEMS
Application of dynamic programming and the calculus of variations to optimal control problems. Pontryagins maximum principle and its applications. Advanced optimization techniques. Pre: 5404. (3H,3C) I.
6414: ADAPTIVE CONTROL & NONLINEAR STABILITY THEORY
Survey of approaches to adaptive control, stability in the sense of Liapunov, absolute stability, input-output stability, design of stable adaptive controllers. Pre: 5704 or 5404. (3H,3C) II.
6444: ADVANCED TOPICS IN CONTROLS
Advanced topics of current interest in control theory. May be repeated. Pre: 5404. (3H,3C) I.
6714: SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION
Various approaches to model structure proposition, determination and evaluation for deterministic and stochastic, continuous and discrete, linear and nonlinear systems from port measurements. Applications to communication controls and signal processing. Pre: 5704, 5605. (3H,3C) II.
Advanced Undergraduate Courses Approved for Graduate Credit
4405, 4406: CONTROL SYSTEMS
4405: Introduction to control system design, modeling techniques, root locus analysis and design, Nyquist criteria, frequency domain compensation. 4406: Introduction to sampled data techniques for control system design. Pre: 3704 (C- or better) (3H,3C) I
4406: Introduction to sample data techniques for control system design. Pre: Pre: 4405 (C- or better) (3H,3C) II.
4415, 4416: CONTROL SYSTEMS LABORATORY
Design and implementation of controllers for physical systems. System identification techniques. 4415: Supplements material in ECE 4405. Continuous-time modeling and control. 4416: Supplements material in ECE 4406. Discrete-time modeling and control. Co: ECE 4405 for 4415; ECE 4406 for 4416. (3L,1C) I,II.
4704: PRINCIPLES OF ROBOTICS SYSTEMS
Introduction to the design, analysis, control, and operation of robotic mechanisms. Introduction to the use of homogeneous coordinates for kinematics, dynamics, and camera orientation; sensors and actuators, control, task planning, vision, and intelligence. Pre: 2704, 3534 (C- or better in both) (3H,3C) II.
4734 (ME 4734): MECHATRONICS
Electromechanical system modeling, control, and applications. Design of electronic interfaces and controllers for mechanical devices. Sensor technology, signal acquisition, filtering, and conditioning. Microcontroller-based-loop control and device communications. Sensor and actuator selection, installation, and application strategies. Pre: ECE 2704 and ECE 2504, or: ME 3514. (3H,3C) I.