Modern Control Engineering

Very good book for control system

Especially considering the price.

The textbook arrived well within the window it was set to be delivered. It came via USPS, not UPS, and that was great because the latter tends to leave packages on my doorstep and it could create risks from thefts, etc.The paperback was in good condition. It is wrapped carefully by the seller and thus well protected and for reading purposes unblemished.Having said that, the recent edition of K. Ogata's excellent textbook seemed like it underwent a considerable transformation. Why? It has got Matlab all throughout as the preferred way of solving problems, whereas in the 1st edition dating back to 1970 or thereabouts, Ogata stressed intuitive understanding - he went through thick and thin to explain classical feedback control theory, the so-called Single-input Single-output (AKA SISO) systems by citing engineering and related examples and took pains to use diagrams to illustration various concepts. To do justice, he included at the end of his early landmark work then (circa 1970) some important analysis for more "futuristic" control analysis utilizing the modern State variable approach, now regarded within the realm of Linear Multivariable Control Systems. This was carefully done with Ogata painfully laying out the usage of vector algebra and multivariate calculus toward the applicable analysis. The positive part was that he avoided the heavy set theoretic and highly mathematical analysis approach which was then quite vogue and considered very much "in-style" during that era – I say that because the mathematical approach may not be appropriate for all readers, be they students, researchers or practicing engineers since they might not always be sophisticated in the abstract mathematical sense.Fast forward some 40+ years, Ogata comes up with his updated textbook. The original edition, I must say, was highly successful and readable for decades, accessible to the average Electrical, Mechanical or Chemical and Nuclear Engineering students hoping to master Control Theory and possibly apply it to his or her field of engineering analysis and design. And, as I said, the textbook was written without becoming heavily involved in abstract mathematics utilizing set-theoretic methods and various "spaces" (Hilbert, Banach, etc.) along with related topological implications. Why? This is because the more abstract mathematical approach can obfuscate the average student who is not all that well-trained in Mathematical Analysis - Real, Complex and Functional. Moreover, those who are frankly disinterested in the heavy use of mathematical artillery would be "turned off" in the aforementioned manner.The plus side of the newer edition appears to be the addition of examples illustrated with Matlab because the latter software package is simply indispensable in the sense modern control engineers cannot do without it. Furthermore, the inclusion of the very important concepts behind Robust Control Theory for Linear Systems seems to add value for his time-honored textbook. Although robustness is not always straightforward and readily explained with intuitive clear examples and related illustrations (or "obvious to the casual observer"), it is necessary to inculcate newcomers to the idea of robustness in control systems undergoing design and development. Much of robustness is connected to theory and more often than not require some degree of mathematical rigor. Another area that is noteworthy is the shift to and some emphasis placed on working examples using PID controllers which are more recently stressed because of their importance in the practical implementation of control design.The down side I must say is the length or "volume" of the 5th edition of the textbook. The relative brevity comes across as a surprise to me. Why? With increased knowledge and almost explosive growth in Control Theory over the last 4 decades come more ideas and newer concepts. The original 1970 textbook has 836 pages whereas the 5th edition here has 902 pages. This is a case where I believe the relative brevity is really uncalled for in the updated edition. Ogata is a fairly inspiring author. Being a Mechanical Engineer and longstanding professor at the University of Minnesota, he has always stressed at explanations the fundamental level with engineering intuition. Even if he often comes across detailed to the point of being tedious, none of his writings and underlying explanations are overdone, obvious, excessive, obfuscating, perplexing, repetitive and verbose. Also, Ogata does not spare pains and effort here in the 5th edition of the textbook here, albeit it is hard for anyone, even he, to expound on Robust Control concepts regardless of the individual author's style. The abstract ideas do show up and in some sense, so Ogata could have polished it further with his clear and lucid technical writing style to render the underlying ideas and concepts more readily understandable, i.e., for the struggling newcomer in the world of control engineering (and people such as I myself who are in need of updating my decades old knowledge and engineering education). In short, the first edition seems more self explanatory and complete with definitely more clarity for an older engineer as me even if the 5th edition covers a bit more material in stressing Matlab usage and PID design as I mentioned before. There is definitely a sacrifice of detailed explanation of underlying ideas in, say, challenging aspects of Nyquist criterion for system stability to allow for room to accommodate Matlab and current design involving PID controllers.All in all, a very good textbook given that author always makes a sincere effort to introduce and convey mostly difficult and often profound concepts to newcomers, particularly students starting to study Control Theory in a modern setting. Henceforth, I view this updated textbook as very decent if definitely unsurpassed relative to his very outstanding work in the original edition.

È come l'originale, costa pochissimo. Questo libro è fantastico per studiare il controllo dei sistemi meccanici e non.

This book was received in excellent condition. It mostly covers PID stuff, but crucially it also covers state space and in using MATLAB, which is what I was mostly concerned with.