A Low-cost Laboratory Experiment Setup for Frequency Domain Analysis for a Feedback Control Systems Course

Abstract Increasing need in automation systems increases the need for control engineers that have practical experience from their undergraduate education. Having abstract mathematical concepts and condense theoretical materials, Feedback Control Systems classes are not generally well-comprehended by undergraduate students. In this paper, we propose a low-cost laboratory setup for Feedback Control Systems education to support learning of frequency domain characteristics of LTI systems. The proposed setup works based on identification and control of a DC motor and includes Matlab interface to be programmed by high level control design tools such as Simulink. This paper shows how students can experimentally validate the concepts like Bode plots, gain margin, phase margin and delay margin.