Undergraduate control education: an ME perspective

This paper describes the contents, emphasis, and challenges of a typical first controls course taught in an undergraduate program in mechanical engineering (ME). Usually, this course is taught in the senior year and builds upon student´s knowledge of differential equations, dynamics, heat transfer, electrical circuits, and machine design. This is the first course that draws upon concepts from all subareas of mechanical engineering. The course is often supplemented by engineering examples and laboratory experiments to illustrate the mathematical concepts applied to physical systems