Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad

Department of ECE
Question Bank for Placement Preparation
Course: B. Tech. Semester: VI
Session: 2023-24 Subject: Control System
Sub. Code: KEC602 Total Questions: 20

Each question carries 2 Marks.

Q.1 How do control systems differ from automation?

Ans- Control systems are a subset of automation. Automation is the creation of machines that are capable
of performing tasks automatically, without the need for human input. The machines are programmed
beforehand and then execute their tasks autonomously, without a human operator.

Q.2 Explain stability and accuracy in control systems?

Ans- Stability refers to the ability of a control system to return to its desired performance after being
subjected to a disturbance or change in the environment. In contrast, accuracy refers to how closely the
output of a control system matches the desired performance. In other words, stability is concerned with
the system's behavior over time, while accuracy is concerned with how well the system is performing at
any given moment.

Q3. What is the effect of positive feedback on the Stability of the systems?

Ans- Positive feedback increases the error signal and drives the system to the instability that is why it is
not generally used in the control system. Positive feedbacks are used in minor loop control systems to
amplify internal signals and parameters.

Q4. What is an order of the system?

Ans- Order of the system is the highest derivative of the order of its equation. Similarly, it is the highest
power of 's' in the denominator of the transfer function.

Q5. What is Servomechanism? Where is Servomechanism used?

Ans- When a specific type of motor known as servomotor is combined with a rotary encoder or a
potentiometer, to form a Servomechanism. In this setup, a potentiometer provides an analog signal to
indicate the position and an encoder provide position and speed feedback.
Servomechanism is used in the control system so that the mechanical position of a device can be varied
with the help of output. Servomechanism is widely used in a Governor value position control mechanism
that is used in power plants to take the speed of turbine and process it using the transducer, and the final
value is taken as a mechanical movement of the value.
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Q6. What is Routh Hurwitz Stability Criterion?

Ans- Routh Hurwitz criterion states that a system is stable if and only if all the roots of the first column
have the same sign and if all the signs are not same then number of time the sign changes in the first
column is equal to the number of roots of the characteristic equation in the right half of the s-plane.

Q7. What is a state observer, and how is it used in control systems?

Ans- A state observer is a device that estimates a system's internal state based on its input and output
signals. The state observer can be used in control systems to provide a more accurate and reliable estimate
of the system's state, which can improve the control system's performance. For example, a state observer
can be used in cases where the system's state is not directly measurable, such as in mechatronic systems,
where the system's internal state may be difficult to measure directly.

Q8. What is the difference between a transfer function and a state-space representation of a
system?

Ans- The difference between a transfer function and a state-space representation of a system are:
Transfer Function State-Space Representation
Represents the relationship between the input Represents the dynamic behavior of a
and output of a system in the frequency domain. system in the time domain.
The system is modeled as a ratio of two The system is modeled as a set of first-order
polynomials. differential equations
Easy to visualize and analyze the system's Easy to analyze the system's stability and
frequency response. time response.
Limited to linear, time-invariant (LTI) systems. Can model both linear and nonlinear, time
invariant or time-varying systems.
Inefficient for analyzing complex, nonlinear More efficient for analyzing complex,
systems. . nonlinear systems

Q9. What is a Bode plot, and how is it used in control systems?

Ans- A Bode plot is a graphical representation of the frequency response of a linear, time-invariant system.
It shows the magnitude and phase of the system's response as a function of frequency and is used to analyze
control systems stability, response, and performance. Bode plots provide the information about the
behavior of control systems, such as the system's natural frequency, gain margin, and phase margin, which
are key indicators of stability and performance.

Q10. What is the difference between time-domain and frequency-domain analysis in control
systems?

Ans- Time-domain and frequency-domain analysis are two different methods used to analyze and design
control systems. Time-domain analysis involves studying the behavior of a system in response to inputs
over time and is typically performed using time-domain simulations or experimental tests. The frequency
domain analysis involves studying the behavior of a system in response to inputs over a range of
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frequencies and is typically performed using frequency-domain simulations or experimental tests. The
frequency-domain analysis is useful for understanding the stability and performance of a system over a
range of frequencies and designing control systems that operate effectively over a range of frequencies.

Q11. What is the principle of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control?

Ans- The working principle behind a PID controller is that the proportional, integral and derivative terms
must be individually adjusted or "tuned." Based on the difference between these values a correction factor
is calculated and applied to the input.

Q12. What are some real-world applications of control theory in engineering and beyond?

Ans- Control theory is applied in various fields, including robotics, automotive systems, industrial
automation, aircraft control, environmental control systems, and even in economics and finance to model
and manage complex systems.

Q13. What are the challenges in control systems design?

Ans- Some of the challenges in control systems design include

• modeling uncertainty and nonlinearity.
• compensating for disturbances and changes in system dynamics.
• dealing with time delays and time-varying parameters.
• ensuring stability and performance.

Q14. What is the Ziegler-Nichols method for tuning a PID controller?

Ans- The Ziegler-Nichols method is a widely used tuning method for PID controllers. It involves applying
an oscillating input signal to the system and adjusting the controller parameters until it achieves a steady-
state oscillation. The method then uses the oscillation frequency and damping ratio to determine the PID
controller parameters. The Ziegler-Nichols method provides a simple and effective way to tune a PID
controller, but it may not provide optimal performance in all cases, and other methods may be preferred
for more complex systems.

Q15. What is the root locus method, and how is it used in control systems?

Ans- A root locus method is a graphical tool used to analyze the stability of control systems. It shows the
evolution of the system's poles as a function of a control parameter and provides important information
about the system's stability. The root locus method can be used to design controllers that provide the
desired performance, such as increasing stability margins, reducing the overshoot, or controlling the rise
time.

Q16. What are the trade-offs between different control design methods (e.g., PID vs. LQR)?

Ans- Different control design methods can have different trade-offs in terms of performance, complexity,
and implementation. For example, PID control is a simple and widely-used method that can achieve good
performance in many cases, but it may not be optimal in all situations. On the other hand, more advanced

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methods such as linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control can provide better performance but may be more
complex to implement and require more detailed system knowledge.

Q17. How can control systems be designed to handle nonlinearities or other complex behaviors?

Ans- Nonlinear control techniques can be used to design control systems that can handle nonlinearities
or other complex behaviors. These techniques may involve using specialized control algorithms,
linearizing the system around a particular operating point, or using feedback to cancel out the effects of
nonlinearities.

Q18. What is the difference between a DCS system, a SCADA system, and a PLC system?

Ans- Distributed control system (DCS) is a computerized system used to control industrial processes that
span a large geographical area.
SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system is a computerized monitoring and controlling
system for industrial processes.
Programmable logic controller (PLC) is a computer system used to manage repetitive industrial processes.

Q19. How can control systems be optimized for a particular performance criterion?

Ans- Control systems can be optimized for a particular performance criterion (such as minimizing error or
maximizing efficiency) by using optimization techniques such as gradient descent or evolutionary
algorithms. These methods can help to find the control inputs that result in the best performance for a given
system.

Q20. Explain the function of smart regulator of the PID controller? Name the types of control
valves that is used in industries and their functions?

Ans- Most of the PID’s are loaded with self-tuning parameters and this feature is known as a smart
regulator. With the help of the smart regulator, the PID can vary the parameters automatically using
intelligent adjustment.
The control valves such as gate, ball, diaphragm, butterfly, and plug valves are used for ON-OFF services.
While certain control valves such as the globe and pinch valves are used for throttling services and the
check valves are used to do the throttling services.