Enhancing classical controls education via interactive GUI design

This column presents a graphical and somewhat automated tool for performing the iteration when using classical control design methods. The graphical user interface is an easy way for students to see the effect of the gain and the compensator pole-zero locations on the closed loop step response. Thus, the tool presented extends the capabilities of classical control design methods as they are currently presented in textbooks. Three examples are given that demonstrate the use and effectiveness of this tool. Furthermore, the Bode plot and the root locus windows are tied together in such a way that students can see how changes to the root locus affect the open loop Bode plot and vice versa.