Control systems engineering is a relatively new field that has grown in importance as technology has advanced. He or she creates, develops, calculates, and implements a large number of complex systems that all work together to complete a task. This includes the electrical and mechanical components of household appliances such as washing machines, as well as the complex systems in automobiles and airplanes.
A general understanding of control systems is required to fully comprehend the job description of a control systems engineer. Most control systems are extremely complicated to design and implement, but a general definition is that a control system is a device or set of devices that is used to control other devices or systems in order to complete a task. An automobile, for example, has electrical and mechanical systems that interact to propel the vehicle. The majority of modern automobiles have both a gasoline and a battery-powered electrical system. For the car to function properly, both of these systems must work together.
A control systems engineer may be responsible for systems that include electrical components as well as mechanical, biological, chemical, and financial components. He or she can specialize in one of these areas or participate in all of them at the same time. He or she will also need a solid grasp of control theory as well as the ability to work with modern computer-aided design tools and software.
Any control systems engineer should become familiar with two major sections of study. There are two types of control systems engineering: modern and traditional. Limited controls are used in the classical theory, which only deals with single-input and single-output systems using differential equations. A differential equation is a mathematical formula for determining a single function from multiple variables. This means the engineer must determine what causes and effects will occur in any given system under various scenarios.
Modern control theory, on the other hand, can handle complex s-domain controllers with multiple inputs and outputs. This is a significant advancement for control systems engineers because it enables them to design complex multi-system units for use in complex devices and machines.
Control systems engineering was not recognized as a distinct field of study until recently. Many universities still include control systems coursework in their electrical and mechanical engineering programs. A control systems engineer might focus on control systems and control theory while studying one of these specific subjects.