Control Systems for the
Electrical FE Exam

by Justin Kauwale, P.E.

Introduction

Control Systems accounts for approximately 6 to 9 questions on the Electrical FE exam. These questions can cover block diagrams, bode plots, closed/open loop responses, controller performance, steady state errors, root locus, stability and slate variables.

The NCEES FE Reference Handbook has a section called Communication Theory and Concepts that is included as part of the Electrical and Computer Engineering chapter. This section is primarily used in Section 14 Communications. However, this area in the FE handbook also covers several bode plots corresponding to common functions, which will also be covered in this section. This will help to jog your memory when asked about bode plots. Bode plots are needed in control systems. The majority of the Control Systems topics in the FE Handbook will be found in the Instrumentations, Measurement and Controls chapter. You will need everything in this section, like the Routh test, transfer function models, steady state error, frequency response, root-locus and control models. There is some overlap with the Laplace Transform from the Mathematics chapter in the FE Handbook, but the Laplace transform was covered in Section 8 Linear Systems.



2.0 BLOCK DIAGRAMS

Block diagrams are used to diagrammatically show a control system. Each block contains either an input variable or a function that processes a variable.



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

3.0 BODE PLOTS



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

4.0 CLOSED-LOOP AND OPEN-LOOP RESPONSE



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

5.0 CONTROLLER PERFORMANCE



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

6.0 ROOT LOCUS



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

7.0 STABILITY



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

8.0 STATE SPACE MODEL



This section is continued in more detail in the technical study guide . Also included are many more practice exam problems.

9.0 Practice Problems

9.1 PRACTICE PROBLEM 1 –



9.2 PRACTICE PROBLEM 2 –



9.3 PRACTICE PROBLEM 3 -



Practice Problems 4 through 8 and all solutions are included in the technical study guide, along with many more practice exam problems.

TOP -->