The Subdisciplines of
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Control Systems

Control is the use of feedback to obtain desired system performance in the presence of uncertainties. Control systems is a broad field, with aspects of the subject appearing in and drawing upon all engineering fields, the physical and life sciences, management and economics, and mathematics. Control systems are found throughout the man-made and natural worlds. Guidance and control of aircraft and spacecraft, control of complex industrial processes such as semiconductor fabrication lines, and automatic regulation of voltage and frequency within narrow limits in large power networks are typical control system examples. Moreover, principles of feedback control and system theory are increasingly important in widely divergent fields outside engineering, such as economics, business, biology, and political science. Education in automatic control has many facets. Basic principles of dynamic system responses, properties of feedback, and experience with control system design methodologies should be stressed in a strong undergraduate control program. Also important are laboratory experiences, a good background in mathematics and in computer science and engineering, and an introduction to related areas such as communications and signal processing.

Students are strongly encouraged to consult members of the control area committee to plan programs stressing special interests or career goals.

Some Suggested Fundamental Courses

Semester 5

ECE 391

Semester 6

ECE 410, ECE 313

Semester 7

ECE 459, ECE 486

Semester 8

ECE 461


ECE 486 is the basic undergraduate control course, which could be taken in the junior year, allowing more control-oriented electives in the senior year. The other courses listed provide concepts and techniques important for the control engineer. Moreover, a good mathematics background is essential --- Math 415* should be taken. Some additional technically oriented electives especially appropriate for the control area include:

Math 446, Math 466, Stat 410, GE 424, CS 173, ECE 411, ECE 412, ECE 420, ECE 430, ECE/CS 448, ECE 464, ECE 470, ECE 489, ECE 490.

*Students planning graduate study should consider Math 418 instead of Math 415, and in addition either Math 444 or Math 447. For such students, ECE 490 also is strongly recommended.

For additional aid and advice, contact any faculty member of the Control Systems area: Tamer Basar, Panganamala R. Kumar, and Sean Meyn.

For further information or advice, contact any of the following faculty members:

Tangül Basar tangul@uiuc.edu Daniel Liberzon  
Richard Blahut blahut@uiuc.edu Yi Ma  
Steven Franke s-franke@uiuc.edu    
Chester Gardner cgardner@uiuc.edu Dilip Sarwate sarwate@uiuc.edu
Bruce Hajek b-hajek@uiuc.edu