Unstable systems as a challenging benchmark for control engineering students

Abstract

The paper highlights the importance of using unstable models in the process of training experts in the field of control engineering to gain better understanding of the underlying problems they pose. For such purposes one particular model, represented by the two-wheeled unstable transporter Inteco, is presented briefly and tested on the basic stabilization problem. Classical PID and LQ control approach is utilized in this paper, including also derivation of a simplified non-linear model of the system and its linearization for control purposes. Some of the experimental results are presented and discussed, followed by an overall evaluation of the model and its operation. Consequently, this paper can serve as an inspiration for other departments training experts in control systems design and similar engineering fields. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.