Modeling Introduction: Control System Design

This lecture delves into the importance of mathematical modeling in designing control systems, emphasizing the need for a simple yet effective representation of the system to facilitate control design. The instructor highlights the risks of overly complex models, drawing from experience in biological systems modeling. The lecture underscores the significance of optimization through models in industries like petrochemicals, where even a 1% improvement can yield substantial financial benefits. The instructor explains two modeling approaches, focusing on mechanistic details and experimental observations. Practical examples, such as controlling tank levels, illustrate the distinction between physical inputs/outputs and control inputs. The lecture concludes with a discussion on defining system inputs/outputs and the role of perturbations in control systems.