SMAT5307 Control Theory (5 cr)
Cooperation network course
Network: Cross-institutional studies in advanced courses in mathematics and statistics
This course is offered through the Network for Advanced Studies in Mathematics. These studies are available for the following degree students:
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Mathematics
- Master's Degree Programme in Mathematics
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Mathematics (Subject Teacher)
- Master's Degree Programme in Mathematics (Subject Teacher)
- Bachelor's Degree Programme in Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics Subject Teacher Education and Primary Teacher Education (Specialication in Mathematics)
- Master's Degree Programme in Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics Subject Teacher Education and Primary Teacher Education (Specialication in Mathematics)
- Doctoral Programme in Mathematics and Statistics
- Doctoral Programme in Mathematics and Science (Specialication in Mathematics)
Grading scale:
0-5
Description
Control theory is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and mathematics that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems with inputs. The external input of a system is called the reference. When one or more output variables of a system need to follow a certain reference over time, a controller manipulates the inputs to a system to obtain the desired effect on the output of the system. The usual objective of a control theory is to calculate solutions for the proper corrective action from the controller that result in system stability, that is, the system will hold the set point and not oscillate around it.
The course introduces some fundamental principles underlying Optimal Control for nonlinear/linear systems, Dynamic Programming, Variational Calculus, Pontryagin Minimum Principle and in its final section some Numerical Methods.
Learning outcomes
Geared toward upper-level undergraduates, this course introduces three aspects of optimal control theory: dynamic programming, Pontryagin's minimum principle, and numerical techniques for trajectory optimization.
Additional information
Course will be given on autumn 2026.
Description of prerequisites
Recommended preceding studies: Differential Equations and Partial Differential Equations