Kuo Benjamin. Automatic Control Systems

Third edition. — London: Prentice-Hall International. Inc., 1975. — 660 p. — ISBN 0-13-054973-8.The third edition is still written as an introductory text for a senior course on control systems. Although a great deal has happened in the area of modern control theory in the past ten years, preparing suitable material for a modern course on introductory control systems remains a difficult task. The problem is a complicated one because it is difficult to teach the topics concerned with new developments in modern control theory at the undergraduate level. The unique situation in control systems has been that many of the practical problems are still being solved in the industry by the classical methods. While some of the techniques in modern control theory are much more powerful and can solve more complex problems, there are often more restrictions when it comes to practical applications of the solutions. However, it should be recognized that a modern control engineer should have an understanding of the classical as well as the modern control methods. The latter will enhance and broaden one’s perspective in solving a practical problem. It is the author’s opinion that one should strike a balance in the teaching of control systems theory at the beginning and intermediate levels. Therefore in this current edition, equal emphasis is placed on the classical methods and the modern control theory.