Dynamics & Control Labs

AE 443 · Experimental Dynamics and Control Laboratory · Spring 2026 · ERAU

Lab 01: Servo Modeling

Applied a square-wave step input to the Quanser SRV02 servo-motor and recorded the load shaft speed response via MATLAB/Simulink to extract steady-state gain (K) and time constant (τ) using the bump test method. Iterated model parameters in a validation experiment; best-fit values of K = 1.68 rad/s/V and τ = 0.044 s produced near-exact agreement between simulated and measured responses.

63.2% criterion diagram for time constant identification from step response Best-fit validated model — K=1.68, τ=0.044, near-exact overlay of simulated and measured speed Model validation — K=1.53, τ=0.0253 nominal, simulated vs. measured speed

Lab 02: Flexible Link Modeling

Derived equations of motion for the SRV02 rotary flexible link using the Euler-Lagrange method, then identified the link's natural frequency (ωn = 18.49 rad/s) and stiffness (K_s = 1.30 N·m/rad) from a free-oscillation response. Built and validated a 4-state state-space model; open-loop poles and transfer functions were derived and compared against measured servo angle and link angle responses.

Free-oscillation decay of flexible link angle — used to identify natural frequency and stiffness Model validation — simulated vs. measured flexible link deflection angle α Free-oscillation plot with cursor data points for logarithmic decrement calculation

Lab 03: SRV02 Position Control

Designed PV and PIV controllers for load shaft position control of the SRV02. Step tracking was validated in simulation and on hardware; adding an integral gain k_i = 38.9 V/(rad·s) reduced ramp tracking steady-state error from 0.186 rad (PV alone) to 0.007 rad (PIV), confirming that the integral term eliminates the Type-1 ramp error present in PV-only control.

Simulated PV step response — ideal position tracking, tₚ=0.194 s, PO=5% PV controller — measured ramp response on hardware, ess=0.186 rad PIV controller — simulated ramp response with near-zero steady-state error, ess=0.005 rad

Lab 04: Gyro Modeling and Control

Derived the closed-loop transfer function for a PI-controlled rotary gyroscope and designed gains (k_p = 19.79, k_i = 39.86) to track a 2° deflection reference. Demonstrated superior disturbance rejection with the PI controller enabled versus disabled, and confirmed system stability for both open-loop and closed-loop configurations using the Routh-Hurwitz criterion.

Open-loop α — transfer function model vs. system output, showing model–hardware discrepancy Closed-loop α — PI controller tracking 2° reference, ess=0.003° Closed-loop with disturbance — PI control holds heading near 0° during base rotation

Lab 05: Speed Control

Designed and compared PI and lead compensators for SRV02 motor speed regulation using frequency-domain methods. Bode analysis confirmed infinite gain margin and 87.8° phase margin. PI control achieved 4.4% overshoot in simulation and 23.8% on hardware; the lead compensator showed 2% simulated overshoot but 44.4% on hardware, demonstrating that PI control is more robust to unmodeled physical effects in this configuration.

Bode diagram of augmented plant — infinite gain margin, phase margin 87.8° at 1.53 rad/s PI controller — simulated step response, tₚ=0.04 s, PO=4.4%, zero steady-state error PI controller — hardware step response, tₚ=0.034 s, PO=23.8% due to encoder noise

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