Control engineering = maths + fun?
Control is one of the main use of electrical engineering. We study how to control stuff (machines, motors, switches, devices) using our knowledge of maths, physics, electronics, and also software programming. And believe me, it involves huge amounts of maths...! (at least that's what you'll think if you read any textbook on Control Enginnering)
Maths. This scary word once led me not to go further down the track of Control Engineering. I think i'm starting to regret it... :D
I can't forget a very good lecture on Control Enginnering by Prof. Kawabe from Kyushu, Japan, just a couple of weeks ago when he said,
"Control engineering is not maths. Maths is only a tool..."
Then he continued the first part of his lecture with no maths at all! He successfully explained basic concepts of control theory without any maths, totally different than what i've got during my undergrad years in Gadjah Mada... Had he gave that lecture to us 8 years ago, i might have considered a different career path... as a control engineer ;-)
It's true.
Control engineering is fun.
There's always a REAL problem to solve. Whether its simply controlling the speed of a 3-phase induction motor using soft-starting, or whether there's a gigantic manufacturing plant with hundreds of sensors, dozens of actuators, and hundreds of meters of wiring, a REAL problem (usually these problems correllates to ca$h in the case of manufacturing plants) will always be there for us control engineers to handle.
And the tools that's available for this control thing is also not less interesting. In fact, they're more like toys to play with! ;-)
(reminds me of Lego)
With computer technology, we now have very small programmable controllers, more commonly known as PLCs or programmable logic controllers, that are so easy to program, and so powerful with their ability to control and monitor the process of a whole plant.
I've spent the whole past week attending a training held in my University. We learned how to use Schneider's PLC products, including Twido, and it turns out to be a very exciting experience.
It would be more interesting though if I really had the chance to actually use these toys in real factories.... i wonder how "fun" would it get =D
Maths. This scary word once led me not to go further down the track of Control Engineering. I think i'm starting to regret it... :D
I can't forget a very good lecture on Control Enginnering by Prof. Kawabe from Kyushu, Japan, just a couple of weeks ago when he said,
"Control engineering is not maths. Maths is only a tool..."
Then he continued the first part of his lecture with no maths at all! He successfully explained basic concepts of control theory without any maths, totally different than what i've got during my undergrad years in Gadjah Mada... Had he gave that lecture to us 8 years ago, i might have considered a different career path... as a control engineer ;-)
It's true.
Control engineering is fun.
There's always a REAL problem to solve. Whether its simply controlling the speed of a 3-phase induction motor using soft-starting, or whether there's a gigantic manufacturing plant with hundreds of sensors, dozens of actuators, and hundreds of meters of wiring, a REAL problem (usually these problems correllates to ca$h in the case of manufacturing plants) will always be there for us control engineers to handle.
And the tools that's available for this control thing is also not less interesting. In fact, they're more like toys to play with! ;-)
(reminds me of Lego)
With computer technology, we now have very small programmable controllers, more commonly known as PLCs or programmable logic controllers, that are so easy to program, and so powerful with their ability to control and monitor the process of a whole plant.
I've spent the whole past week attending a training held in my University. We learned how to use Schneider's PLC products, including Twido, and it turns out to be a very exciting experience.
It would be more interesting though if I really had the chance to actually use these toys in real factories.... i wonder how "fun" would it get =D
posted by Irfan at 2:17 pm
1 Comments:
Wow...
I am speechless..
This control engineering thing must seem like Disney land to you..
I bet you can even do Maths in your sleep..actually for me personally maths isn't scary..um..control engineering is.
so it's the other way round.
But hehe..Best of Luck!
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