Criteria is an interactive computer-aided control systems design package based on Zakian's criteria. The package embodies a number of simple yet effective algorithms and forms an efficient design tool that has been successfully applied to many engineering problems. The package also offers facilities for computer-aided teaching of control systems design and provides a powerful program base for advanced research. The development of the package is described, with a short overview of the theory, algorithms and applications. computer technology, computer-aided design, control systems Like most engineering fields, control systems design has been considerably influenced by the introduction and rapid sophistication of computers and computational techniques. Over the years, various software packages have become available, implementing different design techniques and offering a wide range of facilities. However, the strength of a design technique is not greater than the weaker of its two essential and complementary constituents: the design criteria and the procedures to satisfy them.
The work of Zakian t-6 on new design criteria, together with his earlier work on mathematical programming techniques with AI-Naib 7, offers a powerful approach to control systems design.
Criteria is an interactive computer-aided control systems design package. It embodies Zakian's approach to form a modern, comprehensive and efficient design tool. Its features include simple, fast and efficient algorithms, high level of interaction, menu-or command-driven program flow, powerful input and output interfaces, online help and documentation systems, extensive data validation and error recovery, and friendly and adjustable user interface. The package offers a wide choice of plant representations, control configurations and design approaches. The system can be single variable or multivariable, the plant transfer function can be rational, nonrational or vague, the controller can be chosen from a standard list or defined interactively, and the user can add to it a precompensator, a postcompensator or a minor feedback loop. The package has been specifically designed for easy and efficient user-specific upgradability to cater for a large number of applications. The code is highly portable across a wide range of machines and offers a set of utilities back-up. More than just a computer program, the package forms a comprehensive design environment.
It is the intent of this paper to present some key aspects of the theory and describe the package structure. Practical examples are also included.