Course detail

Introduction to Cybernetics

FEKT-BPC-UKBAcad. year: 2025/2026

Introduction to the technical cybernetics.
The physical signals – kinds and ways of description.
Integration and derivation in view of signals, introduction to modelling.
Definition of the system, the system types and their properties (linearity, time-invariance, causality, etc.).
Systems – inputs/outputs, the ways of the systems description, energy accumulators and system order, examples of basic systems.
The system structures (serial, parallel, antiparallel), explanation of positive/negative feedback.
Stability of the systems, feedback use and the basic principle of automatic control, main types of the controllers (regulators).
Possibilities and types of control.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Miroslav Jirgl, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Control and Instrumentation (UAMT)

Entry knowledge

The basic knowledge of mathematics, physics and electrical engineering at the level of the 1st year Bachelor studies.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Semestral project.
Final test.

Credit is got for submitted and defended individual project and  final test with a point gain greater than or equal 60 % points.

The content and forms of  instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the guarantee of the course and updated for every academic year. 

 

Aims

The goal of this course is to provide an overview and explanation of the basic concepts and principles used in automation and cybernetics. Other goal is to demonstrate on the practical examples description of systems and signals in the time domain and frequency domain and to prepare the students for following course Signals and Systems. Furthermore, the course also aims showing and explanation of the relationships between the signals/systems and the knowledge obtained in other courses.
Absolvent is able to:
- describe basic signals by mathematic equations,
- define system and its basic properties (linearity, time-invariance, causality, etc.),
- distinguish between different kinds of systems and their structures,
- explain the terms system stability, system order and feedback,
- describe the basic principle of automatic control and enumerate several kinds of controllers (regulators),
- model and simulate simple systems using Matlab/Simulink.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ROMPORTL Jan. Kapitoly z historie kybernetiky. Plzeň: Západočeská univerzita v Plzni 2013. 81 s. ISBN 978-80-261-0184-0 (CS)
ŠVARC, Ivan. Základy automatizace. Elektronické skriptum, Brno 2002. (CS)

Recommended reading

NOVIKOV D.A. Cybernetics: From Past to Future. – Heidelberg: Springer, 2016. – 107 p. ISBN 978-3319273969 (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-EMU Bachelor's 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
  • Programme BPC-AMT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

16 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Miroslav Jirgl, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Introduction to the technical cybernetics.
The physical signals – types and ways of description. A/D and D/A conversion. Matematical description of the basic signals.
Integration and derivation in view of signals, introduction to modelling. Definition of the system, the system types and their properties (linearity, time-invariance, causality, etc.). Explanation of LTI system.
Statical and dynamical systems. Energy accumulators and system order. Stability of the systems. Examples of basic systems and analogy to the RLC circuits.
Possibilities and types of control.
Basic controlled elements (plants) as LTI systems. Examples of real plants.
Explanation of positive/negative feedback. Basic principle of the feedback control. Main types of the controllers (regulators).
Summary and examples of control implementation. 


 

Exercise in computer lab

10 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Miroslav Jirgl, Ph.D.

Syllabus

9. Úvod do prostředí MATLAB/Simulink
10. Implementace jednoduchého modelu v prostředí Simulink.
11. Modelování a simulace základních systémů.
12. Ukázka implementace řízení.
13. Závěrečný test.