Dynamic System Modeling and Control Design
(Spring 2026)
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Announcements:
Our Apologies, but Prelab 3 is Still In Flux (correcting our background assumptions while keeping a reasonable prelab length is unexpectedly challenging). Prelab 3 should be available Tuesday 3/10 (sorry for the second delay), and for lab3b the prelab "recommended".
OFFICE HRS THIS WEEEK: Sun. 3/1, Tues. 3/3, Thurs 3/5 7:30-10:30pm.
Please use Staff E-mail for Extension Requests and General Questions: 6310staff_sp26@mit.edu
EECS Lab Hours here.
For 2026: Lecture questions to encourage participation, see course information.
For 2026: Challenge lab (more open-ended) 4/24.
Schedule
Lectures 2-190: Mondays and Wednesdays, 3pm
Labs 38-528: Fridays 10am-1pm or Fridays 2pm-5pm
Office Hours 38-528: Tuesday 7:30pm-10:30pm, Thursday 7:30-10:30, Sundays 7:30pm-10:30pm.
| Week | Lecture A (Monday) |
Lecture B (Wednesday) |
Prelab | Lab |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 2 Intro to Control, Thermal Example Handout | Feb 4 First Order Sys, Stability, Steady State Handout | Prelab 1 | Lab 1: Fast and Spurious:A |
| 2 | Feb 9 Linearity, Parameter Identification Handout | Feb 11 Second Order Systems, Matrix Powers and Evalues Handout | Lab 1: Fast and Spurious:B PRELAB REQUIRED! | |
| 3 | Feb 16 Complex Evalues, Oscillations, and Stability Handout | Feb 18 Steady-State and Disturbances Handout | Prelab 2 | Lab 2:Code Of Arms:A |
| 4 | Feb 23 Snowed Out | Feb 25 PD and PID Properties Handout | Lab 2:Code Of Arms:B PRELAB REQUIRED! | |
| 5 | Mar 2 Block Diagrams, Intro to CT Handout | Mar 4 Intro to Freq. Res.,Mag.,Phase Handout | Prelab 3 | Lab 3:A Disturbance in the Force:A |
| 6 | Mar 9 Oper. Calculus, Trans. Funcs, Blacks Formula | Mar 11 Poles, Zeros, Bode Plots | Lab 3:A Disturbance in the Force:B PRELAB RECOMMENDED | |
| 7 | Mar 16 Stability and Phase Margin | Mar 18 PD and Lead Design | Prelab 4 | Lab 4A: Marginal Maglev: Simplified Model:A |
| 8 | Mar 23 Spring Break | Mar 25 Spring Break | ||
| 9 | Mar 30 Canonical State-Space Feedback | Apr 1 Pole Placement Possibilities and Problems | Lab 4B: Marginal Maglev: Lead Design:B PRELAB REQUIRED! | |
| 10 | Apr 6 State-Space Metrics | Apr 8 Performance Optimization and LQR | Prelab 5 | Lab 5: Win, Place, LQR:A |
| 11 | Apr 13 Holiday - No Lecture | Apr 15 Multi-input Multi-output Case | Lab 5: Win, Place, LQR:B PRELAB REQUIRED! | |
| 12 | Apr 20 CT to DT, Exactness | Apr 22 DT LQR | Lab 5 Plus: Challenge Lab Rock Out | |
| 13 | Apr 27 Observers | Apr 29 Observers and Noise. | Prelab 6 | Lab 6: Observe and Learn:A |
| 14 | May 4 State-Space, Tranfer Functions, Noise | May 6 LQR, Observers, and Phase Margin | Lab 6: Observe and Learn:B PRELAB REQUIRED! | |
| 15 | May 11 Next Classes | May 13 No Lecture B |