Automatic Control Course | IIT Roorkee | Prof. Anil Kumar | 8-Week Guide
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 133 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 8 weeks |
| Categories | Mechanical Engineering |
| Credit Points | 2 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 16 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 28 Mar 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Fundamentals of Automatic Control: An In-Depth Look at the IIT Roorkee Course
In the world of modern engineering, from manufacturing robots to advanced aerospace systems, the principles of Automatic Control form the invisible backbone. Understanding how to command and regulate dynamic systems is a critical skill. For students and professionals looking to build a strong foundation in this vital field, the Automatic Control course offered by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee presents a structured and comprehensive learning path. This 8-week program, designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students, demystifies the core concepts that drive automation across industries.
Course Instructor: Expertise from IIT Roorkee
The course is led by Prof. Anil Kumar, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at IIT Roorkee with over four years of teaching experience. Prof. Kumar specializes in subjects like Automatic Control, Machine Design, and Vibrations. His research delves into cutting-edge areas such as semi-active rail suspension and modal identification of structures, ensuring that the course content bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world engineering challenges.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is meticulously designed for:
- UG students in Mechanical, Electrical, Automobile, Production, Aerospace, and Civil Engineering.
- Postgraduate students seeking to solidify their control systems knowledge.
- Engineers and designers who want to understand the fundamentals of automatic controls for applications in product manufacturing, HVAC systems, automotive systems, and aerospace.
Prerequisite: Students should have completed the first year of their BE/BTech program.
What You Will Learn: Course Objectives & Outcomes
Automatic Control is the theory applied in countless technologies—from your refrigerator to satellite launch vehicles. This course provides the essential toolkit to analyze and design these systems. You will move from basic concepts to advanced techniques, gaining the ability to model systems, analyze their performance, and design effective controllers.
Weekly Course Breakdown: A Structured Learning Journey
Here is a detailed layout of the 8-week curriculum:
| Week | Topic | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Automatic Control System | Introduction, open-loop vs. closed-loop systems, components of a control system. |
| Week 2 | Mathematical Modelling | Deriving differential equations, theory of transfer functions, poles and zeros. |
| Week 3 | Transient Response Analysis | Performance of first and second-order systems, time-domain specifications. |
| Week 4 | Stability and Steady State Error | Routh’s stability criterion, error constants, and steady-state accuracy analysis. |
| Week 5 | Root Locus Technique | Construction and interpretation of root locus plots for system analysis. |
| Week 6 | Design via Root Locus and Compensation | Using root locus for controller design, lead, lag, and lag-lead compensators. |
| Week 7 | State Space Method | Introduction to modern control theory, state-space representation and analysis. |
| Week 8 | Application of MATLAB in Automatic Control | Hands-on simulation, modeling, and analysis of control systems using MATLAB. |
Note: Thanks to support from MathWorks, enrolled students get access to MATLAB for the duration of the course, enabling practical, software-based learning.
Essential Reference Books for Deep Dive Learning
To complement the lectures, the course recommends several authoritative textbooks, perfect for self-study and reference:
- Nise, N.S., Control Systems Engineering (5th Ed., Wiley, 2008)
- Ogata, K., Modern Control Engineering (5th Ed., Prentice Hall India, 2013)
- Kuo, B.C., Automatic Control System (5th Ed., Prentice Hall India, 1995)
- Raven, F.H., Automatic Control Theory (5th Ed., McGraw Hill, 1995)
Why This Course is a Must for Aspiring Engineers
This IIT Roorkee course stands out by offering a balanced blend of classical control theory (like PID and Root Locus) and an introduction to modern methods (State Space). The inclusion of a dedicated week for MATLAB application ensures that you not only learn the theory but also acquire the practical computational skills highly valued in industry and research. Whether you aim to work in automotive control, robotics, industrial automation, or aerospace, mastering the concepts covered in these eight weeks will provide a formidable advantage in your engineering career.
Enroll Now →