Effective Team Communication Quiz

Control System Theory

• Control system theory is a broad engineering discipline, relevant to various fields (economy, sociology, biology, medicine, etc.)
• Automatic control is an important part of modern manufacturing and industrial processes.

Control System Components

• System: A collection of interconnected elements or components working together.
• Controlled variable/response: The output quantity.
• Command signal/excitation: Input quantity.

Open-Loop Control Systems

• Open-loop systems do not automatically correct variations in output.
• Output is not fed back to the input to adjust for errors.
• External disturbances in the system can cause changes in the output signal not followed by input changes to correct the output.
• Changes to the output is corrected manually by changing input.

Closed-Loop Control Systems

• Systems in which the output has feedback to impact the input quantity.
• The aim is to maintain a desired output value.
• Feedback automatically corrects output changes due to disturbances.

Numerical Control Systems (Open loop)

• Method for controlling motion of machine components using numbers
• Workhead tool position is controlled by the binary coded data on magnetic disk.
• The system doesn't check or correct deviations in desired tool position.

Numerical Control Systems (Closed loop)

• Binary data is loaded by using a reader into the controller.
• The controller compares input to the feedback signal to generate an error signal.
• The error signal is used adjust the tool position until the difference between the two is zero.
• System automatically adjusts to correct any position error.

Temperature Control System (Open Loop)

• Electric furnace is an example of an open loop system.
• The output temperature depends on the duration of the heater being switched on.
• The time delay to turn the heater on and off is determined by the adjustment of the relay.

Temperature Control System (Closed Loop)

• The output temperature is the controlled variable.
• Desired temperature is set using a keyboard as input.
• The actual temperature is measured using a sensor and converted to digital format by the A/D converter.
• The computer compares actual temperature and desired value and corrects any differences.

Traffic Control System (Open Loop)

• Timing of control signals is based on traffic studies.
• Timing of signals are not adjusted based on current traffic density.

Traffic Control System (Closed Loop)

• Measured traffic density on all sides is fed to the computer to calculate optimum timing for the signals.
• Closed loop systems dynamically adjust the timings of control signals according to the traffic density.

Position Control System

• In a position control system the output is a mechanical position.
• Feedback control is used to correct any deviations from the desired output value.

Mathematical Models

• A control system model describes a system's behavior by using differential equations.
• The model identifies the relationships between input and output or the various physical components within the system.
• A linear system model obeys the principle of Superposition and Homogenity.

Mechanical Translational Systems

• Three basic elements are used to model these systems:
  • Mass
  • Spring
  • Dashpot

Mechanical Rotational Systems

• Three elements used for modelling in these cases, specifically
  • Moment of Inertia
  • Rotational Dashpot
  • Torsional Spring

Electrical Systems

• Circuits will consist of resistors, capacitors and inductors.
• Use Kirchoff's Voltage Law (KVL) to get differential equations
• Use Kirchoff's Current Law (KCL) to obtain differential equations

Block Diagrams

• Representations of a system that shows interrelations between components.
• The components are represented as blocks and the flow of signal is shown by arrows connecting them.
• Block diagrams show how signals flow between blocks, inputs, and outputs.
• Useful for analyzing parts within the system and for determining the transfer function of the system.
• Summing point: Signals add or subtract (plus/minus signs indicate the operation).
• Branch point: Signals replicate (e.g. to different blocks).

Signal Flow Graphs

• Graphical models that represents the interrelationships between variables in a system.
• Nodes represent system variables.
• Branches represent the relationships between variables.
• Mason's gain formula is an algebraic formula for simplifying the signal flow graph.

Test your understanding of the key factors that contribute to effective communication within teams. This quiz covers topics like transparency, motivation, collaboration barriers, and conflict resolution strategies. Enhance your knowledge on how to foster a productive team environment.