Customer Reviews

Modern Control Theory (3rd Edition)

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I used this textbook for a graduate course in state space methods. This is the best textbook I have seen on the subject. Covers the necessary theory and then works out prenty of problems illustrating the ideas. I refer to it often in my other graduate classes.

This text is unique as it is written for those students interested in both the insight and the GPA! The text covers almost all topics of vectors and matrices required for a modern control using state space approach. The author has devoted his time to teach students how to see through vectors&matrices and how to master the required mathematics in a very concise manner. What makes this book unique is its illustrated and solved examples in the end of each chapter.

After you master the mathematics through Chapter 8. You will find the later chapters a piece of cake :). A nice introductory chapter on optimal control and another on nonlinear control in the end of the book make you eager to find other hardcover texts on these advanced topics. Unfortunately, you might not find them as concise and to the point as this text!

As a student, you might be more interested in (solved) examples. A (little) theory wouldn't bite as well. In this book the theory to example ratio is definitely within the range you would like to see.

We adopted this book in our graduate courseof linear systems and controls. i was the TA of that course. I have never seen such an elegent utilization of Vector Spaces and Matrix Theory to explain the system concepts and its controlled behaviour. It really is the engineering text which builds upon the mathematical concepts.Beauty of the book is the its implicit presentation of the concepts which challenges the intution of the reader.End chapter problems and solved exercises enhance the skills in student's quiver.i recommend that any student who wants to build a firm engineering basics should surely spend his thoughts on the material presented in the book.

This book is adopted as a text for state space control courses in my school. The writing style is clear and it is easy to follow. Concept of controllability and observability are shown very nicely. This book provides quite solid theoretical background for state space control. For control implementation using microchip, "PowerPC Programming Pocket Book" was also very helpful.

Damm this book is difficult to comprehend. If it wasn't for my instructor to teach us, there is probably no way you can absorb this book cleanly. If you simply revel in reading a book with usage of every greek character known to man, and then some, then this is the book for you. Countless variables + theories = Clueless

Thank god my instructor taught us everything we needed to know on the board. The only times we had to refer to the book was for the Homework problems. This book is like it came from the past, 3 decades ago. Don't get me wrong, this material is not too difficult if you already have a grasp of Linear Algebra (which supremely helps). A TI-89 or similar calculator is a life-saver as well, for the matrices. But if you wanted to learn this material yourself, you could can certain do better!

This is an example:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131457330/qid=1134632969/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/104-0453185-3538347?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

How do I know? Because I own both books, because I took two Control classes at the same time, with the same teacher. The above book is very clean, and what I mean by clean is that you learn very quickly. It's 'bam, bam, bam'. Of course, some might argue it's not a typical "graduate" book, but at least you won't wake up in the middle of the night, sweat dripping from a nightmare about greek symbols. Trust me - if you can find a bookstore with these two books, go ahead and compare them yourself. It's like night and day.

If you HAVE to buy this book for a class, pay close attention in class, and pray to the Gods you have a decent instructor, and you should be fine. If you want to learn about Controls, and thinking about getting this book, look elsewhere.

The material from other book I compared are pretty similar; the one I compared does not go into matrices and linear systems as much as Brogan's book. So don't expect that one to completely replace it. It is used only as an example of how other books are more easily 'readable' than this one.

This review was written for your best interest in mind!

It contains many illustrated problems and covers nearly every important topics of control theory. Highly readable.