Introducing Discrete Event Systems Into An Undergraduate Controls Course

Discrete event systems are characterized by discrete states with event-driven state transitions. The modeling and control of such systems is often handled in a rather ad-hoc manner. Emerging research in developing analytical results for ‘discrete event control’ is leading to the formation of graduate level courses in the United States, and more commonly in Europe and Canada. This paper outlines a small instructional module introducing this material into a typical undergraduate controls course. Results of the implementation of such a module during the Fall 2005 semester are discussed.