WED
Lecture 03 — System modeling: state, equilibrium, linearization, and transfer functions
Codex Vibe Lab + Lecture 03
Fall 2026 · George Washington University
MAE 4182Electromechanical
Electromechanical
Control System Design
From physical systems to mathematical models, then to controllers whose stability, performance, and robustness can be checked and defended.
- Meetings
- Mon / Wed · 11:10 AM–12:25 PM
- Room
- TOMP 201
- Instructor
- Prof. Chuchu Chen
- GTA
- Ruijie Li
Student guide
How to use this website
Use the course calendar as your starting point for every class.- 01Open a lecture from the calendar
Choose a blue lecture card below. Lecture 01–04 and Lecture 06 are open without a code. Other lectures still use the codes shared in class or through Blackboard.
- 02Choose the mode you need
In Lecture Mode, use ← / → to move and Space to reveal. Use Reading Mode for continuous notes after class.
- 03Interact and review
Try the sliders, diagrams, videos, and practice questions. Practice responses are not graded or saved; use Blackboard for assessments, submissions, feedback, and grades.
Lecture accessLecture 01–04 and Lecture 06 are open for review; the drone activities are also open. Other lectures retain their individual classroom codes.
Official course system
Blackboard
Use Blackboard for course announcements, lecture access codes, assessments, submissions, feedback, exam information, and grades.Professor Chen strongly recommends · Featured documentary
The Thinking Game
A documentary about the people, uncertainty, and persistence behind Google DeepMind—and a question that connects directly to this course: after an intelligent system chooses an action, how does the real body respond?Posted after class · Paper diagnostic
In-class Diagnostic · Answers & Explanations
Review all 15 prerequisite questions, the correct choices, detailed reasoning, and why each alternative is not correct.Self-study · Review notes + 40 original questions + 3 additional questions
Review Notes & Concept Practice
Read the 20-page student review notes (PDF), then try the questions and reveal their explanations. Covers foundations, Laplace transforms, local linearization, and block diagrams through the drone activity.Classes Aug 24–Dec 9, 2026 · Final exam Dec 14
Course calendar
Lecture availableExamNo class
Aug 24–26
Aug 31–Sep 2
Sep 7–9
MON
No class — Labor Day
WED
Lecture 04 — Block diagrams and feedback connections
Open access · No code needed
Sep 14–16
Sep 21–23
MON
Drone Lab continued — Block diagrams, feedback, and team challenge
Sep 21 · Continue from Block Diagram · Open access
WED
Drone Lab wrap-up + Lecture 06 — Time-Response of First-Order Systems
Results discussion → first-order response · Open access
Sep 28–30
MON
Lecture 09 — Routh stability criterion I
Lecture code required
WED
Exam 1
Written exam · 25%
Oct 5–7
Oct 12–14
MON
No class — Fall Break
WED
Lecture 13 — Root locus II and Exam 2 review
Lecture code required
Oct 19–21
MON
Exam 2
Written exam · 25%
WED
Lecture 14 — Frequency response
Lecture code required
Oct 26–28
Nov 2–4
Nov 9–11
MON
Exam 3
Written exam · 25%
WED
Lecture 19 — Control-system design: preliminary example
Lecture code required
Nov 16–18
Nov 23–25
MON
No class — Thanksgiving Break
WED
No class — Thanksgiving Break
Nov 30–Dec 2
Dec 7–9
Dec 14
MON
Exam 4
Written exam · 25% · 10:20 AM–12:20 PM · Location TBD