Basic Information

  • Course Code: EE 613
  • Course Name: Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
  • Course Offered In: 2023-2024
  • Semester Season: Spring
  • Instructors: Prof. Debasattam Pal
  • Prerequisites: EE302 or any other intro to control course is required, majorly in the latter half of the course. A basic course in differential equations will be really helpful, but it can be learned on the go as well. This is a math-intense course and does have a lot of proof-based questions(epsilon-delta type) in the first half.
  • Difficulty (1 being easy and 5 being tough): 4

Course Content

Sir directly followed Hassan Khalil, Nonlinear Systems book and covered chapters (1,2,4,5,6)(Parts of the chapter were skipped) A brief overview of topics covered:

  • Introduction to non-linear systems
  • Phase portraits and behavior of non-linear systems near equilibrium points
  • Linearization
  • Lyapunov stability theory
  • Input Output stability
  • Passivity

Feedback on Lectures

The professor explained the course really well using the blackboard (no slides), and attending lectures is highly recommended. The course builds upon topics taught; missing lectures will cause a lot of problems. Tutorial sheets were provided and discussed in previous class before any exam.

Feedback on Evaluations

20% Assignment 20% Quizs 30% Midsem 40% Endsem (Not sure about the distribution but similar) Exams were moderate in terms of difficulty. Exams had T/F kind of questions which were the most challenging. Need to provide the proof if true or construct counter examples.

Study Material and Resources

Hassan Khalil, Nonlinear Systems

Sir followed this book and the tutorial sheets were also given which were also from exercises of the book.

Follow-up Courses

Will be helpful in other advanced control courses. The general ideas of equilibrium, stability and Lyapunov functions is highly useful and will be encountered in various places.

Final Takeaway

Mathematical course but has a lot of intuition. If you don’t like writing proofs then could be hard. Grading was decent, check ASC for exact numbers.