The Undergraduate Year 4 (Senior) Control Systems rubric is designed to assess students’ mastery of advanced control theory and its practical applications in engineering. This rubric evaluates key competencies; including system modeling; stability analysis; controller design; and real-world implementation. Students will demonstrate their ability to analyze dynamic systems using mathematical tools such as transfer functions; state-space representations; and frequency-domain techniques. The rubric emphasizes the application of classical and modern control methods; such as PID control; root locus; and optimal control strategies; to solve complex engineering problems. Educational benefits include fostering critical thinking by requiring students to justify design choices and evaluate system performance under varying conditions. The rubric encourages hands-on learning through simulation and hardware-based projects; reinforcing theoretical concepts with practical experience. Students will develop problem-solving skills by troubleshooting control systems and optimizing performance metrics like stability; transient response; and steady-state error. Collaboration and communication are also assessed; as students must present their findings clearly and work effectively in teams. By meeting the rubric’s criteria; students will gain a deep understanding of feedback control principles; preparing them for careers in automation; robotics; aerospace; and other engineering fields. The structured assessment ensures graduates can design; analyze; and refine control systems while adhering to industry standards. This rubric not only measures technical proficiency but also cultivates professionalism; preparing students for the challenges of real-world engineering environments.
