Course detail

Electrical Drives and Control

FSI-ZEPAcad. year: 2026/2027

The course provides an overview of electric drives, their control methods, and integration into mechanical systems. Emphasis is placed on understanding their operation and mastering the methodology used in the design of drives for mechanical equipment. Special attention is given to interpreting technical documentation supplied with electrical devices. Students are introduced to the basic requirements for ensuring the safe operation of machines in accordance with applicable standards. The course integrates knowledge gained in theoretical subjects of the bachelor’s program in mechanical engineering. As part of the course, students will receive training in occupational safety and health for work on electrical equipment in accordance with §4 of Government Regulation No. 194/2022 Coll.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

4

Assignment to study programme types

Bachelor's

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of mathematics at the bachelor's level.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Conditions for obtaining a graded credit:

  • completion of assigned tasks (minimum 25 out of 50 points),
  • passing a theoretical test (minimum 25 out of 50 points).
  • A total of up to 100 points can be achieved, and the final grade is determined according to the ECTS grading scale.
  • Lectures: attendance is recommended.
  • Laboratories: attendance is mandatory and monitored by the instructor; a maximum of two absences is permitted. In the case of long-term absence, compensation for missed classes is at the discretion of the course guarantor.

Aims

  • Ability to design a suitable electric drive for mechanical equipment, including its control system.
  • Ability to diagnose simple electrical circuits.
  • Knowledge of safety requirements for electric drives in mechanical equipment.
  • Ability to prepare specifications for electric drives and their control systems for electrical designers.
  • Ability to interpret electrical engineering documentation.
  • Ability to design and populate a printed circuit board for simple control circuits.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BERKA, Štěpán. Elektrotechnická schémata a zapojení v praxi. 3. vydání. V Brně: Computer Press, 2022. ISBN 978-80-251-5082-5. (CS)
ROUBÍČEK, Ota. Elektrické motory a pohony: příručka techniky, volby a užití vybraných druhů. Praha: BEN - technická literatura, 2004. ISBN 80-7300-092-x. (CS)

Recommended reading

HUGHES, Austin a Bill DRURY. Electric Motors and Drives. Oxford: Elsevier Science & Technology, 2013. ISBN 0080983324. (EN)
SCHERZ, Paul a Simon MONK. Practical electronics for inventors. Fourth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2016, xxv, 1027 stran : ilustrace. ISBN 978-1-259-58754-2. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme B-KSI-P Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory

  • Programme C-AKR-P Lifelong learning

    specialization CLS , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  • Basic laws of electrical engineering.
  • Basic electrical components and their behavior in electrical circuits.
  • Fundamentals of electromagnetism, principles of electric drives.
  • Electric drives (types, their characteristics, control circuits).
  • Basics of automatic control.
  • Safe operation of machinery with electric drives (protection, safe torque disengagement, risk analysis).
  • Requirements for electrical documentation.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

  • Design, wiring, analysis, and measurement of an electrical circuit with real impedance.
  • Design, wiring, analysis, and measurement of an electrical circuit with complex impedance.
  • Connecting an asynchronous (induction) motor to a circuit and measuring basic parameters.
  • Control of an asynchronous motor using a frequency converter.
  • Wiring and control of a stepper motor.
  • PID controller and its tuning.
  • Design of a simple electrical control circuit, including printed circuit board design.