UCSB “Dynamical Systems” – Course Description
ME 103, Fall 2024
Instructor: Francesco Bullo
Course Description

This is the website for the UCSB course ME 103 “Dynamical Systems”, Fall 2024. This information is always available at the URL http://motion.me.ucsb.edu/ME103-Fall2024. online].

Description

Equations of Motion for Mechanical, Electrical, Heat, Fluid, and Control Systems. Block diagram algebra and interconnections. Laplace transform. Transfer functions and dynamic stability. First and second order systems. Frequency response. Introduction to mechanical vibrations and feedback control design.

Prerequisites

Math 3AB, Math 4AB, Math 6AB (calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra)

ME 16, Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics

Knowledge of differential equations, dynamics, and complex numbers.

Lecture Time and Place

Mon Wed 11-12:15 in TD-W 1701 (Theater & Dance West 1701)

Instruction: Monday Sep 30 - Wednesday Dec 4 (Finals Dec 9-15)

Holiday: Thursday Nov 23 (Thanksgiving)

Course credit

Units: 4.

UCSB expectation: 3 hrs per unit/per week. So a 4-unit course corresponds to 12 hours of work a week. 2.5h are lectures and 9.5 hours are expected to be dedicated to studying, homework, office hours, reading, etc.

Textbooks and Reading Material

“Lectures on Dynamical Systems” by Francesco Bullo, freely shared from instructor

Optional text: “Dynamical Systems”, by K. Ogata, Pearson, 4th edition, 2003

Instructor

Professor Francesco Bullo
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Email: bullo-at-ucsb.edu
Website: http://fbullo.github.io

Professor Bullo office hours

Time: Tuesdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm
Place: Engineering Bldg II, Room 2325, and simultaneously at
Place online: https://ucsb.zoom.us/my/bullo

No office hours on Tuesday October 1st (first week) and on Tuesday November 26th (Thanksgiving week).

Feel free to email me questions about the course. I will try to respond as quickly as possible. Additionally, I will share questions that are particularly good (and their answers) with the rest of the class by broadcasting my answer to the entire class.

If you plan to come to ( = connect with my room) office hours for questions about homework, please be prepared to show attempts at solving the problem that you prepared before coming.

TAs and their office hours

Abed Musaffar (abed at engineering.ucsb.edu)
Anand Gokhale (anand_gokhale at ucsb.edu)
Yohan John (yohanjohn at ucsb.edu)

Office hours on Thanksgiving week are going to be only on Monday and Wednesday and only online (zoom room to be shared later).

TA office hours are each week on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

Room: ME TA room 3361 in Engr 2
Time: 3-5pm
If nobody shows up after 4pm on Monday, the TA will leave (unless a specific email is sent to all three TAs).

Grading

Your grade will be assigned roughly according to the following percentages.

  1. Homework = 30%

  2. Midterm 35%

  3. Final 35%

Partial credit might be given whenever the overall performance is low. If answers are not accompanied by satisfactory explanations (e.g., all intermediate steps, clearly readable handwriting), no credit will be given.

Exams (and quizzes, if any) will be closed book and closed notes. You may prepare an exam aid (cheat sheet) in your own handwriting, consisting of one, one-sided sheet (letter size, 8.5x11in) for the midterm and one, two-sided sheet for the final exam. No calculators/tablets/cellphones are allowed during the exams (they would be useless anyway).

In exceptional cases, I reserve the right to give extra points for excellent performance on the final. Please, do not count on it as a way to avoid doing homework assignments.

Collaboration Policy

Collaboration Policy for this course & Academic Dishonesty @ Wikipedia

Resources for Students

The Division of Student Affairs provides a broad range of essential support services and resources to help UCSB students handle the challenges of university life.

Help during exams

Students with disabilities may request academic accommodations for exams online through the UCSB Disabled Students Program at http://dsp.sa.ucsb.edu.

Please make your requests for exam accommodations through the online system as early in the quarter as possible to ensure arrangement.

Managing stress

Personal concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationships, depression, cultural differences, can interfere with the ability of students to succeed and thrive.

If you find yourself, or another student, in need of support, please do not hesitate to reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 24/7 at (805) 893-4411. http://caps.sa.ucsb.edu

Financial crisis response team

The UCSB Financial Crisis Response Team exists to assist UCSB students who may be facing a financial crisis or urgent financial need. In order to apply for emergency funding, please first email FinancialCrisis@sa.ucsb.edu. Within 1-2 business days, a Financial Aid Advisor will contact you for your next steps.

Gender and sex discrimination policy and student support

Under Title IX, university students are protected from harassment and discrimination based on gender and sex. If a student feels uncomfortable or in need of support at any time related to their gender, sex, and/or sexual orientation, please contact your TA and/or course instructor immediately. If a student would like to disclose information related to pronouns, name changes, or identities, we encourage you to do so. UCSB's Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity on the 3rd floor of the Student Resource Building is also available to advocate and be of and support to students.

Food security

If you are facing any challenges securing food or housing and believe this may affect your performance in the class, you are urged to meet with a Food Security and Calfresh Advocate who is aware of the broad variety of resources that UCSB has to offer (see their drop-in hours at food.ucsb.edu). You are also urged to contact the professor or teaching assistant if you are comfortable doing so. Please visit food.ucsb.edu for additional resources including Calfresh, the AS Food Bank, and more.

Responsible scholarship

Honesty and integrity in all academic work is essential for a valuable educational experience. The Office of Judicial Affairs has policies, tips, and resources for

  • proper citation use,

  • recognizing actions considered to be cheating or other forms of academic theft, and

  • students’ responsibilities.

This information is available on their website at: http://judicialaffairs.sa.ucsb.edu. Students are responsible for educating themselves on the policies and to abide by them.

Furthermore, for general academic support, we encourage students to visit Campus Learning Assistance Services (CLAS) early and often. CLAS offers instructional groups, drop-in tutoring, writing and ESL services, skills workshops and one-on-one consultations. CLAS is located on the third floor of the Student Resource Building, or visit http://clas.sa.ucsb.edu.

Copyright policy

All course materials (class lectures and discussions, handouts, examinations, web materials) and the intellectual content of the course itself are protected by United States Federal Copyright Law, the California Civil Code.

  • The UC Policy 102.23 expressly prohibits students (and all other persons) from recording lectures or discussions and from distributing or selling lectures notes and all other course materials without the prior written permission of the instructor (See Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline).

  • I have made the textbook available with a copyright-friendly policy (see page 2 of the text).

  • Students are permitted to make notes solely for their own private educational use. Exceptions to accommodate students with disabilities may be granted with appropriate documentation.

To be clear, in this class students are forbidden from completing study guides and selling them to any person or organization.