This textbook is intended for undergraduate students (juniors or seniors) in Biomedical
Engineering with the main goal of helping these students learn about classical control theory
and its application in physiological systems. In addition students should be able to apply the
Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) Controls and Simulation
Modules to mammalian physiology. The first four chapters review previous work on differential
equations for electrical and mechanical systems. Chapters 5 through 8 present the general types
and characteristics of feedback control systems and foot locus frequency response and
analysis of stability and margins. Chapters 9 through 12 cover basic LabVIEW programming the
control module with its pallets and the simulation module with its pallets. Chapters 13
through 17 present various physiological models with several LabVIEW control analyses. These
chapters cover control of the heart (heart rate stroke volume and cardiac output) the
vestibular system and its role in governing equilibrium and perceived orientation
vestibulo-ocular reflex in stabilizing an image on the surface of the retina during head
movement mechanical control models of human gait (walking movement) and the respiratory
control model. The latter chapters (Chapters 13-17) combine details from my class lecture notes
in regard to the application of LabVIEW control programming by the class to produce the control
virtual instruments and graphical displays (root locus Bode plots and Nyquist plot). This
textbook was developed in cooperation with National Instruments personnel. Table of Contents:
Electrical System Equations Mechanical Translation Systems Mechanical Rotational Systems
Thermal Systems and Systems Representation Characteristics and Types of Feedback Control
Systems Root Locus Frequency Response Analysis Stability and Margins Introduction to
LabVIEW Control Design in LabVIEW Simulation in LabVIEW LabVIEW Control Design and
Simulation Exercise Cardiac Control Vestibular Control System Vestibulo-Ocular Control
System Gait and Stance Control System Respiratory Control System
