Book excerpt: This textbook introduces senior undergraduate and beginning graduate students of mechanical engineering to the field of digital control with an emphasis on applications. Both transform-based and state-variable approaches are included, with a brief introduction to system identification. The material requires some understanding of the Laplace transform and assumes that the reader has studied linear feedback control systems. Adopting an accessible, “tutorial” format, the text presents a clear and concise treatment of Linear Difference Equations, Discrete Simulation of Continuous Systems, Sampled Data Systems, Design using Laplace and Z Transforms, Introduction to Continuous State Space, Digital Control Design using State Space Methods (including state estimators), and System Identification using Least Squares.