Developing files for the control101 toolbox to support the learning of non-linear system behaviour and control

Many control courses focus on linear systems, behaviour and control, whereas the real world is nonlinear. This paper introduces learning resources on nonlinear systems which staff can use in introductory courses to help students appreciate this fundamental point, without being overloaded by analytical and mathematical detail. Hence the focus is on interactive resources which display simple animations and plots while allowing users to make small parameter changes and observe the impact on behaviour and control. This paper reviews some of the new resources for non-linear systems in detail and summarises all of them alongside a discussion of how they might be embedded into a first, or indeed later, course in systems, modelling and control. The resources have been embedded into the MATLAB control101 toolbox Rossiter (2024).