Automation & Industrial Controls
The complete controls path: PID, industrial automation, PLC programming, DCS and CNC, plus the math foundations and the career/portfolio layer. The most accessible hands-on hiring track.
182 modules108 lessons40 project builds6 hardware labs10 hands-on guides4 portfolio builds12 reviewsLifetime access
All four courses are $240 together, $60 less than buying them one by one.
What is inside
PIDPLCAutomationDCSCNCMath & Python
Recommended path
Controls fundamentals → PLC → hands-on vendor reps → the sorting-cell & SCADA builds → get hired.
How every lesson works
Each lesson runs the same seven-part structure: learning material, active recall, conceptual questions, practice problems, a Feynman explanation, error analysis, and a mini challenge, then a quiz you have to pass to mark it complete. Completed modules enter a spaced-repetition queue that asks you real questions at 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 60 days, and reschedules from what you actually get right.
Full syllabus
Every module, grouped the way the course is taught. Open a topic to read its modules.
TURN 1Foundations & Portfolio Builds83 modules
Phase 1 · Foundations
Python for Automation26
01Variables, types and arithmeticLESSON02Comparisons, booleans and if / elseLESSON03Loops: for and whileLESSON04FunctionsLESSON05Lists and arrays (vectors)LESSON06From scripts to control logicLESSON07Data structures for automationLESSON08Files & CSV process dataLESSON09Exceptions & error handlingLESSON10Classes & objects for plant equipmentLESSON11Modules & librariesLESSON12NumPy arraysLESSON13Vector operationsLESSON14Matrix fundamentalsLESSON15Random numbers & simulationLESSON16Reading instruments & timing the scanLESSON17Instrument data processingLESSON18State machines & sequential controlLESSON19Serial communicationLESSON20Logging dataLESSON21Plotting with MatplotlibLESSON22PROJECT: Simulated tank-level controllerPROJECT BUILD23Structuring large programsLESSON24PROJECT: Data historian loggerPROJECT BUILD25PROJECT: Alarm detection systemPROJECT BUILD26Review & Retention // Python for AutomationREVIEW
Phase 3 · Automation
Industrial Automation Concepts13
01The automation pyramidLESSON02Industrial processes & process flowLESSON03Sensors, actuators & fieldbusesLESSON04Three-phase power & industrial electrical basicsLESSON05Relays & motor startersLESSON06Pneumatics & fluid powerLESSON07Open-loop & closed-loop systemsLESSON08Instrumentation & signalsLESSON09Safety fundamentalsLESSON10PROJECT: Process & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)PROJECT BUILD11PROJECT: Design an automated bottling cellPROJECT BUILD12PROJECT: Automated water systemPROJECT BUILD13Review & Retention // Industrial AutomationREVIEW
PLC Programming13
01PLC basics & the scan cycleLESSON02Inputs & outputsLESSON03Memory areas & addressingLESSON04Ladder logic fundamentalsLESSON05Timers & countersLESSON06Comparators & math instructionsLESSON07PROJECT: Motor start/stop with seal-in & timerPROJECT BUILD08Motor control & interlocksLESSON09PROJECT: Traffic light systemPROJECT BUILD10Alarms & sequencingLESSON11PROJECT: Conveyor controllerPROJECT BUILD12PROJECT: Water tank controllerPROJECT BUILD13Review & Retention // PLC ProgrammingREVIEW
PID and Control Systems14
01Practical calculus: rates & accumulationLESSON02Systems, inputs & error signalsLESSON03Open vs closed loop & feedbackLESSON04First & second order systemsLESSON05The three PID terms, intuitivelyLESSON06Proportional & integral controlLESSON07Derivative control & the full PIDLESSON08Control applications: temperature, speed, positionLESSON09Stability basicsLESSON10PROJECT: Tune a PID on a simulated plantPROJECT BUILD11PROJECT: Temperature controllerPROJECT BUILD12PROJECT: DC motor speed controllerPROJECT BUILD13PROJECT: Line-following robot controllerPROJECT BUILD14Review & Retention // PID / Control SystemsREVIEW
Phase 5 · Industrial Systems
CNC Programming8
01CNC machine safetyLESSON02CNC concepts & coordinate systemsLESSON03G-code basicsLESSON04Linear & circular interpolationLESSON05Program structure & tool changesLESSON06PROJECT: Hand-write G-code for a square pocketPROJECT BUILD07PROJECT: Engraved nameplatePROJECT BUILD08Review & Retention // CNC ProgrammingREVIEW
DCS Systems8
01DCS vs PLC vs SCADALESSON02DCS architecture & process loopsLESSON03Controllers & process variablesLESSON04Operator stations & HMILESSON05PROJECT: Control narrative for a heated tankPROJECT BUILD06PROJECT: Boiler monitoring systemPROJECT BUILD07PROJECT: Process visualizationPROJECT BUILD08Review & Retention // DCS SystemsREVIEW
TURN 2Advanced Mastery & Hardware Labs99 modules
Phase 1 · Foundations
Python for Automation25
01Iterators & generatorsLESSON02DecoratorsLESSON03Context managersLESSON04Type hints & documentationLESSON05Unit testingLESSON06Advanced NumPyLESSON07Pandas for process dataLESSON08Signal processingLESSON09Coordinate frames & transformsLESSON10State estimation & sensor fusionLESSON11Optimization basicsLESSON12Monte Carlo simulationLESSON13PROJECT: A* route planner on a plant-floor gridPROJECT BUILD14Threads, processes & the GILLESSON15Async programmingLESSON16Producer-consumer & real-time pipelinesLESSON17Design patterns for automationLESSON18Logging frameworksLESSON19Configuration managementLESSON20Packaging applicationsLESSON21PROJECT: SCADA-style live trendPROJECT BUILD22PROJECT: Redundant-instrument fusion frameworkPROJECT BUILD23PROJECT: Controls utility libraryPROJECT BUILD24LAB // Control stack on Raspberry Pi (or full sim)HARDWARE LAB25Review & Retention // Python for AutomationREVIEW
Phase 3 · Automation
Industrial Automation Concepts17
01ISA standards & instrumentation designLESSON02Industrial networks, OPC UA & IIoTLESSON03SCADA concepts & architectureLESSON04MQTT, Sparkplug B & the Unified NamespaceLESSON05Functional safety & SILLESSON06PROJECT: Networked & safe robot cellPROJECT BUILD07Reliability & maintenance strategiesLESSON08PROJECT: Complete factory automation designPROJECT BUILD09PROJECT: Instrumentation package designPROJECT BUILD10Hands-on // Schematics & control-panel wiringHANDS-ON11Hands-on // VFD (variable frequency drive) setupHANDS-ON12Hands-on // Industrial networking config (Modbus, EtherNet/IP, Profinet)HANDS-ON13Hands-on // Building an HMI / SCADA screenHANDS-ON14Hands-on // Commissioning workflow: I/O lists, narratives, FAT/SATHANDS-ON15Hands-on // The PLC vendor landscape + a second ecosystem (TwinCAT)HANDS-ON16LAB // A networked cell: PLC + HMI + 4-20 mAHARDWARE LAB17Review & Retention // Industrial AutomationREVIEW
PLC Programming13
01IEC 61131-3 & Structured TextLESSON02Function blocksLESSON03Data handling & structuresLESSON04Sequential Function Charts (state machines)LESSON05PROJECT: Batch process in SFC + STPROJECT BUILD06Industrial communication networksLESSON07Industrial motion control: servos, homing, gearing & cammingLESSON08HMI & SCADA integrationLESSON09Diagnostics & fault handlingLESSON10PROJECT: Automated production cellPROJECT BUILD11PROJECT: Smart factory controllerPROJECT BUILD12LAB // OpenPLC: ladder + SFC on real I/OHARDWARE LAB13Review & Retention // PLC ProgrammingREVIEW
PID and Control Systems14
01Discretizing the PID controllerLESSON02Anti-windup, filtering & feedforwardLESSON03Laplace transforms & transfer functionsLESSON04Poles, zeros & the root locusLESSON05Frequency response & marginsLESSON06PROJECT: Tuning methods & stabilityPROJECT BUILD07State-space models & state feedbackLESSON08Observers & state estimationLESSON09Cascade controlLESSON10PROJECT: Self-balancing robot controllerPROJECT BUILD11PROJECT: Servo motion controllerPROJECT BUILD12PROJECT: Multi-loop industrial process controllerPROJECT BUILD13LAB // Real PID: motor speed or temperatureHARDWARE LAB14Review & Retention // PID / Control SystemsREVIEW
Phase 5 · Industrial Systems
CNC Programming9
01Tool offsets & cutter compensationLESSON02Canned cycles, feeds & speeds, CAMLESSON03PROJECT: Full multi-tool part programPROJECT BUILD04Parametric programming & macrosLESSON05Machining optimizationLESSON06Multi-axis machining conceptsLESSON07PROJECT: Automated production programPROJECT BUILD08LAB // G-code: simulator, plotter, or 3018HARDWARE LAB09Review & Retention // CNC ProgrammingREVIEW
DCS Systems10
01Advanced regulatory controlLESSON02Batch control (S88) & alarm managementLESSON03PROJECT: Advanced control strategy designPROJECT BUILD04Redundancy & high availabilityLESSON05Historians & asset managementLESSON06Industrial control system cybersecurityLESSON07PROJECT: Complete plant control architecturePROJECT BUILD08PROJECT: Chemical process control simulationPROJECT BUILD09LAB // Mini-DCS: cascade + alarms in simHARDWARE LAB10Review & Retention // DCS SystemsREVIEW
Phase 8 · Career & Portfolio
Career & Portfolio Track8
01Hands-on // Git & GitHub (the universal signal layer)HANDS-ON02Hands-on // Portfolio & README craft (how to present your work)HANDS-ON03P1 // Automated sorting/conveyor cell (PLC)PRIORITY BUILD04P2 // Closed-loop PID process control + SCADAPRIORITY BUILD05P3 // Networked embedded motor controller (the bridge)BRIDGE BUILD06P4 // Integrated robot work-cell (the convergence)BRIDGE BUILD07Hands-on // Interview prep (technical + behavioral)HANDS-ON08Hands-on // Networking & the job searchHANDS-ON
Capstone
Capstone2
01CAPSTONE: HMI + PLC + SCADA cellPROJECT BUILD02CAPSTONE: Industrial digital twinPROJECT BUILD
All four courses are $240 together, $60 less than buying them one by one.