Les guides pour les nuls

Overview

Welcome! This is a notes compilation dedicated to basic and fundamental engineering theory that I find myself needing refreshers on often.

I got tired of sifting through a decentralized set of textbooks, wikipedia pages, blogs, Paul’s Online Math Notes, or Physics Libre Texts, every time I needed to remind myself how to do something simple.

Voila - Les Guides pour Les Nuls (“The Guides for Dummies”). This name was inspired by a notes compilation with similar purpose: The Matrix Cookbook. I figured if I was making my own personal theory cookbook, I’d go one step further and name it in the liking of Escoffier’s mother of all actual cookbooks: Le Guide Culinaire.

My notes may be wrong. These are typeset scratch notes and prone to error. If you find one, please email me at seanlin@stanford.edu.

My notes may be incomplete. If a section is blank, it is a placeholder for me to fill in later.

None of my notes, or explanations, are AI-generated. I hope you find them useful :)

Contents

Content near the front is general. Content near the back is niche to my domain.

• MATH
  • Algebra
  • Geometry and Trigonometry
  • Calculus
  • Multivariable
  • Differential Equations
  • Linear Algebra
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Complex Domain
• MECHANICS
  • Classical Dynamics
  • Fluids
  • Thermodynamics
  • Solid Mechanics
  • Material Properties
• ELECTRONICS
  • Components
  • Power Electronics
  • Signal Processing
  • E&M Theory
• ALGORITHMS
  • Least Squares and flavors
  • Numerical Methods Euler, Newton, RK4, etc…
  • State Estimation Kalman Filters, EKFs, UKFs, etc…
  • Machine Learning RL included
  • Optimization
• CONTROL THEORY
  • Linear System Theory proof heavy, focus on the setup of a linear feedback system
  • PID Control
  • State Space Control practical, focused on the design rules and best practices of a controller
  • Modern Control
• SPACE STUFF
  • Orbital Basics
  • Common Satellite Coordinate Frames and Systems
  • Transfer Orbits and Manuevers
  • N-Body Theory
  • GPS Theory

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Notes Philosophy

I care about:

• Theory from first principles
• Balancing rigorous proofs and intuitive understanding
• Emphasizing things that are best to commit to memory (for practical purposes)

Longer version here

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About the Author

Knowing my background can put into context how I come to understand things. My qualifications are also provided so you can decide how much to trust my guide.

My name is Sean Lin. I am an aspiring GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) engineer. We design systems that allow air- and spacecraft to:

1. Determine where they are (Navigation)
2. Define the trajectory they want to follow (Guidance)
3. Physically execute this trajectory (Control)

Qualifications

• B.S. Mechanical Engineering + EECS (UC Berkeley, 2023)
• M.S. Aeronautics and Astronautics (Stanford, 2026)
• Cumulative Engineering Work Experience: 2 years
• Cumulative Engineering Research Experience: 1 year